Thailand expected to cut visa-free stays to 30 days in September

1 minute ago, wavodavo said:

Its not rocket science. if someone goes out for a day and comes back repeatedly then that gives immigration a chance to vet them and be sure that they are genuine visitors and have enough funds.Before this new rule we had many coming in for 90 days with enough money for 30 days and look how that turned out.

Turned out?

I have not heard of or seen any farang begging in the streets....

99.9% of farang tourists have enough money to stay for many months if spent wisely....

They could not have afforded the plane ticket to begin with if they were broke...

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

The main purpose is probably ambiguity. Meaning that the rules are deliberately left vague so that the immigration officer can decide on a case by case basis whether to allow someone entering and exiting every month, to enter the Kingdom.

If there is a proven reason, maybe business travel, visiting family, maybe they will allow it after individual review.

If they have the slightest suspicion of something untoward, think you are in reality living in the Kingdom, or are in a bad mood, they have the grounds to refuse entry.

I’m just speculating, I don’t actually know for sure.

That is a problem all over Thailand.. there are no clear rules and so it all depends on the officer in this case...Why not clear stateents as not more entries allowed as 2 on a row or 6 a year??? That is clear for everyone

3 hours ago, Rams86 said:

Thailand should cut all free visas and then tourists would need to get a Thai visa in their own country accompanied by a police report of the applicant. This would stop a lot of the trouble makers from entering Thailand. The government has been the root of most of the trouble as money is far more important than the tourists behavior. The risk of deportation should've been made public when the 60 days visas were first issued.

What about trouble makers who just have not been "Knicked"

19 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Why not clear stateents as not more entries allowed as 2 on a row or 6 a year??? That is clear for everyone

Because someone might have a legitimate reason for 7 a year.

3 hours ago, Rams86 said:

Thailand should cut all free visas and then tourists would need to get a Thai visa in their own country accompanied by a police report of the applicant. This would stop a lot of the trouble makers from entering Thailand. The government has been the root of most of the trouble as money is far more important than the tourists behavior. The risk of deportation should've been made public when the 60 days visas were first issued.

Police reports are virtually impossible for the public to obtain in the United States.

31 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

That is a problem all over Thailand.. there are no clear rules and so it all depends on the officer in this case...Why not clear stateents as not more entries allowed as 2 on a row or 6 a year??? That is clear for everyone

Well I think these rules are clear, up to a specific point. So most people will know where they stand.

For the minority who go in and out frequently, it’s ambiguous because, as far as I can see, they will be treated on a case by case basis. Make a good case and you may get in, but it will give immigration a chance to vet you because your frequent travel is out of the ordinary for a tourist.

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Two of the groups causing the most trouble in Thailand are conspicuously absent from that list - Russia and China

.

That is how I saw the Nominee crackdown structure playing out. Along with other foreigners the Russians buying some nice pool villa's that would end up being seized and auctioned off.

From what AI states a forced sale with no criminal charge would allow the proceeds to be returned to foreigner minus any taxes, fees, etc.

Depending on if a criminal charge like fraud, money laundering, etc is ruled the money would be possibly split between multiple agencies.

I know a number of genuine snowbird type tourists that are trying to work out the best way of staying in Thailand for their usual period.

It seems the only real option for a stay of over 90 days is a multi-entry tourist visa with a visa run halfway through, though you are at the mercy of the immigration officer allowing you back in. Each entry is valid for 60 days.

So there are ways around it, just a bit more complicated and expensive than before.

Edited September 1Sep 1 by madmitch

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

Because someone might have a legitimate reason for 7 a year.

I don't believe that soo many tourists are coming here more than 6 times a year... Probably they are not tourists

8 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I don't believe that soo many tourists are coming here more than 6 times a year... Probably they are not tourists

That's how you think -- that maybe isn't how they think.

Edited September 1Sep 1 by JerryM

3 hours ago, shackleton said:

Totally agree 30 days is usually enough for the normal tourist

If more is needed ie a other 30 days is available at all immigration offices cost 1900 baht

Not to difficult to apply for

Unless you dont fancy sitting around all day at an immigration office

Just ask those at Soi 5 Jomtien attempting to do it. Yes you can but expect a wasted day

31 minutes ago, giants49 said:

These kinds of rules are a great way to hurt tourism. The guys in the government don't have a clue.

One of the problems that Thailand's been facing for a long time is that immigration and the tourism authorities have never been on the same page. They have completely different agendas.

5 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Singapore doesn’t have a land border with Thailand. But Singapore nationals can travel through Malaysia and cross the land border.

Similarly, Singapore nationals who live in Thailand can make a land border crossing at any of Thailands land borders. Same for the other nationalities.

Point being, your country doesn’t have to have a land border with Thailand, for you to make a land border crossing to or from Thailand, to a third party country.

You mention Cambodia. For reference -

ALL land border crossings between Cambodia and Thailand are currently CLOSED.

Edited September 1Sep 1 by Burma Bill

6 hours ago, Rams86 said:

Thailand should cut all free visas and then tourists would need to get a Thai visa in their own country accompanied by a police report of the applicant. This would stop a lot of the trouble makers from entering Thailand. The government has been the root of most of the trouble as money is far more important than the tourists behavior. The risk of deportation should've been made public when the 60 days visas were first issued.

Yep! You’ve cracked it mate. That will keep the troublemakers out! Oh and everyone else as well, nice one!!

6 hours ago, Rams86 said:

Thailand should cut all free visas and then tourists would need to get a Thai visa in their own country accompanied by a police report of the applicant. This would stop a lot of the trouble makers from entering Thailand. The government has been the root of most of the trouble as money is far more important than the tourists behavior. The risk of deportation should've been made public when the 60 days visas were first issued.

Around 2013 I believe I in those days had to get a visa before I flew to Thailand. As Brisbane was the closest place with a consulate I had to go there from Lennox head (Near Byron Bay) to get it. It took two trips and is a 2 hr drive one way. The first trip was to fill out the form and a few days later was to pick up my passport with the approved stamp. What a waste of my time, money and energy just to get a Visa, Won't do that again.

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

That's how you think -- that maybe isn't how they think.

I can't think for others.... but i know what is normal and what not most of the times.

I worked in a travel agency for more than 10 years and never had a tourists who wanted to go 7 times a year to the same destination

Edited September 1Sep 1 by ikke1959

A quick note to the people who are posting about "eliminating the troublemakers." Thailand had over 33 million visitors in 2025. How many troublemakers do you think there were? Take that number and divide it by 33 million, and that's the percent of a "problem" that you're trying to solve. Near meaningless statistic. (Trouble Makers) / 33,000,000) x 100 = "Trouble Maker Percent"

1 minute ago, JustinTyme said:

Thailand had over 33 million visitors in 2025. How many troublemakers do you think there were?

regardless of the actual numbers, it is obvious that far too many troublemakers and criminals are able to enter thailand without much difficulty and continue their activities here ...

14 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I can't think for others.... but i know what is normal and what not most of the times.

I worked in a travel agency for more than 10 years and never had a tourists who wanted to go 7 times a year to the same destination

It isn't a matter of deciding what is a good number -- they don't want to set a number . Besidds:

You can use a tourist visa exemption to attend a short convention in Thailand if you hold a passport from an eligible country.

Permitted Activities: Short business engagements, meetings, or attending conventions are generally accepted under a standard short-term entry.

9 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

So you can stay for years if you fly in and out, but there is always a risk that an officer doesn't allow you to cross the border.. In fact what is the use of a 30 days visa than if there are unlimited entries???

The visa allows for 60 days not 30!

So, at present - visa free = 60 days, entry with SETV = 60 days...which makes the visa pointless

From when this change occurs (15th September, apparently) - visa free = 30 days, entry with SETV = 60 day

Edited September 1Sep 1 by VBF
Adding detail

5 hours ago, marin said:

You must be much younger than me. For the first 15 years I came here before moving over I needed a visa. At first there were multiple entry tourist visas, then moved on to non immigrant multiple entries. There was NO visa free entry at all.

You dont need to visit a consulate for a visa these days, its all done online.

You get one month free on entry and can extend that by another 30 days. What vacationer needs more than that?

Me - annual 2 month trip which I might or might not extend - next question? And before you reply, yes, I shall get a visa online next time as I had to do before 2023 when the current rules took effect.

Edited September 1Sep 1 by VBF
Adding detail

4 hours ago, motdaeng said:

regardless of the actual numbers, it is obvious that far too many troublemakers and criminals are able to enter thailand without much difficulty and continue their activities here ...

How many tourists who are tired of constant change and endless "jumping through hoops" are you willing to lose, to weed out your "trouble makers" ... who, judging from some posts here, really translate to "ethnicities and religions I don't like." So, 5 million tourists? 3 million tourists? Give me a number ...

You can still get 60 days, 30 plus 30 extension...but here's the thing, how many "tourists" stay for 30 days, never mind 60 or 90

People with very short memories think covid destroyed the tourist industry here.......

But in fact for those who post nonsense on a daily basis, forget that tourism was at it's absolute depths, six months before covid. Prayut and the BKK airports, ran by hateful high ranking Toms etc , were bouncing back as many farang as they possibly could, so many regular, targetted (big) spenders didn't come!

During, and after covid, the farang were amazingly welcomed back, but after several years, Anutin has now reverted back to the previous elite hating farang visa policies and the AN usual suspects think it's all good!!

Edited September 2Sep 2 by Jay0kay

Before COVID many Chinese were coming, same trend atm. The farang era has gone, things changed after the 2004 tsunami.

Just now, stevenl said:

Before COVID many Chinese were coming, same trend atm. The farang era has gone, things changed after the 2004 tsunami.

No, western people stopped coming because of flight price rises and increased paperwork, due to COVID.

I've not flown since COVID, when I was paying a maximum of 1,250bht per flight to China/Vietnam/PI (Cambodia was always a bit more expensive, so I'd take the bus BK to SR). Before I was flying 8 flights a year.

But it's not only pricing, part of it is the idea borders can close at no notice for no reason. My last flight from SR arrived in BK 15 minutes before lockdown, and I can do without that sort of poop happening!

Edited September 2Sep 2 by BritManToo