Thailand Reverses Visa-On-Arrival Plan, Restores 30 Days

Thailand's ongoing rework of who gets visa-free entry has just taken another turn, and it's a useful reminder that a Cabinet decision isn't the same thing as a rule you can actually rely on at the airport. Back in May 2026, Thailand's Cabinet voted to scrap the generous 60-day visa exemption that had applied to 93 countries and territories since July 2024, replacing it with a tighter, tiered system. One of the earliest and harder-hitting pieces of that overhaul, requiring travelers who previously entered visa-free to instead apply for Visa on Arrival, was applied ahead of the rest of the package, and it landed hard on Thailand's third-largest source market. That interim switch to Visa on Arrival came with real costs: a 2,000 baht fee, a maximum stay of just 15 days instead of 60, and paperwork requirements including a confirmed return ticket and proof of funds, all processed at a counter after landing rather than sorted out in advance. According to Thailand's Tourism Minister, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, the change contributed to a decline of nearly 20 percent in visitor numbers from that market within weeks, alongside widespread confusion about what travelers actually needed to bring to the airport. Faced with that drop, Thailand's government reversed itself in mid-July. Updated Cabinet measures confirmed on July 16, 2026 move that market out of the Visa on Arrival bucket entirely and into the more favorable 30-day visa exemption category, the same bucket that will eventually cover 59 countries and territories including all 27 EU member states, the UK, Japan and Australia. The Tourism Ministry's stated reasoning leaned on the country's economic weight and the fact that visitors from there tend to stay a relatively brief 7.17 days on average, well short of even the reduced 30-day cap. Here's the part that matters most for anyone booking a trip right now: none of this is actually in effect yet. Thai policy changes only become enforceable once they're published in the Royal Gazette, and as of the most recent updates, that publication still hadn't happened. Once it does, the new rules take effect 15 days later, and nobody outside the Ministry of Interior has offered a firm date. That means, for the moment, travelers who were told they'd need Visa on Arrival still need it, and the promised return to visa-free entry is a matter of when, not if, but the when remains genuinely unknown. So what should you actually do depending on your situation? If you're flying to Thailand in the immediate future and have been told your nationality now requires Visa on Arrival, plan around that reality rather than the promised fix: bring 2,000 baht in cash for the fee, carry a printed or digital copy of your return or onward ticket, be ready to show proof of accommodation and sufficient funds, and still complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours of arrival, since that requirement runs separately from any of this and applies regardless of visa category. Budget extra time at the immigration counter, since Visa on Arrival processing is slower than a straightforward visa-free stamp. If your trip is further out and you're hoping the 30-day exemption will be active by the time you fly, don't count on it with certainty, but also don't over-prepare for Visa on Arrival either. Check Thailand's Tourism Authority newsroom or your embassy's travel advisory in the week or two before departure rather than months in advance, since the Gazette publication, once it happens, could take effect with as little as two weeks' notice. If you're traveling from one of the countries still covered by the original 60-day exemption while it remains technically in force, such as most EU nationals, UK citizens, and several others, there's a genuine incentive to travel sooner rather than later if you want a longer stay, since anyone who enters before the new tiered rules take effect keeps whatever stay length they were granted on arrival, even if the rules shift mid-trip. And whatever your passport, remember the Thailand Digital Arrival Card is mandatory either way, so complete it online before you fly rather than assuming it's tied to whichever visa category you happen to fall into. Sources Thailand Restores 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Indian Tourists - BW Travel - https://www.bwtravel.com/industry-insights/thailand-grants-indian-citizens-30-day-visa-exemption-12173574 Thailand considers 30-day visa-free entry for Indian tourists - The Thaiger - https://thethaiger.com/guides/visa-information/thailand-considers-30-day-visa-free-entry-for-indian-tourists Thailand revamps visa rules for 65 countries and territories - The Nation Thailand - https://www.nationthailand.com/news/policy/40068630 Thai Cabinet approves updated visa measures pending Royal Gazette publication - TAT Newsroom - https://www.tatnews.org/2026/07/thai-cabinet-approves-updated-visa-measures-pending-royal-gazette-publication/