Thailand weighs 15-day visa waiver for Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan

Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing to propose visa-free entry of up to 15 days for travellers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan. Officials announced the plan on Monday, 27 October 2026, saying it aims to fix severe visa processing delays and to support long-haul arrivals.

Key facts

• Proposal goes to the Visa Policy Committee meeting on 9 November
• Nationalities covered: Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan
• Planned stay: a standard 15-day visa-free entry
• Status: proposal only — not yet approved, no start date announced
• Cost: no fee is mentioned in the announcement

What is being proposed?

Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the ministry has submitted a proposal for the Visa Policy Committee to approve visa-free stays of 15 days for target countries seen as low security risks, including Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan. The ministry said it will push for the maximum number of exemptions possible.

The committee is expected to weigh security and economic implications before deciding. The proposal is not yet in force, and no date has been given for when travellers could use the exemption.

Why is this happening?

The ministry pointed to chronic delays in visa approvals and issuance for Latin American markets, which have routinely left Mexican and Colombian travellers unable to fly on their scheduled dates. Emirates airline filed a complaint with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) after recording 20 to 30 passenger no-shows per flight from Mexico, when travellers did not receive their Thai visas in time for departure.

For Uzbekistan, Chiravadee Khunsub, Deputy Governor for International Marketing covering Europe, America, the Middle East and Africa, said travellers faced complex E-Visa procedures routed exclusively through the Royal Thai Embassy in Russia. The cumbersome process led local travel agents to cancel Thailand holiday packages in favour of competing destinations such as Vietnam.

What this means for travellers

Travellers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan still need to meet current Thai entry requirements until the proposal is approved and takes effect. Anyone planning a trip should check the rules that apply to their nationality before booking, particularly if travelling on a tight schedule.

The ministry says the overhaul is intended to remove these processing barriers, allow smooth transit for incoming visitors and rebuild confidence among international tour operators and airline partners. The next step is the Visa Policy Committee meeting on 9 November.