Australian travellers bound for Thailand face tougher rules after the South-East Asian nation announced a widespread tightening of visa conditions.

The Thai government this week backed ending the nation’s 60-day visa exemption scheme, which was introduced two years ago to boost international tourist arrivals.

Visitors from more than 90 nations, including Australia, the US, Britain and several European Union states, will be affected.

Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for Australians, with about 800,000 visiting each year.

Tourism is crucial for the Thai economy, with Agence France-Presse reporting it accounts for more than 10 per cent of the country’s GDP. But there have been frequent reports of arrests of foreigners linked to drug offences and sex trafficking, as well as non-residents opening businesses without appropriate permits.

The changes to visa requirements are expected to vary by nation. Some overseas visitors potentially face 14, 30 or 90-day limits on stays, alongside streamlined visa-on-arrival schemes.

“Visa conditions will revert to the original bilateral agreements negotiated with each country individually — meaning the rules will vary depending on your passport,” a post on Thailand’s official government Facebook page said.

“The Visa Policy Committee will review the specifics for each country before announcing the new terms.

“The key reasons behind this change are to strengthen security screening at the border and to reduce cases of visa misuse and overstaying.”

Prior to the July 2024 law change, Australians could enter Thailand for up to 30 days without requiring a visa. The Bangkok Post reports it is one of 54 countries likely to revert to that rule.

While the latest changes have been approved, a date to take effect has not yet been announced. Foreign travellers already in Thailand can remain in the country until their current visa expires.

Most Australians heading to Thailand visit cultural centres in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, or head to beach resorts in Phuket or Koh Samui.

The country is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. According to UN Tourism, it is the eighth most-visited country globally and the top destination in South-East Asia.

However, visitor numbers haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Euro News reports that data from the Thai tourist ministry shows that foreign arrivals dropped by about 3.4 per cent in the first quarter of this year when compared to the same period in 2025. The number of visitors from the Middle East fell by nearly a third in the same period.

The Thai government remains hopeful of a tourism rebound. It expects about 33.5 million foreign visitors in 2026, up from just under 33 million last year.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is yet to update its travel advice for Thailand. Smartraveller urges travellers to check the latest visa, entry and exit requirements before heading off.

It also advises a high degree of caution overall when visiting the country.

“We now advise do not travel to areas within 10 kilometres of the Thailand-Cambodia land border in the provinces of Sa Kaeo, Buriram, Si Saket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Chanthaburi and mainland Trat due to armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces, which included military strikes and violence, and the presence of landmines,” its latest advice says.

“There’s an ongoing risk of terrorism. Popular tourist areas may be the target of terrorist attacks anywhere across Thailand. We continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces.”