Sri Lankan passport holders will no longer be eligible for Thailand’s visa-exemption scheme from September 15, 2026, under revised entry regulations introduced by the Thai government.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the revised visa exemption and Visa on Arrival (VoA) measures were published in the Royal Gazette on August 31 and will take effect from September 15.
The changes follow a review approved by the Thai Cabinet in May, which abolished the existing 60-day visa-exemption scheme and revised the list of countries eligible for visa-free entry for shorter periods.
According to the Thai government, the review took into consideration national security, tourism and economic interests, reciprocity, the reduction of overlapping visa privileges and the availability of Thailand’s e-Visa system.
Under the revised arrangements, Sri Lankan passport holders travelling to Thailand from September 15 will be required to obtain an appropriate visa before travelling.
Visa applications can be submitted through Thailand’s online e-Visa system. The Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo has also issued a “New Visa Measures” notice dated September 4.
However, Sri Lankan travellers who enter Thailand before September 15 under the existing visa-exemption arrangements will be allowed to remain in the country until the expiry of the period granted to them by Thai immigration authorities.
The revised measures apply specifically to tourism-related visa exemption and Visa on Arrival arrangements. Other visa categories remain subject to their respective requirements.
