Thailand has formally published an overhaul of its visa-exemption policy that will significantly shorten the period tourists are permitted to remain in the country. Beginning Sept. 15, 2026, citizens of 60 countries and territories, including Israel, will be able to enter Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 30 days, down from the current 60 days.
Tourists who enter Thailand before the reform takes effect will not automatically have their permitted stay reduced from 60 to 30 days. The period granted to them by immigration authorities upon entry will remain valid.
Israel among 60 countries
The reform covers 60 countries and territories whose citizens will be eligible for visa-free stays of up to 30 days. They include Israel, the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, India, Greece, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
Compared with the arrangement introduced in July 2024, the change represents a significant reduction. Under that policy, citizens of 93 countries and territories were permitted to enter Thailand without a visa and remain for up to 60 days. The new arrangement also specifies that the visa exemption is intended for tourism. Unlike the previous policy, it no longer includes provisions covering short-term work or certain business activities.
Option to extend stay by another 30 days
Despite the reduction to 30 days, tourists seeking to remain in Thailand longer will not necessarily have to obtain a visa in advance. Under the reform approved by the Thai government, travelers eligible for visa-free entry will be able to request a one-time extension of up to an additional 30 days, subject to approval by Thai immigration authorities.
In practice, travelers whose extension requests are approved could therefore remain in Thailand for up to 60 days even after the reform takes effect. The reform also reinstates a restriction on tourists entering Thailand through land-border crossings.
Travelers entering under the visa-exemption program will generally be permitted to do so through land-border crossings no more than twice in a calendar year. The restriction will not apply to citizens of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Importantly, the restriction applies only to entries through land borders. It does not establish a general limit of two entries per year for tourists arriving in Thailand by air.
Change comes amid campaign against Israelis
The visa-policy overhaul comes amid a sensitive period involving Israeli tourists in Thailand. In recent weeks, Israel Hayom has reported on an anti-Israel campaign spreading across Thai social media, with posts, videos and allegations targeting Israelis in the country, including complaints about the conduct of Israeli tourists in various areas and popular tourist destinations.
The campaign has gained increasing attention in Thailand in recent weeks and has reached government officials and local authorities. At the same time, Thai authorities have taken action against foreign tourists in several cases involving alleged violations of the law or disputes with local residents. However, the new regulations contain no specific reference to Israelis or to the anti-Israel campaign. Israel appears on the list alongside 59 other countries and territories, and the change is part of a broader overhaul of Thailand's entry policy.
