Travel alert: Thailand ends 60-day visa-free stay for UAE, Saudi Arabia and other nations
Shorter visa-free stays reshape travel plans for Gulf holidaymakers
DUBAI – Thailand has long been one of the easiest destinations for Gulf residents seeking a quick escape, with its beaches, shopping districts, island resorts and vibrant city life making it a favourite among UAE travellers.
For years, holidaymakers enjoyed straightforward visa-free access, helping fuel a steady flow of tourists from across the GCC.
Now, however, Thailand is reshaping the rules. The country is keeping visa-free travel in place, but introducing a shorter stay period and a more structured entry system that affects travellers from more than 90 countries. While many visitors taking week-long or two-week holidays may not notice much difference, the changes could affect long-stay travellers, remote workers, families and those planning extended holidays.
For UAE residents planning their next Bangkok city break or Phuket beach escape, the new measures have become an important item on the travel checklist.
Stay changes
Thailand has officially scrapped the 60-day visa-free stay introduced in 2024. Under the revised system, visitors from many countries will instead receive shorter entry periods depending on nationality and travel arrangements.
For travellers from the UAE and several other GCC nations, Thailand is expected to offer a 30-day visa exemption instead of the previous 60-day stay.
The revised 30-day visa-free category covers 54 countries and territories, including major travel markets across Europe, North America, Asia and the Gulf region.
Countries included in this category include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore and several European countries.
Travellers can still enter Thailand without obtaining a tourist visa beforehand. The key difference is that the duration has been cut in half.
Extensions beyond the permitted stay remain possible, although these require approval from Thai immigration authorities. The extension fee remains set at 1,900 THB.
Authorities said the changes are designed to improve immigration clarity and reduce misuse of long-stay tourism arrangements.
For many UAE travellers, the practical impact may be limited. Weekend trips, school-break holidays and shorter leisure visits usually fall comfortably within a 30-day period.
However, some categories of travellers may need to plan differently.
Holidaymakers combining multiple Thai destinations over extended periods may need additional preparations. Travellers spending time across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Krabi and Phuket on longer itineraries could find their schedules affected.
Digital nomads and extended-stay travellers who previously relied on longer tourism periods may also need to explore alternative arrangements, including Thailand's e-Visa options.
Families visiting relatives or travellers combining Thailand with neighbouring Southeast Asian destinations may similarly need to monitor duration limits carefully.
Officials also clarified that no retrospective changes will affect travellers already inside Thailand.
The revised measures are expected to take effect 15 days after publication in Thailand’s Royal Gazette.
Entry checklist
The visa adjustment is only one part of Thailand’s broader travel overhaul.
Authorities have also introduced stricter digital procedures and compliance requirements aimed at streamlining arrivals.
One of the biggest changes is the mandatory Thailand Digital Arrival Card, known as TDAC.
All international travellers will now need to complete this online pre-arrival process before entering the country.
The system forms part of Thailand’s wider push towards digital border management and expanded electronic processing systems.
Travellers planning trips should ensure paperwork is completed before departure to avoid airport delays.
Thailand is also continuing discussions regarding a proposed 300 THB tourism fee for air travellers. While the charge remains under consideration, implementation has been delayed.
Airport-related costs have also recently attracted attention after authorities announced increased departure charges for international travellers at six airports across the country.
Consular and visa fees have additionally been revised from April 27, 2026.
New visa structure
Thailand's revised immigration framework creates multiple categories depending on nationality, bilateral agreements and travel arrangements.
Alongside the 30-day category affecting UAE citizens and other major travel markets, a new 15-day visa-free arrangement has been introduced for travellers from Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles.
Officials said these changes reflect tourism trends, security considerations and reciprocal agreements.
Thailand has also sharply reduced its visa-on-arrival programme.
Only four countries now remain eligible: India, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
This marks a major reduction from previous arrangements and signals a shift towards pre-arrival screening and greater use of Thailand's electronic visa system.
Separate bilateral agreements remain unchanged.
China, Hong Kong, Russia, Vietnam, Laos, Kazakhstan and several other countries continue to receive 30-day arrangements under independent agreements.
Meanwhile, travellers from South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru continue to enjoy 90-day exemptions through separate bilateral frameworks.
Thai officials said the overhaul is intended to strengthen security screening, reduce overlapping visa categories, improve administrative clarity and support a balance between tourism and economic priorities.
Authorities also said the expansion of electronic visa processing remains a major objective.