Official: Thailand shortens visa-free entry for Israelis to 30 days

After months of waiting, the change has entered its final stage: Thailand will shorten the visa-free stay period for Israeli tourists from 60 to 30 days. The new regulations were published in the country's official gazette and will take effect on September 15.

This means that Israelis entering Thailand from that date under the visa-free program will be able to stay in the country for up to 30 days only. Israel is included in the final list of 60 countries and territories whose citizens will continue to enjoy entry to Thailand without the need to obtain a visa in advance. The new exemption is intended for tourism, unlike the previous arrangement, which also included short-term business activities.

Those already in Thailand will not be required to shorten their vacation. The authorities clarified that travelers who entered the country by September 14 will be able to stay according to the duration approved for them upon entry — up to 60 days. The change will apply to entries starting September 15. Even after the new regulations take effect, it will be possible to request an extension of the stay for an additional 30 days, subject to the approval of the immigration authorities.

Another change concerns travelers entering Thailand through land border crossings: under the new exemption, entry through land borders will be limited to twice per calendar year. The restriction does not apply to entries by flight. Four countries — Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore — were excluded from this restriction, and Israel is not among the exceptions.

The expanded 60-day exemption had been in effect since July 2024 for citizens of 93 countries. The Thai government stated that the long stay period could be used to abuse the exemption, including for committing offenses or activities inconsistent with the purpose of entry. The authorities explained that the change is intended to create a balance between encouraging tourism and considerations of security and monitoring the entry of foreigners.

While the change in visa policy concerns dozens of countries and is not directed at Israelis, it comes at a time when tourists from Israel are under increased scrutiny. During August, several incidents involving Israelis were reported, mainly in Phuket and Koh Samui. The Thai Minister of Tourism warned that the authorities would not hesitate to revoke visas and deport foreign tourists who break the law or cause public disturbances.