Thailand Reduces Visa-Free Stays for EU Travelers to 30 Days, Introduces Destination Thailand Visa
Effective September 15, Thailand will reduce the visa-free stay period for passport holders from all 27 European Union countries, as well as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and Japan, from 60 to 30 days. This change reverses an expanded exemption introduced in July 2024. The new framework, published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette on August 31, applies to arrivals on or after the specified date. Travelers seeking longer stays can apply for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), a multiple-entry visa valid for five years, allowing stays of up to 180 days per entry with a possible extension of another 180 days. Applicants for the DTV must provide financial evidence of at least 500,000 baht and documentation supporting an eligible purpose, such as remote work or medical treatment. The new rules also limit visa-exempt entries through land-border checkpoints to twice per calendar year for most eligible visitors, with exceptions for citizens of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. 
