Thailand to Shorten Visa-Free Stays for Tourists

On 5/11/2026 at 1:51 PM, Yagoda said:

I wonder how long the Russians and Indians get, That affects my life more than a few Nigerians trying to sell me weed or Israelis whos very presence scare the jewphobics into Social media frenzies.

Israelis and Russians should be banned from entering Thailand. They are troublemakers and arrogant. In Malaysia and Indonesia no Israelis, entry prohibited. Good.

12 minutes ago, AloisAmrein said:

They are troublemakers and arrogant.

Ban all Euros then

18 minutes ago, AloisAmrein said:

Israelis and Russians should be banned from entering Thailand. They are troublemakers and arrogant. In Malaysia and Indonesia no Israelis, entry prohibited. Good.

In Thailand the Israeli's are also daily in the news, and not for the good either.

Before some Jew arse licker asks for a link, just look at the news forum for the past few weeks for the links

Well this is subtext. Who knows what is worst nationality, but clearly many "new" nationalities not as "compatible" as divorced Western man, who had some money for local standards even if just baseline Western pension, and did not want anything but to drink alcohol and pay for sex in peace. But now you have "professional" scammers, people that don't care/obey local rules at all, even if rules allow them to do activities they want, et cetera. And much could be solved by banning outright obvious nationalities. But of course Thailand cannot do that, cannot suffer foreign policy harm of "insulting" nuclear power like India or China or Russia or Israel...

On 5/11/2026 at 6:06 PM, VocalNeal said:

I started a business. An easy process.

It sustained me for almost 15 years.

What about starting a business to sell vaping equipment?

Or, any other good business ideas?

A ten-year business might be about right.

21 hours ago, 10000Baht said:

In my opinion, that's nonsense. Firstly, it proves absolutely nothing, because what are 20,000 THB for a stay of 30 days or longer? Secondly, you're not making a distinction between tourists and people who live in Thailand.

I live here and personally never carry that much cash in my wallet, as I handle almost everything with my bank accounts and PromptPay.

I see your point about the amount being low for a 30-day stay, but you’re looking at it as a "travel budget" rather than a baseline barrier to entry. The goal of a universal cash check isn't to prove you’re rich; it’s to create a friction point that discourages people from arriving with literally nothing, it’s a "solvency floor" that’s much harder to fake than a digital screen.

As for the "I live here and use PromptPay" argument—while that's the reality for residents, immigration officers can’t be expected to verify a thousand different foreign banking apps or login to your private accounts to check balances. Cash is the only universal, "offline" proof of funds. It doesn't need a Wi-Fi connection or a translation of a foreign bank statement to confirm it's real and immediate.

It definitely feels like a hassle but the policy isn't designed for the responsible resident; it’s designed to be a standardised, non-negotiable filter for everyone else. If you make it "random," you get claims of profiling. If you make it universal, it’s just a standard entry requirement—annoying, sure, but effective at weeding out the highest-risk arrivals before they even step past the desk.

Thailand long term should simply create visa for "living with foreign money" which exist now and is DTV.

Actual tourism must not be complicated, simply create "normal" 90/180 rule, which is fully permissive and easy for even very long "holiday", but does not permit permanent residency since have to leave 90 days for each 90 days in country. Rule benefits foreigner as clear when you will/will not be admitted, not "IO roulette" at border. Even "cash" rule clearly simply dates to time before internet banking when actually everyone/most had cash. Some had AmEx maybe, but surely not typical long term resident of Thailand in 1990s...

If no action is taken on the DTV then this is just performative. It is this that is ruining Thailand.

Albeit I do welcome the change as something needs to be done to tackle the awful behaviour by tourists

Locals Thais are absolutely sick . There is pressure from them onto local governments to do more.

3 hours ago, klaikangwon said:

Thailand long term should simply create visa for "living with foreign money" which exist now and is DTV.

Actual tourism must not be complicated, simply create "normal" 90/180 rule, which is fully permissive and easy for even very long "holiday", but does not permit permanent residency since have to leave 90 days for each 90 days in country. Rule benefits foreigner as clear when you will/will not be admitted, not "IO roulette" at border. Even "cash" rule clearly simply dates to time before internet banking when actually everyone/most had cash. Some had AmEx maybe, but surely not typical long term resident of Thailand in 1990s...

It's called the Privilege Visa, the living with foreign money.

DTV is just a long term bogus tourist visa for remote workers that cant open a bank accounts.

Visas situation in Thailand is so gray, at the discretion of the immigration officers...

Just now, KimchiCurry said:

It's called the Privilege Visa, the living with foreign money.

DTV is just a long term bogus tourist visa for remote workers that cant open a bank accounts.

Visas situation in Thailand is so gray, at the discretion of the immigration officers...

Privilege too expensive. Hesitant to call "scam" as once was cheaper and not good alternatives back then... but basically for guy with "so much money price does matter", and that is not most long term stayers, also not most long term stayers who Thailand want to keep, hence no real "force" to get Privilege.

Banking rules are too strict but OK that is not actually specific to visa. In recent past could open bank account with waiver stamp and no work permit. Should obviously be possible to open bank account with DTV, as DTV is specifically intent for long term living that needs bank account, but I think current situation in Thai banking is "overreaction" to Chinese scammers. Might calm down in future, if problem seen as controlled, both for foreigners with good visas, foreigners with bad visas, and... Thai people, hundreds of thousands whose account swere also frozen...

20 minutes ago, Bally Jaggers said:

If no action is taken on the DTV then this is just performative. It is this that is ruining Thailand.

Albeit I do welcome the change as something needs to be done to tackle the awful behaviour by tourists

Locals Thais are absolutely sick . There is pressure from them onto local governments to do more.

If they take it seriously, they will see the huge shortcoming of the DTV.

If they are logical, they will scrap the whole soft power categories which is a joke that can be used by scammers, etc.

They will increase price + limit the duration + more control at airport immigration.

Anyway, let's see. Either they do nothing, or they will go full hammer and can scrap it entirely too

1 minute ago, KimchiCurry said:

If they take it seriously, they will see the huge shortcoming of the DTV.

If they are logical, they will scrap the whole soft power categories which is a joke that can be used by scammers, etc.

They will increase price + limit the duration + more control at airport immigration.

Anyway, let's see. Either they do nothing, or they will go full hammer and can scrap it entirely too

Of course not to assume Thai government always logical... but I think they make it "easy" to get now, then will tighten as more long term tourist visa/waiver get this visa, to select who they do and do not want.

Some kind of "soft power" is legitimate, as some people really do live in Thailand "permanently" do things like, for example, play golf 5 days per week. That of course needs real money, not "just" 500,000 THB, so savings requirement can be increased in that case. For example.

But basic scheme is solid. People with some way to support themselves without working illegally, spend money - that is basically what Thailand want. So, for these people, remove all the nonsense with uncertain border bounce, and for others, just wave bye bye. Of course harsh to those people, and "boring" in some sense compared to "wild south east" of past, and I don't necessarily prefer it, but can certainly see how it benefits the interests of this country that actually decides about own border.

1 minute ago, klaikangwon said:

Privilege too expensive. Hesitant to call "scam" as once was cheaper and not good alternatives back then... but basically for guy with "so much money price does matter", and that is not most long term stayers, also not most long term stayers who Thailand want to keep, hence no real "force" to get Privilege.

Banking rules are too strict but OK that is not actually specific to visa. In recent past could open bank account with waiver stamp and no work permit. Should obviously be possible to open bank account with DTV, as DTV is specifically intent for long term living that needs bank account, but I think current situation in Thai banking is "overreaction" to Chinese scammers. Might calm down in future, if problem seen as controlled, both for foreigners with good visas, foreigners with bad visas, and... Thai people, hundreds of thousands whose account swere also frozen...

Legit people with money can go with the LTR anyway.

Privilege visa was interesting before the price increase. It was even "cheap" for 20 years. Now it's a joke.

It's not going to get better.... Chinese guy was arrested with a whole arms arsenal in his place, lot of raids of illegal casinos, and drug. Also USA/china putting pressure on ASEAN countries to tackle the issues.

I remember 7 years ago, I could just open a bank account at the yellow bank with tourist visa and passport.

1 minute ago, klaikangwon said:

Of course not to assume Thai government always logical... but I think they make it "easy" to get now, then will tighten as more long term tourist visa/waiver get this visa, to select who they do and do not want.

Some kind of "soft power" is legitimate, as some people really do live in Thailand "permanently" do things like, for example, play golf 5 days per week. That of course needs real money, not "just" 500,000 THB, so savings requirement can be increased in that case. For example.

But basic scheme is solid. People with some way to support themselves without working illegally, spend money - that is basically what Thailand want. So, for these people, remove all the nonsense with uncertain border bounce, and for others, just wave bye bye. Of course harsh to those people, and "boring" in some sense compared to "wild south east" of past, and I don't necessarily prefer it, but can certainly see how it benefits the interests of this country that actually decides about own border.

Soft power categories works like this. Cooking class for 2 months give you 5 years of possible stay. From there, you can exploit it.

Just give them 1 year and it's enough.

Just now, KimchiCurry said:

Soft power categories works like this. Cooking class for 2 months give you 5 years of possible stay. From there, you can exploit it.

Just give them 1 year and it's enough.

Yes Yes of course right now "soft power" just means have 500,000 THB in bank and letter from gym bought for $5. Well, 500,000 THB not tiny barrier compared to 1,500 THB tourist visa... but yes, either this number must go up, or more judgement on what is "real" activity. Of course embassy officials hate judgement, because they can be blamed for mistake, which may explain current rule...

On 5/11/2026 at 6:53 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

I don't suppose perchance that you are a home owning retiree are you ?

more likely a retiree with a home owning wife like most of us

On 5/12/2026 at 10:55 AM, Rockyroad said:

It was boomers who voted for the politicians and their policies. The Labor party lets in millions of migrants for votes. Every Labor party voter should be jailed alongside Albo and Rudd for destroying the nation.

Can only boomers vote now? Nobody else?

Wake up you drongo.

On 5/12/2026 at 10:58 AM, Rockyroad said:

Keating and Hawke were boomers.

That was thirty years ago. You don't have a clue.

36 minutes ago, Bally Jaggers said:

Albeit I do welcome the change as something needs to be done to tackle the awful behaviour by tourists

bad behaviour by tourists will only be reduced by publicly and vigorously enforcing the law and making sure the incidents and the punishments received are fully reported in the newspapers of the countries where the offenders come from and all over social media messing about with visas or visa free entries is a complete waste of time, Prison time and large fines are the order of the day

55 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

bad behaviour by tourists will only be reduced by publicly and vigorously enforcing the law and making sure the incidents and the punishments received are fully reported in the newspapers of the countries where the offenders come from and all over social media messing about with visas or visa free entries is a complete waste of time, Prison time and large fines are the order of the day

It’s not just bad behaviour. Scammers, and people working here illegally are a major issue.

The DTV is to blame.

Have to fully agree, the DTV is a scandal. Backdoor immigration.

It's amusing they have not released the figures for 2025 how many were issued. An absolute scandal.

Thai people are only beginning to wake up.

This is what big corporations, the property moguls want - to fill up their new builds. But for Thai society which is still a low wage developing country, it's an absolute travesty.

Even as tourist if you have benefited from it, why on earth would you want to holiday with violent trashy visitors populating the place? Surely you want quality and peace, and for the Thai culture to remain ?

Why have they not released how many DTV were issued in 2025?

This would be a scandal i'd imagine and shock the population.

15 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Even as tourist if you have benefited from it, why on earth would you want to holiday with violent trashy visitors populating the place? Surely you want quality and peace, and for the Thai culture to remain ?

Absolutely. As a typical 2 week middle class tourist, spending $4,000 in on the ground costs and hotels, I have noticed the quality of my fellow tourist dropping since the blanket introduction of 60 days, and something certainly needs to be done about the 4 straw, 1 bottle crowd. I hope that reverting to 30 days again will be the start, but I'd say that there's no reason to not look at constricting it to 14 days for certain nationalities like South Asian and Israelis.  I get that the Thai government want to attract high spending Indian tourists (those who have their weddings in Hua Hin and such places, but those are few and far between compared to most South Asian tourists) and 14 days seems entirely reasonable.

I've just come back from my latest trip but have vowed not to return for another year, when hopefully these changes start to make a difference... 😅

21 hours ago, Bally Jaggers said:

It’s not just bad behaviour. Scammers, and people working here illegally are a major issue.

The DTV is to blame.

DTV does not allow illegal working any more than living on visa waiver did or Ed visa et cetera - before crackdown of course, but crcakdown only happen due to introduction of alternative such as DTV, LTR - because Thailand want the money from these people.

Scammer is truly "new" problem, but also more demographic than visa related. Before you have older Western man, often working class, in age before computer and generally not involved in finance even legally and certainly not advanced finance crime. Now you have CHinese young men, who maybe would scam China in 1990s, but now China has advanced government with world lead in AI et cetera, so come to Thailand for "undefended target"... for a while anyway, as now Thailand also import AI AMLO tool and freezes million bank accounts, so on.

In long term DTV "structure" allow Thailand to control "quality" of long term stayer while also formally allowing long term stay, not informally through "loophole". The money requirement, guarantee it is actually applicant's money, and purpose need to be improved. But likely to happen.

1 hour ago, thisisrascal said:

I have noticed the quality of my fellow tourist dropping since the blanket introduction of 60 days, and something certainly needs to be done about the 4 straw, 1 bottle crowd. I hope that reverting to 30 days again will be the start, but I'd say that there's no reason to not look at constricting it to 14 days for certain nationalities like South Asian and Israelis.

It is deeper structural change. In 1990, well even 2010! most Indian could not afford to leave village travel to other city in India. Now India grows fast and planes cheap. So, this is not going away with 1.5 billion country. Israel is much smaller country but with young population and also twice as rich relative to other Western countries than even in 90s, so... probably also here to stay.

If Thailand want to say "we do issue this gold visa, but not to your nationality", then they create bigger problem than tourist money or reputation, up to sanctions or even military threat. Indian military landed in Cambodia to train just week ago...

5 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Why have they not released how many DTV were issued in 2025?

This would be a scandal i'd imagine and shock the population.

You sound very interested in these figures that's twice you've mentioned it , have you tried asking somebody? they might be desperately looking for somebody who cares

I like Thailand and spend many years stomping around there. But, the paperwork and flip flopping from one day to the next is exhausting. After I got older I got tired of it and left for easier and less hassled places.

On 5/11/2026 at 5:19 PM, snoop1130 said:

Notably, Norwegian visitors, who stay the longest at an average of 21 days, would still have adequate time with a proposed 30-day period.

Using averages is a very slippery slope. Let's say this: an average salary in Thailand is.... 30,000? 40,000? THB/month. So a monthly limit to withdraw 50,000 THB should still be adequate. Something for politicians to think of.

On 5/11/2026 at 5:19 PM, snoop1130 said:

In addition, the government is proceeding with plans to introduce a 300 baht entry fee for tourists, with funds directed to the country's tourism promotion initiatives. This fee primarily targets air travelers, reinforcing Thailand's commitment to enhancing its tourism infrastructure.

So the health insurance funding for tourists leaving unpaid bills was a bait and switch. Again. Know anybody who owns a large construction firm that will profit from "infrastructure" projects. It's even clearer in this source: "Meanwhile, the government is also advancing additional financial measures affecting foreign arrivals. Mr Surasak again confirmed plans for Thailand’s proposed ฿300 tourism levy on international visitors. Previously, the proposed fee was linked to automatic insurance coverage for tourists entering the country. However, on Monday, the minister shifted emphasis towards tourism infrastructure development instead." https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2026/05/11/tourism-minister-talks-of-limiting-tourist-arrivals-with-screening-as-kingdom-aims-for-quality-visitors/

On 5/13/2026 at 4:38 PM, KimchiCurry said:

Soft power categories works like this. Cooking class for 2 months give you 5 years of possible stay. From there, you can exploit it.

Just give them 1 year and it's enough.

Cordon Bleu has cooking schools in Thailand that range from 6 weeks to 9 months. Max. But the DTVs get five years to learn how to make Pad Thai.