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Through September 14, 2026, ordinary passport holders from 93 countries and territories can enter Thailand without a visa for stays of up to 60 days.

Starting September 15, 2026, the visa exemption scheme introduced in July 2024 will be replaced by a revised system. Under the new rules, 60 countries and territories will qualify for visa-free stays of up to 30 days, alongside separate bilateral agreements and other specific arrangements.

As VisasNews reported when the reform was officially confirmed, the changes will not simply shorten the visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days. For 21 nationalities, visa-free entry will disappear altogether.

Thailand: 21 nationalities are being removed from the visa exemption scheme

Starting September 15, 2026, ordinary passport holders from the following 21 countries will need to obtain a visa before traveling to Thailand for tourism:

All of these countries are currently included among the 93 nationalities eligible for Thailand’s 60-day visa exemption, but they are no longer included in the new system taking effect September 15, 2026.

The reduction from 93 to 60 countries does not, however, mean that every nationality removed from the main list will suddenly require a visa.

Some travelers will continue to qualify for visa-free entry under separate bilateral agreements, including nationals of China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam. Other countries also have bilateral arrangements allowing visa-free stays of varying lengths. Mauritius, meanwhile, will benefit from a new 15-day tourist visa exemption.

Once these separate arrangements are taken into account, 21 nationalities that are currently allowed to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days will need a visa for entries made on or after September 15, 2026.

The e-Visa will become the main option for tourist travel to Thailand

For affected travelers, the reform does not necessarily mean a return to traditional in-person visa applications at Thai embassies or consulates.

Since January 1, 2025, Thailand has expanded its Thai e-Visa system worldwide across its diplomatic network. Foreign nationals can submit their applications online while outside Thailand through the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official portal: thaievisa.go.th.

The process involves creating an account, completing the online application, uploading the required supporting documents, paying the applicable fee when online payment is available, and submitting the application for review by the relevant Thai authorities.

Once approved, the e-Visa confirmation is sent by email. Thailand’s official e-Visa portal states that travelers can print the document and present it to their airline and Thai immigration authorities when required.

Exact requirements, supporting documents, visa fees and processing times may vary depending on where the traveler applies and which Thai diplomatic mission is responsible for processing the application.

Thailand’s TR tourist visa allows stays of up to 60 days

For a standard leisure trip, the single-entry TR Tourist Visa is one of the main options available to travelers who will no longer qualify for visa-free entry.

The Royal Thai Embassy in London states that the single-entry TR Tourist Visa is valid for three months from the date of issuance and allows travelers to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days from the date of entry. A further 30-day extension may be requested from Thai immigration authorities, currently subject to a fee of 1,900 baht.

Because it is a single-entry visa, travelers who leave Thailand will generally need a new visa to re-enter if they are no longer eligible for visa-free entry.

For travelers planning several trips to Thailand, the country also offers a Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa (METV). The METV is valid for six months and allows stays of up to 60 days per entry, provided the applicant meets the applicable eligibility requirements.

Travelers entering before September 15 can still benefit from the current rules

The key date is the date of entry into Thailand.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that foreign nationals already in Thailand under the current rules, as well as those who enter before the reform takes effect, may retain the period of stay granted to them upon arrival.

A Colombian, Moroccan, Mexican or other affected national who enters Thailand no later than September 14, 2026, can therefore still be admitted under the current 60-day visa exemption scheme.

The new visa requirement will apply to entries made on or after September 15, 2026.

The four Ministry of Interior regulations implementing the reform were published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, and are scheduled to take effect 15 days after publication.

*Visa or visa-free, the TDAC is still required*

Obtaining an e-Visa does not remove the requirement to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).

Foreign travellers must continue to complete this electronic arrival form before entering Thailand.

Thai authorities have emphasised that the TDAC applies to non-Thai nationals regardless of whether they are entering the country with a visa or under a visa exemption.

Sri Lanka has recorded 96,040 dengue cases so far this year, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).

The latest figures show that 10,155 cases were reported during August alone, while the country’s dengue-related death toll has reached 72.

The Western Province remains the most affected area, accounting for 50,760 cases. The Southern Province has reported 13,931 infections, followed by the Central Province with 8,788 and Sabaragamuwa with 7,910.

At district level, Gampaha has recorded the highest number of cases, with 20,444 infections. Colombo follows with 19,008 cases, while Kandy has reported 7,043.

Kalutara and Matara have recorded 6,181 and 6,154 dengue cases respectively.

The NDCU said 50 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas across the country remain classified as high-risk areas for dengue.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the number of reported infections remains high across several parts of the island.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa visited the prison premises to check on the well-being of her son, remanded Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa, who is the wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, arrived at the prison a short while ago to inquire about her son’s condition.

Namal Rajapaksa is currently being held in remand custody.

His father, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had also visited Welikada Prison on Saturday (05) to see the Parliamentarian.

The visits come as the Rajapaksa family continues to maintain contact with Namal Rajapaksa during his period in remand custody.

SLPP National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has been taken into custody by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with its investigation into the Airbus deal.

Rajapaksa appeared before the Bribery Commission this morning (04) after being formally notified to provide a statement regarding the ongoing inquiry.

The MP, who is the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, spent more than five hours before the commission recording his statement.

Following the completion of the statement, CIABOC officers arrested Rajapaksa.

The arrest comes as part of the commission’s continuing investigation into the controversial Airbus deal.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the government of hypocrisy over its proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, questioning why President Anura Kumara Dissanayake no longer considers a national referendum necessary for major constitutional changes.

Speaking on Sunday (07) at a political meeting in Rattota to establish the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya electorate committee, Premadasa claimed that the proposed legislation would undermine judicial independence and further erode the rule of law across the country.

He pointed out that while the President had previously insisted on both a two-thirds parliamentary majority and a public referendum during debates on the 20th Amendment, government members are now arguing that a referendum is unnecessary for their own amendment.

Premadasa warned that the current administration is attempting to weaken democratic institutions to establish one-party rule, citing recent controversies surrounding elections for youth clubs and civil security committees.

Criticising the government's political rallies celebrating two years in power as a campaign of misdirection, he challenged the President to hold the long-delayed Provincial Council elections to properly test public sentiment.

The Opposition Leader also alleged that state events were directly harming local livelihoods, claiming that police had prevented local fishermen from entering the Beruwala harbour during a recent presidential rally in the area.

Addressing the government's claims of two successful years in office, Premadasa highlighted a series of unfulfilled election promises, including commitments to lower fuel prices and reduce electricity tariffs by 32 per cent, alongside growing public concerns over critical medicine shortages and lengthening waiting lists for essential surgeries.

He said that while the past two years may have proved advantageous for the government, the public has suffered as a result.

Video: https://youtu.be/CphZg2Zz--I

Sri Lanka’s Labour Ministry has rejected the impression that the country’s position as the 120th lowest-ranked country in a global minimum wage comparison represents its current wage situation.

The Ministry said the ranking was based on data from 2024 published by Visual Capitalist and was not compiled or released by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

According to the Ministry, the ILO has confirmed that it had no role in producing the ranking. However, the figures may have been sourced from ILOSTAT, the organization’s publicly accessible database of comparable labour statistics, which includes information on statutory minimum wages and purchasing power parity-adjusted figures.

The Ministry noted that comparisons of minimum wages across countries need to be treated with caution. Wage systems can differ considerably depending on factors such as geographic coverage, sectors and occupations. A ranking based solely on minimum wage figures also does not necessarily show how widely those wages apply in practice or whether employers comply with them.

Sri Lanka’s wage structure has also changed considerably since the data used for the comparison was compiled.

At the start of 2024, the country’s national minimum wage was Rs. 12,500 per month. This was raised to Rs. 17,500 from September 11, 2024. Workers were also entitled to a mandatory Budgetary Relief Allowance of Rs. 3,500, bringing the applicable minimum monthly remuneration to Rs. 21,000.

The Ministry said it could not be determined from the reported ranking whether the calculation was based on the original Rs. 12,500 figure, the revised Rs. 17,500 wage, or whether the additional allowance had been taken into account.

Further increases followed. The national minimum wage rose to Rs. 27,000 in April 2025 and was subsequently increased to Rs. 30,000 in January 2026. The earlier Budgetary Relief Allowances were incorporated into the new minimum wage.

As a result, the current national minimum wage stands at Rs. 30,000 a month, compared with Rs. 12,500 at the beginning of 2024.

The Ministry said this represents an increase of more than 87% over the period and stressed that the 120th-place ranking, which relies on 2024 information, should not be interpreted as an indication of Sri Lanka’s present minimum wage level.

It urged that the international comparison be considered in the context of the subsequent wage increases and differences between national minimum wage systems.

Two people were pulled out alive on Friday from a ‌tunnel linked to a hydropower station on the Trishuli River in Nepal, nine days after an ice, rock and mud slide swept through its valley, killing more than 1,200 people and displacing tens of thousands.

Officials and rescue workers believe the August 26 collapse of a glacier on the upper reaches of the Trishuli River trapped at least 900 people in tunnels related to six hydropower projects along the river.

At least 1,252 people ​were killed in Nepal as houses, streets and schools in towns and villages near the border with China's Tibet were swept away. More than 4,200 people are ​still missing and thousands more displaced.

China has put the death toll in Tibet at 21, with 541 others listed as missing.

The two workers ⁠pulled from the tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station are the first to be rescued from the hydropower projects and have been taken to an army hospital in ​the capital Kathmandu. A small group had managed to escape from another tunnel hours after the disaster struck.

The workers rescued on Friday were Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a ​mechanical supervisor, Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha’s office said in a statement.

Videos and photos released by Nepali authorities showed Maharjan being pulled out of a hole in the ground amid cheering bystanders and put on a stretcher.

The other man, Sah, was carried out on the back of a worker to a rescue tent, his face covered in mud.

In one of the videos, a team of army doctors attended to Sah at ​a tent near the tunnel before he was taken to hospital, fitting what appeared to be an oxygen mask around his mouth and checking his vitals.

"His name is Sanjay Sah ​and he was working in mechanical control room. The vital parameters look normal," an army official said.

Sah told rescuers he spent time reciting mantras (verses from a prayer) while he was trapped, according to the ‌Kathmandu Post. ⁠He said three or four more people could be alive in the tunnel, and possibly more deeper in its reaches.

Maharjan cannot move his hands and legs but Sah's injuries are not critical, an aide to the energy minister told Reuters.

Amir Maharjan, Kabir's brother, said he has not received any news officially but has been told to go to the hospital.

"I have been hearing from the news that my brother has been found. The entire family is very happy," Amir said.

Both survivors are in the intensive care unit, a source from the army hospital ​where they were taken told Reuters, with their ​vital signs stable.

A team of experts in ⁠a WhatsApp group was guiding rescue workers in the search at the hydropower projects in what has become a valuable tool alongside helicopters and heavy machinery in the race to find survivors.

More search and rescue operations were underway around the Upper Trishuli 3A project, the Nepali Army ​said. Rescue efforts were being led by the army and police, with assistance from experts from India, South Korea and China.

Dhan Bahadur ​Tamang, who earlier escaped ⁠from a tunnel linked to the Upper Trishuli 1 hydropower project, upriver from where the two men were pulled out on Friday, said their rescue was a miracle and raised the hope of finding more survivors.

FLOOD LOSSES ESTIMATED AT $2.56 BILLION

Property, housing and infrastructure worth at least 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees ($2.56 billion) was lost in last week's catastrophe, Dharma Raj Upreti, chief of the National Disaster Risk ⁠Reduction and Management ​Authority, said on Friday.

Nepal will need to rebuild around 20,000 houses in flood-ravaged areas, Upreti said on Thursday, ​with at least 7,500 of those homes destroyed.

At least 583 foreign nationals were missing in the floods, Nepal said on Thursday, many of them pilgrims and trekkers.

Australian disaster response specialists left for Nepal on Friday to join the ​search for survivors, as the government there expressed "serious concerns" for the welfare of its 36 missing citizens.

Source: Reuters

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa alleged that the National People’s Power (NPP) government is attempting to establish one-party rule and erode Sri Lanka’s democratic safeguards following a public protest in Colombo Fort.

Addressing supporters at a rally organised by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya yesterday (03), Premadasa pledged that the main opposition alliance would deploy all available parliamentary and extra-parliamentary mechanisms to block the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

He claimed that the government brought forth the proposed constitutional changes to concentrate political power in a single party while undermining judicial independence.

Linking the constitutional dispute to socio-economic pressures, he pointed to rising poverty, soaring commodity prices, and growing joblessness caused by the stagnation and closure of the 200 garment factories initiative.

He asserted that the administration possessed no coherent strategy to alleviate economic hardship, relying instead on authoritarian measures to consolidate control.

The Opposition Leader cautioned against parliamentary overreach, dismissing the belief that a legislative majority grants a government total authority to pass contested bills.

Citing the opposition’s past parliamentary campaign against the Energy Minister, he observed that sustained public pressure ultimately forced the removal of both the minister and the ministry secretary despite the initial defeat of a formal no-confidence vote.

Premadasa said that a similar broad-based resistance under the 'Samagi Jana Sandhanaya' banner would defeat the 22nd Amendment and safeguard rule of law.

The Department of Meteorology has issued an ‘Amber’ advisory warning of severe lightning in several parts of Sri Lanka.

The advisory, issued at 2.00 p.m. today (04), will remain in effect until 11.30 p.m.

According to the Meteorology Department, thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are expected in some areas of the Uva, Central and Eastern provinces, as well as in the Polonnaruwa and Mullaittivu districts.

Temporary strong winds may also occur locally during the thundershowers, the department cautioned.

Members of the public in the affected areas have been urged to take necessary precautions to reduce the risk of damage caused by lightning.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has announced reductions in the prices of furnace oil and naphtha, with the new rates taking effect from midnight today (04).

CPC Managing Director Mayura Neththikumara confirmed that the revised prices will come into effect from midnight.

Accordingly, the price of a litre of naphtha has been reduced by Rs. 35, bringing it down from Rs. 210 to Rs. 175.

The price of a litre of furnace oil has also been reduced by Rs. 38, from Rs. 248 to Rs. 210.