Essential Updates: New Thai Visa Regulations for Australian Travelers Unveiled

Initially, the 60-day visa exemption was implemented in July 2024 as part of Thailand’s efforts to rejuvenate its tourism industry, which had been severely impacted by the Covid pandemic. However, this week, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul declared that Thailand would return to its prior policy, reducing the visa-free stay period back to 30 days.

Travellers from 93 countries including Australia, the UK, New Zealand, Japan and the United States will be affected by the changes announced this week. 

The 60-day visa exemption was introduced in July 2024 to help Thailand’s tourism industry recover after the Covid pandemic. 

But Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul announced this week that Thailand would revert to the previous 30-day cap on visa-free stays. 

‘When the 60-day visa-free scheme for tourists from 93 countries and territories is cancelled, each country will return to its previous visa arrangement,’ he said.

‘In most cases, this means a 30-day visa-free stay, which is sufficient for the majority of tourists, whose average stay in Thailand is no more than nine days.’

It’s understood tourists will be able to renew their visas for an extra 30 days by visiting an immigration office in Thailand. 

Aussies keen to make use of the 60-day allowance were quick to share their frustration at the rule change online. 

The Thai government has announced plans to scrap the 60-day visa-free allowance for people from 93 countries, including Australia (pictured, bars on Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi Don island) 

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul (left) this week said the decision would not negatively affect Thailand’s tourism industry

‘So flights are now more expensive than ever. Giving tourists 60 days instead of 30 days is better value for their expensive flight,’ one person wrote. 

Another wrote: ‘Just the signal it sends, that tourists are a burden and a pain, is enough for people to look for other destinations.’

A third added: ‘It will put off people who find it difficult to go online and obtain a visa if they want to stay longer than a month, which many older people do.’

Approximately 800,000 Australians visit Thailand for tourism and business each year, according to data from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The visa change is part of a crackdown on transnational crime, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said last week, as reported by the ABC. 

No country has been targeted in the sweeping changes, just individuals, he added.

The Thai government is reviewing whether people from India could receive a 15-day visa-free arrangement as they are one of Thailand’s top three tourism markets. 

Under the previous system, Indian tourists would need to apply for a Visa on Arrival. 

Approximately 800,000 Australians visit Thailand for tourism and business each year (pictured, travellers queue at a Jetstar departure terminal)

Thai and South Korean citizens already have a mutual 60-day visa-free travel agreement in place, which will continue.

There is also an existing 30-day reciprocal visa-free arrangement between Thailand and China, which was introduced in March 2024.