Thailand Visa

Thailand Visa: Visa-Free Plan for Mexico, Colombia

By Nattapong Sukkasem · Published · Updated

Thailand’s tourism minister wants to give Mexican, Colombian and Uzbek visitors 15 days of entry without an advance visa again. It is a proposal, not a rule, and the committee meets on 9 November. Here is what to do in the meantime.

Nattapong Sukkasem · Published 2 November 2026 · Independent & commission-free
Status check — 2 November 2026

This is a proposal, not an approved rule. Mexican, Colombian and Uzbek passport holders still need a visa in advance today. Details come from Thai Examiner’s 28 October report. Its headline says “visa on arrival” but the body describes an exemption, so we follow the body text and flag the mismatch.

Bangkok — The Thailand visa overhaul that took effect on 15 September cut the visa-free list, and some travellers are now simply going to Vietnam. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul wants to reverse part of that for Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan, restoring entry for up to 15 days without applying first.

What has been proposed for the Thailand visa rules

According to the report, the minister wants eligible visitors from the three countries to be allowed in for up to 15 days with no advance visa. Mexico and Colombia lost their earlier exemptions in the September changes. Uzbekistan lost both its 60-day exemption and its 15-day visa-on-arrival option.

Belarus kept its 15-day visa on arrival, which costs 2,000 baht, and is not part of this proposal. No fee has been mentioned for the new idea, so treat any figure you see online as a guess.

The proposals go to the Visa Policy Committee on 9 November. Even a yes there is not the end: further government approval and formal regulatory changes would still be needed, and no start date has been given.

Angel of Independence column on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, a landmark for Mexican travellers who lost visa-free entry and now need a Thailand visa from the Royal Thai Embassy before the 9 November Visa Policy Committee decision
The Angel of Independence on Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City. Notice how central it is to everyday life in the capital: this is where many Mexican travellers would be queuing, in person, for a Thai visa, since the embassy has moved to first-come, first-served processing. Photo: Dan from St Paul, Minnesota, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Why Thailand is reconsidering

The numbers explain the urgency. Foreign arrivals from 1 January to 17 October were 24,423,680, down 4.12 percent, with receipts of roughly 1.19 trillion baht. Vietnam, by contrast, received 17.68 million visitors in the first nine months, up 14.5 percent.

Officials also reported that Emirates had complained and that Uzbek agents were moving bookings to Vietnam. Chiravadee Khunsub, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, highlighted the Uzbek cancellations. The foreign ministry has defended the overhaul, so this is a genuine tug-of-war between tourism and security.

Kasikorn forecasts 31.36 million arrivals for 2026, down 4.9 percent. When a government loses that much business, rules tend to move, but slowly.

Thai visa requirement today: what you must do

Until a rule is published in the Royal Gazette, the current Thai visa requirement stands. For a Mexican, Colombian or Uzbek passport that means applying through the Royal Thai Embassy, and visa fees are non-refundable, according to the Mexico City embassy.

Processing changed too. On 15 October the Mexico embassy ended departure-date priority and moved to first-come, first-served, so booking a flight and then asking for a visa is a risky order. No fast-track has been announced for pending applications. We covered the wider list in which 21 passports now need a visa.

Do not cancel a visa application because a minister said something. Ministers propose; the Royal Gazette decides.

The catches nobody mentions

First, a 15-day exemption would be tourism-only. It would not cover work, study or a long stay. Anyone thinking about moving to Thailand or living in Thailand would still need a proper long-stay route such as a DTV or a retirement visa.

Second, exemptions can be cut as fast as they are granted. Our explainer on the 30-day exemption rules shows how much has changed in a few months, and the pattern is not always in travellers’ favour.

Third, 15 days is short. If you hoped to test the cost of living in Thailand, compare Bangkok expat life with Chiang Mai living, or scout Phuket as a digital nomad, two weeks barely covers one city. A visa for a longer stay may still be the better plan, even if the exemption returns.

If your trip is in the next few weeks

Apply for the visa now. If the exemption is approved before you fly, you have lost a fee; if it is not, you still have a valid entry permission. Waiting for a headline is the expensive gamble.

If you are in Thailand already

Nothing changes for you. Keep to your own permission to stay and reporting duties. Our guide on Thailand visa options covers extensions and conversions.

Plaza de Bolivar in central Bogota, Colombia, where travellers planning a trip must currently apply for a Thailand visa in advance while Thailand considers restoring a 15-day visa exemption for Colombian passport holders
Plaza de Bolivar in central Bogota. Notice the scale of the open square and the government buildings around it: Colombian applicants are dealing with distant Thai diplomatic offices, so check embassy opening hours and appointment rules rather than assuming one trip is enough. Photo: Andrea Gaetano, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)

Your checklist before 9 November

  1. Check your passport. Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan are the three named countries only.
  2. Keep applying through the Royal Thai Embassy or consulate until an official notice says otherwise.
  3. Read the embassy website, not social media, for processing changes and fees.
  4. Book refundable flights and hotels where possible, since visa fees are non-refundable.
  5. Watch for the Royal Gazette and committee outcome after 9 November.
  6. Plan longer stays separately. An exemption will not replace a long-stay visa.

Thailand visa key takeaways — 2 November 2026

  • It is a proposal. The minister wants 15-day entry without an advance visa for Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan.
  • The committee meets 9 November, and further approval would still be needed before any change takes effect.
  • Today, a visa is still required for all three nationalities, and fees are non-refundable.
  • No fee or start date has been announced for the proposed exemption.
  • It would be tourism-only, so long-stay plans need a different route.

Sources

  • Thai Examiner — Minister scrambles to offer 15 day visa to smaller markets, with reports of losses to Vietnam (28 October 2026)
  • Wikimedia Commons — Angel of Independence, photo by Dan from St Paul, Minnesota, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
  • Wikimedia Commons — Plaza de Bolivar, Bogota, photo by Andrea Gaetano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. The proposal is unapproved and may change; verify with the Royal Thai Embassy or consulate that serves you. Verified 2 November 2026.

Related reading

Source: Thai Examiner — Minister scrambles to offer 15 day visa to smaller markets (28 October 2026).