Thailand Scraps Visa-Free Entry for 93 Countries Effective December 31 2025

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Thailand’s Cabinet approved the immediate termination of visa-exempt entry for citizens of 93 countries on November 25 2025, requiring all affected nationals to obtain electronic or traditional visas before arrival starting December 31 2025. The reversal ends a policy introduced in July 2024 that expanded visa-free access from 57 to 93 nationalities for up to 60 days. Only Russian, Indian, and Chinese passport holders retain the 60-day exemption under separate bilateral agreements. The Ministry of Interior cited rising overstays, criminal activity, and unregulated labour as primary reasons.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thianthong confirmed the change applies retroactively to travellers already in-country, mandating departure or visa conversion by the deadline. Immigration Bureau data recorded 39.2 million arrivals from January to November 2025, a 34% increase year-on-year, with overstays exceeding 300,000 cases. Police linked foreign nationals to 71% of serious crimes in Bangkok during the third quarter, prompting the National Security Council recommendation adopted yesterday.

Affected nationalities include the United States, United Kingdom, all European Union members except Ireland, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and most South American countries. The previous 60-day stamp will be replaced with a 30-day visa-on-arrival option limited to 19 nationalities at designated airports and land borders for a 2,000-baht fee. Electronic visas through the official thaievisa.go.th portal require submission at least seven days before travel, costing 2,000 baht for single entry or 5,000 baht for multiple entries valid six months.

Airlines received notification on November 26 2025 to verify visa status during check-in, with fines up to 20,000 baht per passenger for boarding violations. Suvarnabhumi and Phuket airports prepare additional immigration counters for the transition period from December 15. The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates a 12-18% drop in first-quarter 2026 arrivals, equivalent to 2.1 million fewer visitors compared with initial forecasts.

Hotel occupancy in Phuket and Pattaya already declined 8% following the announcement, with cancellation rates climbing to 22% for January bookings. The Association of Thai Travel Agents requested a 90-day grace period, rejected by the Cabinet to prevent a surge in last-minute entries. Border checkpoints at Malaysia and Laos report increased outbound traffic as long-stay tourists depart early.

The Immigration Bureau will deploy 400 additional officers nationwide from December 20 to enforce the new regime. Overstay penalties remain at 500 baht per day up to a 20,000-baht maximum, followed by detention and blacklisting. Consular sections in Bangkok and Chiang Mai extend operating hours for visa processing until January 15 2026. The reversal aligns Thailand with regional peers; Vietnam and Indonesia maintain stricter entry controls for most Western nationalities.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated during the Cabinet briefing that national security and public order outweigh short-term tourism revenue. The policy shift ends a decade-long trend of liberalising access that peaked with the 2024 expansion. Russian visitors, numbering 1.48 million year-to-date, continue under a separate 90-day visa-free arrangement extended in 2024. Chinese arrivals, projected at 8.2 million for 2025, retain permanent exemption status agreed in March 2024.

Travellers holding confirmed bookings after December 31 must secure visas through Thai embassies, consulates, or the e-visa platform immediately. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its website with the revised list of 93 countries at 14:00 local time on November 26. Immigration checkpoints will accept no exceptions after 23:59 on December 31 2025.