Thailand's government has restructured visa exemption rules effective September 15, 2026, reducing the previous 60-day tourist exemption to 30 days for 60 countries and creating two additional tiers (15-day exemption for 2 countries and visa-on-arrival for 3 countries). The policy narrows exemptions strictly to tourism purposes, requiring visitors with other intentions (work, business, study) to obtain appropriate visas. This tightens security while balancing tourism promotion and international relations.