Thailand to shorten visa-free stays to 30 days for 60 countries including S'pore, from Sep. 15, 2026

From Sep. 15, Thailand will be reducing the length of visa-free stays for tourists from dozens of countries and territories, by half, its foreign ministry announced on Sep. 1.

Visa-free stays will be limited from the previous 60 days, to 30 days.

Limit misuse of visa-free entry system

Reuters previously reported that this was an effort to strengthen immigration controls and limit foreigners misusing the visa-free entry system by getting involved in illegal activities or unauthorised extended stays.

Foreign nationals have been accused of various crimes, CNA reported, adding that this includes drug offences, sex trafficking and operating businesses without proper permits.

Shorter or longer visa-free stays

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA) website, Singaporeans visiting Thailand as tourists are granted visa-free entry for up to 60 days under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme (TVES).

This applied to over 90 eligible countries and territories, which include the 29-nation Schengen area in Europe, China, India, the U.S. and certain South American countries.

Singapore is among 60 countries and territories facing the reduction, which also include China, the U.S. and 27 EU countries, CNA reported the Thai foreign ministry's consular affairs department as saying.

The status for about 20 other countries remains unclear, to which a foreign ministry official declined comment.

In comparison, those from Peru, Brazil and South Korea will get an increase in visa-free stays, from 60 days to 90 days.

Tourism

According to CNA, a government spokesperson told AFP in May 2026 when Thailand's Cabinet approved the measure that tourists may extend their stays once, at the discretion of an immigration officer.

The latest official figures state that since the start of 2026, Thailand has attracted 20.9 million foreign tourists, a 3 per cent drop on the same period in 2025.