Changes in Thailand Visa Policy: Shorter Visa-Free Stays
The extension for visa-free entry to Thailand by eligible travelers may be reversed soon. The reason for the possible change is connected to the abuses reported by the authorities.
Currently, the Thai government is considering reducing the visa-free stay in Thailand from 60 to 30 days for visitors from 93 countries.
While the measure has been announced, the exact implementation date has not yet been confirmed.
Which Nationalities May be Affected
Nationals from the 93 countries may be affected by the possible reduction of the length of stay in Thailand:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
Thai Policy to Attract Tourists
A 30-day visa exemption has been offered by Thailand for many countries, including the USA, the UK, Japan, Australia, and European states until July 2024.
Then, the extension was introduced from 30 to 60 days in order to revitalize tourism in Thailand after the COVID-19 crisis.
The new policy was attractive to tourists from eligible regions, but several months later, authorities noticed that the flexibility had been misused.
Some foreigners engaged in illegal activities, such as unauthorized commercial operations or undeclared employment.
New Project Under Discussion
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other authorities agreed to the return to a 30-day visa-free entry.
Currently, there are no official statements for the date of the implementation of the measure.
The possibility of the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) may be a possible option to preserve tourism appeal and control, as the reduction in the permitted stay will affect international travelers.
Solutions for Visitors to Thailand
Several options are available for tourists who wish to visit Thailand for a longer period. It’s possible to extend the visa for an additional 30 days (you need to apply through the local immigration authorities and pay the fee).
Besides, the Thai electronic visa is the best choice for travelers, as the application process can be done online.
