Thailand will reduce its visa exemption period for Australian travellers from 60 to 30 days, effective 15 September 2026, under a change affecting around 90 countries.
New framework applies across 60 eligible countries
Under the revised framework, holders of passports from 60 countries and territories, with Australia listed first, will be eligible for a visa exemption permitting stays of up to 30 days for tourism purposes. Entry via land-border immigration checkpoints under the exemption is limited to no more than twice per calendar year.
Flight Centre leisure chief executive James Kavanagh said the change was likely to affect only a small proportion of Australian travellers. “The average length of stay in Thailand for our customers is approximately 14 days, so most Aussies will find they won’t have to obtain a visa for their holiday to Thailand,” Kavanagh said. He noted that travellers booking through a travel agent would be able to get support navigating the updated documentation requirements.
Travellers must still complete arrival card and show funds
Smartraveller continues to advise that passports must be valid for more than six months, and travellers must complete a free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within three days of arrival, cautioning against fake websites charging a fee for the service. On arrival, travellers may be asked to show proof of accommodation, sufficient funds and an onward or return ticket, with entry able to be refused without these documents. Overstaying a visa can result in fines, arrest, prosecution, deportation and a re-entry ban.
Thailand remained one of Australia’s most visited destinations, ranking fifth in July with 64,010 returning travellers, up 5.5 per cent year-on-year, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data. In the 12 months to July, 627,630 Australians travelled to Thailand, a 2.8 per cent decrease on the previous 12-month period.
