Tourists Affected by Thailand's Visa Changes

It's not really a big deal and won't affect many or much, just makes things a little more inconvenient for those who were using the 60-day visa on arrival for other ends than tourism... 30 days is way enough for a normal impromtu tourist and if not, then get an actual tourist visa and plan it properly.

I will be in Thailand from 1 July 2026 to 31 August 2026.

I bought my tickets in January 26 and I was hoping for 60 day on arrival.

Yesterday, I applied for a 60 day tourist visa via the immigration web site.

Option 2. Buy a very cheap one way ticket out of Thailand on July 27... and stay in Thailand. Go to immigration and obtain 30 day extension.

Or, go spend a weekend in Singapore or HCMC. Well worth seeing.

24 minutes ago, fobuff said:

I will be in Thailand from 1 July 2026 to 31 August 2026.

I bought my tickets in January 26 and I was hoping for 60 day on arrival.

Yesterday, I applied for a 60 day tourist visa via the immigration web site.

Option 2. Buy a very cheap one way ticket out of Thailand on July 27... and stay in Thailand. Go to immigration and obtain 30 day extension.

What date will the new legislation come into effect? 60 days on arrival may still be the norm at the start of July.

Want more than 30 days, get a visa, So simple.

4 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

It's not really a big deal and won't affect many or much, just makes things a little more inconvenient for those who were using the 60-day visa on arrival for other ends than tourism... 30 days is way enough for a normal impromtu tourist and if not, then get an actual tourist visa and plan it properly.

Yes it is a very big deal, because not one decent or honest reason has been given yet for the change,,,,Is this going to stop the Russians from having sex on the beach....Nope....Or stop any other crime for that matter....Nope.....I guess some people are just fine with being fed nonsense reasons...

Just now, cjinchiangrai said:

Or, go spend a weekend in Singapore or HCMC. Well worth seeing.

Just trying to clarify this.
What are the restrictions on this? The article in the Bangkok Post yesterday (20-May) stated that only two visa free entries per calendar year are allowed.

individuals entering Thailand for a third time within a calendar year after using their two full-stay privileges would be denied entry immediately

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3257808/thai-visa-exemptions-cut-by-cabinet

4 minutes ago, WHansen said:

Want more than 30 days, get a visa, So simple.

The old 30 day visa free was actually only 28 or 29 nights, day of arrival and departure both counted.

1 hour ago, davee58 said:

Just trying to clarify this.
What are the restrictions on this? The article in the Bangkok Post yesterday (20-May) stated that only two visa free entries per calendar year are allowed.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3257808/thai-visa-exemptions-cut-by-cabinet

The OP was indicating a stay of more than 60 days. You can sidestep this by spending a few days elsewhere. If they return to Thailand, get a real visa.

Alex Brady and his buds better get used to having their arxxses locked down in Ireland, drinking Guinness at home, playing video games , when the hantavirus really kicks in.

30 days.... 60 days... it won't matter.

Easy enough to get a 60 day VISA online for a few shekels so not a huge problem.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

sparking concerns among travelers who enjoyed extended stays

Who overstayed

10 hours ago, redwood1 said:

because not one decent or honest reason has been given yet for the change

Incorrect.

10 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Yes it is a very big deal, because not one decent or honest reason has been given yet for the change,,,,Is this going to stop the Russians from having sex on the beach....Nope....Or stop any other crime for that matter....Nope.....I guess some people are just fine with being fed nonsense reasons...

Wahhhhhhhh. Does living here make you mad? Do Russians having sex on the beach make you mad? Why, not getting enough yourself? Do things that don't affect you in the slightest make you mad? Does everything you don't understand or agree with make you mad? Wahhhhhhh

While this is the HOT TOPIC right now, I don't see it affecting me, except maybe keep some of the riff-raff out.

As I understand it, the average length of stay by tourists is 9-days, so big effin' deal.

Those here to work, study, retire, marry, or other legitimate long-term stay can get appropriate visas.

Only those on-the-run in their own countries, end-of-road types, out of money vagrants/backpackers, and outright criminals, want as long a stay as possible without paperwork.

So? I'm semi retired and I've been coming for 57~60 days at a time twice a year for several years now, I'll just revert to getting a 60 day tourist eVisa like I did before Covid.....

No sympathy here. There are 30 day Visa extensions tourists can apply for.

MANY stay on scam visas such as Muay Thai Boxing studies. I know 3 of such cases

where the " student " never attends any sessions. But the visa is good for a year and

can be renewed. The same with " studying Thai language " classes. Riiiiight !!

It mainly effects Tourists who do not wish to pay to obtain the correct visa.

The free entry is quite a recent thing. Long term residents will remember jumping through hoops to obtain the correct visa from nearby countries.

The freebie tourists have had lt too easy for too long. A change is overdue.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The 60-day visa-free stay was introduced to boost tourism

Either that was BS, or reducing it to 30 days having no impact on tourism is BS.

I personally think the Thai economy needs all the help it can get. Anything to discourage long term tourists spending their money in Thailand is crazy policy.

11 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Yes it is a very big deal, because not one decent or honest reason has been given yet for the change,,,,Is this going to stop the Russians from having sex on the beach....Nope....Or stop any other crime for that matter....Nope.....I guess some people are just fine with being fed nonsense reasons...

I think this is one of the few times they did give a clear and concise rational. There are too many "visitors" setting up and running businesses illegally but the over riding issue is that people are using the visa free scheme to stay in stay in thailand for longer periods of time. Basically abusing the visa free system.

If you want to stay in thailand more than 30 days, get a proper visa!!!

You are right it aint going to stop a stupid brit getting drunk and getting into a fight in walking street. But thats a different matter.

23 minutes ago, thjames007 said:

I think this is one of the few times they did give a clear and concise rational. There are too many "visitors" setting up and running businesses illegally but the over riding issue is that people are using the visa free scheme to stay in stay in thailand for longer periods of time. Basically abusing the visa free system.

If you want to stay in thailand more than 30 days, get a proper visa!!!

You are right it aint going to stop a stupid brit getting drunk and getting into a fight in walking street. But thats a different matter.

Agree่, get a visa and then set up your illegal,criminal business. All good then.

I find it very hard to believe that it all is pushed trough, let alone permanent. I not believe for a second if it is officially pushed trough, that it comes with the 2 times a year limitation, that would literally cause a mass exodus and 5-10M tourist arrival decline.

I know at least 10-15 people that come to Bangkok from Singapore even over the weekends or every long weekend, just from nightlife. They use this safe entry service now but they would def. stop visiting, that is big spender single guys... The last time i used this safe entry service myself it got entirely out of hand already too, there is now often dozens of Chinese using it, who actually look dodgy to begin with.

Then on top this 300 baht fees, after already having done a 700 baht increase just 2 years ago or so. Even AirAsia CEO speaks out now. This while a flight from Samui to Singapore cost less than to Bangkok, which clearly demonstrates and proves it is a big hoax.

He said they make them pay the same fees as intercontinental full service airlines and flights since years too. That explains a lot.

Then I not even start about the fact that this solves absolute zero about bad behaving 'real' tourists that behave bad on their 2nd day already too. Same as the real cons having their long-term fix visa's, financed by their bribed illegal businesses.

They did this raid down south and left all con guys alone with a work permit, despite the fact they not have 4 thai workers for that permit. It was nothing but one big show and catching some easy big fish, to then still do the visa thing...

You would think it is not that hard to do a head count on Thais per permit, and to check social fees history payments + pay slips. If it is up to me we also instantly revert the changes made for Thais to EU schengen visa's. A limit of 30 days per 10 years sounds fair, no more owning over 49% of a business, no more owning properties except expensive apartment units. 90 day reports too in Paris, in person.

Imagine to even jokingly propose this in a western country, you would be compared to hitler.

6 hours ago, jimmybcool said:

Easy enough to get a 60 day VISA online for a few shekels so not a huge problem.

But who wants to go to Israel to get one? 555

55 minutes ago, thjames007 said:

I think this is one of the few times they did give a clear and concise rational. There are too many "visitors" setting up and running businesses illegally but the over riding issue is that people are using the visa free scheme to stay in stay in thailand for longer periods of time. Basically abusing the visa free system.

If you want to stay in thailand more than 30 days, get a proper visa!!!

You are right it aint going to stop a stupid brit getting drunk and getting into a fight in walking street. But thats a different matter.

Do Skandies, Arabs, Muslims, Aussies, Trumpies, Germans and other Europeans etc etc not get drunk and into fights?

And if, as you say, it is a different matter, why did you post it?

3 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

But who wants to go to Israel to get one? 555

That's why they start these schools at cheap fees, they have found the loop hole where you get a year visa per foreign child enrolled in one. This while that not applies for a half thai child with a foreign parent. They also cycle the 15K for DTV visa between friends.

They are not impacted by this, neither Russians or Chinese, they all have the same work together principles. The ordinary westerner is fked.

Migrants in the west do it the same way, they buy first 1 house with 5-10 family members, pay off enough, then they get 2 houses more and so on and on. We westerners have a system of individualism which isn't working in our favor since decades.

12 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Yes it is a very big deal, because not one decent or honest reason has been given yet for the change,,,,Is this going to stop the Russians from having sex on the beach....Nope....Or stop any other crime for that matter....Nope.....I guess some people are just fine with being fed nonsense reasons...

It was 30 days for many years and there was no valid reason for making it 60 days. After all there is a 60 day tourist visa.

The visa waiver program was introduced for short term visitors, not as an easy path to a long term stay.

9 minutes ago, Spider5511 said:

That's why they start these schools at cheap fees, they have found the loop hole where you get a year visa per foreign child enrolled in one. This while that not applies for a half thai child with a foreign parent. They also cycle the 15K for DTV visa between friends.

They are not impacted by this, neither Russians or Chinese, they all have the same work together principles. The ordinary westerner is fked.

Migrants in the west do it the same way, they buy first 1 house with 5-10 family members, pay off enough, then they get 2 houses more and so on and on. We westerners have a system of individualism which isn't working in our favor since decades.

Did you not notice the 555 I put after my post regarding getting shekels from Israel?

1 hour ago, jippytum said:

The free entry is quite a recent thing.

Thailand's visa exemption program has existed for decades under bilateral and reciprocal agreements with various countries,

It's understandable that tourists who bought their tickets in January of this year for a 4 to 8 week holiday are frustrated. They were expecting "visa- sh&t" free holiday. They acted in good faith and did nothing wrong. They purchased return tickets within the 2 month period. These people are genuine travellers. There should be a system implemneted to accomodate these travellers with a two month visa. Just my opinion.

12 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Yes it is a very big deal, because not one decent or honest reason has been given yet for the change,,,,Is this going to stop the Russians from having sex on the beach....Nope....Or stop any other crime for that matter....Nope.....I guess some people are just fine with being fed nonsense reasons...

The Thai government says so. Now you have your reason. They do not owe you more than that.