7 August 2026 · What changed

Thailand's visa-free stay is now 30 days

A Sino-Portuguese building in Phuket at dusk

What it means for you

For a one or two week Phuket holiday a GCC passport still needs no visa — but fill in the free TDAC before you fly.

Thailand's 60-day visa exemption ended on 15 September 2026. The new rules were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, after the cabinet approved them on 19 May.

The 30-day tourist exemption now covers 60 countries and territories. A new 15-day exemption covers Mauritius and Seychelles, and visa on arrival is down to three countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.

All six GCC countries — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman — are on the 30-day list. None of them lost visa-free entry; the stay is shorter.

It is not retroactive. Anyone who entered before 15 September keeps the stay printed on their stamp.

Separately, everyone must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online in the 3 days before arriving. Any site charging for it is a scam.

What to do about it

A street in Phuket Old Town lined with shophouses