Filipinos planning short getaways to Thailand will keep their visa-free access, though the length of stay is being cut in half under a new rule taking effect September 15.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirmed that the country’s 60-day visa exemption is being scaled back to 30 days for tourists from 60 nations and territories, the Philippines among them. The agency pointed to the regulation carried in Thailand’s Royal Gazette on August 31.
For Filipino travelers, the practical impact should be limited. Since most tourists visit for only a week or two, the 30-day window still covers the vast majority of trips without requiring a visa. Filipinos had been granted the longer 60-day allowance after Thailand widened its visa-free rules in July 2024, so the new policy returns them to a shorter benchmark.
According to the TAT, the adjustment reshuffles how each nationality is treated once the rule kicks in. “From 15 September 2026, travelers previously covered by the 60-day visa exemption will instead be subject to the applicable 30-day visa exemption, 15-day visa exemption, Visa on Arrival, or other relevant entry arrangements, depending on nationality,” the agency stated.
The 60 countries and territories eligible to enter Thailand for tourism visa-free for up to 30 days beginning September 15 are: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
One added restriction applies to those relying on the 30-day exemption: entry through land-border checkpoints will be capped at two times within any calendar year, the TAT noted.
