Thailand may cut visa-free stay to 30 days and introduce mandatory tourist insurance

Thailand is preparing a major overhaul of entry rules for foreigners. Authorities are discussing several changes at once: cutting visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days, mandatory health insurance for tourists, and tighter digital border control. This would be the biggest revision of tourist rules since the country reopened post-pandemic.

Visa-free stay may be halved

The current 60-day visa-free regime for citizens of 93 countries was introduced in summer 2024 to support tourism. Authorities now believe the need for such a long period is gradually disappearing. Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow confirmed that a proposal to return to a 30-day limit is being prepared for Cabinet review.

According to the government, the average length of a foreign tourist's trip is about nine days — far shorter than the current allowed stay. The main reason for the review is abuse of tourist status: authorities increasingly cite cases of illegal work, fraudulent schemes, and long-term residence disguised as tourism.

In practice, this mainly concerns so-called "visa runs," where foreigners stay in Thailand for years, regularly leaving and re-entering under the visa-free regime.

Besides shortening the stay period, the government is also discussing cutting the list of visa-free countries — from the current 93 to about 57. Preliminary data suggests Russia, EU countries, the US, Japan, and South Korea may keep visa-free entry, but for a shorter period. Other countries may switch to visa-on-arrival or standard tourist visas.

Tighter entry control

At the same time, Thailand is gradually strengthening digital entry control. From May 2026, the country is rolling out TDAC — an electronic arrival card replacing paper immigration forms. Travellers must now submit trip, accommodation, and return ticket details online no later than 72 hours before arrival.

Formally, the 60-day visa-free regime is still in effect, but authorities are already openly calling its status "under review."

Authorities discuss mandatory health insurance

In parallel, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health is considering mandatory health insurance for all foreign visitors — tourists, short-term travellers, and migrant workers. On 1 May 2026, Health Minister Pattana Promphat said authorities are looking for a way to reduce the burden on the public healthcare system caused by unpaid treatment for foreigners.

According to the ministry, annual losses at public hospitals exceed 100 million baht — about $3 million. The situation is most severe in tourist regions, including Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Authorities are discussing an option where tourists would need to prove insurance coverage upon entering the country. The policy is expected to cover emergency hospitalisation and repatriation. Exact coverage parameters and the verification mechanism have not yet been finalised.

A tourist fee of 300 baht for air passengers arriving in Thailand is also under discussion. This initiative is likewise awaiting government approval.

How this will affect tourists

None of the changes have officially taken effect yet, and final decisions aren't expected before the second half of 2026. Still, the overall direction is already clear: Thailand is gradually moving away from the highly liberal entry model introduced after the pandemic, toward a more controlled form of tourism.

The possible changes would most affect winter residents, frequent flyers, digital nomads, and those using the visa-free regime for long stays. For regular one- or two-week tourist trips, however, significant changes are unlikely even if the 30-day limit returns.