Thailand Limits Visa-Free Access to 57 Countries

On 4/28/2026 at 4:13 AM, Yagoda said:

Europeans tend to be elitist unwashed know it alls with bad teeth and poor manners. They are usually rude, especially to the locals.

I hope you avoid me.

Just chatting with a few AIs and there is something of a consensus on which nations and their citizens have the worst behavior in Thailand and which Thais dislike the most:

At the top:

Mainland Chinese -- criminal behavior and bad treatment of Thais as "inferiors"

Russians--criminal and aggressive behavior

Indians--sexual predators, cheap, and bad hygiene

British --drunken, brawling, aggressive, cheap, argumentative, loud

(one AI also included Israelis at this tier)

Next tier

Australia--ignore safety rules, loud, brawls, drunken

United States--loud but generally well behaved, generous in tipping

Northern Europe (mainly Germany and Scandinavia)--well behaved, quiet but generally cheap because they skew older and on a budget

On 4/27/2026 at 5:45 PM, NanLaew said:

It claims it is the same as the previous 57 countries. However, the old list appears to be the following.

Americas: USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru.

Europe: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Austria, etc.

Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam.

Others: Turkey, South Africa, Mauritius.

What about Israel? Likely to be banned?

In my opinion DTV is the worst thing ever happened to Thailand. Reckless from previous administration. You can shove your condos where sun doesn’t shine. It’s wrecking tourism, local culture, and peace in this great country.

I don’t think they will go down to 57 countries for visa free. But there does need to be checks and balances on Indians (making sure they have accommodation and funds), and Chinese (not going back and forth like scammers are doing now).

20 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The TDAC is just an arrival 'card' and takes less than 5 minutes to complete!

The old real card one was easier! The new one has brought about many scam sites where they persuade you to pay.. I fail to see it as any benefit.

20 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Many countries now require a visitor to complete an online, pre-flight entry registration procedure very similar to TDAC.

Had to do a customs type one for Bali, on top of the on-line tourist visa. I fail to see it as progress as far as the customer is concerned. Has the TDAC produced any benefits? We seem to get more undesirables than ever before into Thailand.

They could have an online visa system, similar to the TDAC where you upload your hotel or accomodation stay in your name, and proof of funds.

THe lack of funds, and many sharing a single room is a common issue with travellers from India and that region.

With China the obvious issue is sheer volume of scams they are operating in Thailand.

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Has the TDAC produced any benefits?

To you personally, obviously not. What benefits do you want exactly? A latte and a back rub at the baggage carousel maybe?

These on-line, pre-entry procedures have been introduced by many countries. Since we don't work in immigration, and have no idea of the procedures and their place in the overall scheme of things, we cannot judge the efficiencies gained elsewhere. We only see, and complain, when someone HAS NOT completed the on-line, pre-entry procedure and gums up the works.

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

To you personally, obviously not. What benefits do you want exactly? A latte and a back rub at the baggage carousel maybe?

I did not specify benefits to me personally, if anything I deliberately avoided that angle and you failed to notice. Certainly no benefit to those who have been scammed into paying for it.

Has immigration improved since or do we have more delays caused by the process itself? Discuss the topic, no snide sarcasm needed thanks.

30 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Certainly no benefit to those who have been scammed into paying for it.

It is not Immigration's fault that a negligible amount of folk are a bit clueless about the internet and clicked on the first thing that popped up in their browser.

33 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Has immigration improved since or do we have more delays caused by the process itself? Discuss the topic, no snide sarcasm needed thanks.

Yes, it has improved. Any delays on arrival are due to a negligible amount of travelers who didn't know about the DTAC system. I've made around 6 arrivals since this became a requirement and I have had no issues and I haven't witnessed anyone causing delays.

There's nothing more to discuss.

The old list of 57 countries appears here https://riyadh.thaiembassy.org/en/content/visa-exemption-tourist-coe?cate=5d80ae6615e39c0a50005c39

In addition to this there was a separate agreement with some neighboring countries (e.g. Cambodia and I think Laos) allowing 14 day visa exempt entry,. Unclear if this would resume or not, might fall through the cracks.

20 hours ago, NanLaew said:

It is not Immigration's fault that a negligible amount of folk are a bit clueless about the internet and clicked on the first thing that popped up in their browser.

Yes it is, they introduced the idea, and now people are getting scammed. And as usual it is the vulnerable. It may not be negligible to those who are scammed into paying and have now compromised their payment cards.

11 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes it is, they introduced the idea, and now people are getting scammed. And as usual it is the vulnerable. It may not be negligible to those who are scammed into paying and have now compromised their payment cards.

Immigration isn't responsible for people being stupid. They have nothing to apologise for but you crack on.

On 4/27/2026 at 5:48 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

Just make your minds up what you want to do and stick to it .

They have been trying that since Thaivisa opened...no luck as yet.

Perpetual dabblers justfying their salary.

6 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Immigration isn't responsible for people being stupid. They have nothing to apologise for but you crack on.

Immigration should make it accessible to all... there are still folks not internet savvy and the elderly struggle. If you think sod them, everyone else is stupid, crack on being what you clearly are,

At least South Africa's still on there phewwww.