Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay for South Africans From 60 Days to 30 Days
- Thailand announced it is halving visa-free stays for South African passport holders and citizens of 59 other countries
- The change, published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 31 August 2026, takes effect from 15 September 2026
- South Africans planning longer trips have several options to extend their stay beyond the new 30-day limit
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South Africans travelling to Thailand will soon have half the time they are used to getting at the border. From 15 September 2026, Thailand will reduce the visa-free stay it grants South African passport holders from 60 days to 30 days.
The change, gazetted in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 31 August 2026, affects citizens from 60 countries and regions. Thailand had extended the 60-day exemption in 2024 to help its tourism sector recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials say the rollback is intended to address the misuse of tourist privileges, including so-called "visa runs," where visitors repeatedly cross the border to reset their permitted stay.
The new framework also caps land border entries at two per calendar year for most affected nationalities, though air and sea arrivals are not subject to this annual restriction. Travellers who entered Thailand on or before 14 September 2026 will still receive the full 60-day stamp already in their passport.
What South Africans can do for longer stays
Those who need more than 30 days in the country still have options.
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Travellers already inside Thailand on a 30-day exemption can apply for a one-time extension of up to 30 additional days at a local immigration office. The standard fee for this extension is 1,900 Thai baht.
South Africans who want a guaranteed 60-day stay from the moment they arrive can apply for a Category TR electronic Tourist Visa before departure through the official Thai e-Visa portal.
For remote workers, freelancers or those participating in cultural programmes, Thailand's Destination Thailand Visa offers a longer-term solution. The five-year visa allows holders to stay for 180 days per entry.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Pretoria and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs are both available to provide updated entry guidance for South Africans planning their trips.
Source: Getty Images
More on visas and travel for South Africans
- Briefly News recently reported on the exact fees and requirements for obtaining a UAE residence permit, all converted into South African Rand.
- The US confirmed 42 countries whose citizens can enter without a visa, and why South Africans still need to apply through an embassy.
- A South African defended a controversial US work visa programme after online critics branded it a scam.
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Source: Briefly News
