Thailand has reduced, from September 15, the visa exemption for Portuguese from 60 to 30 days. The change was published in the Thai Royal Official Gazette on August 31 and establishes new entry categories, with different stay periods depending on nationality. Portugal is on the list of eligible countries for the 30-day visa exemption for tourism purposes, which also includes countries such as Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Travelers who previously benefited from the 60-day exemption are now subject to the entry category applicable to their nationality, which may correspond to the 30 or 15-day exemption, visa on arrival or other entry regimes. The new 15-day exemption applies to holders of passports from Seychelles and Mauritius, while visa on arrival now covers nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
There are specific rules for those entering Thailand through land borders. Travelers covered by the 30-day exemption can generally enter the country through these checkpoints a maximum of twice per calendar year. This limitation does not apply to nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore. Bilateral agreements and specific entry provisions remain in force when applicable.
Thailand's Tourism Authority recommends that travelers confirm, before departure, the entry conditions applicable to their nationality. The change comes days after Australia paused Work & Holiday visa applications from Portuguese citizens due to strong demand for the program and the approaching annual limit of 500 visas.
