Tourists Affected by Thailand's Visa Changes

1 hour ago, ftpjtm said:

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.

Thailand has in the past made temporary changes to boost tourism. I can remember in the early 2000s the tourist visa being free at times.

I think they made a mistake messing with the visa waiver, as the thread highlights.

Meanwhile a Thai can get a Digital Nomad visa in Europe for right away like a year, with barely 1200 euro a month income and barely a year history while westerners need to show 15,000 USD in funds at once + monthly income proof and other collections of paperwork.

I guess the red lights of Europe will see a lot of Thai girls in the next years.

6 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

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.

Their country, their rules. How hard is it for a Thai to get a visa for your country?

1 minute ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Their country, their rules. How hard is it for a Thai to get a visa for your country?

Super easy. If having a child 5 years at once, renewable up to age 18 but by that time it's permanent residency. Zero income requirements, not need to even learn the language or do any exam, for entire EU valid (chavez law).

Digital nomad visa Europe again, per year, only around 1200 euro startup income monthly with under a year proof.

Then now the schengen visa, previously limited to 90 days per time, with 90 days breaks, now can become extended times of 180 days at once and more.

If being married, do need to learn the language and pass a exam for 5 year + passport eventually, but also just <2000 euro monthly income proof of the european husband. Less in spain or portugal, maybe 1200-1400 euro.

1 minute ago, Spider5511 said:

Digital nomad visa Europe again, per year, only around 1200 euro startup income monthly with under a year proof.

Sounds almost too good to be true................is it age restricted.?

Just now, Off Piste said:

Sounds almost too good to be true................is it age restricted.?

That would be considered discrimination in europe, specially if you apply to germany lol. Germany is actually easiest for this type of visa. Birth rates are down everywhere, every sensible country is desperate for anyone that works remote. Thailand is delusional. USA too.

Even australia gave me a 1 year business visa overnight without any proof.

12 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

There should be a system implemneted to accomodate these travellers with a two month visa.

They do not have a visa, the whole point.

If the airline rescheduled a few weeks beforehand, what would the options be?

Refund, 5555

Cancel?

Accept the change and live with it.

Show me the [official] numbers how many will be affected by the change [and how much the utterly few will spend after 30 days] and I'll join the gossip and guessing

17 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.

The process of obtaining a tourism visa for 45 or 60 days is cumbersome and expensive if one wishes to travel around the region. Even the single entry visa administration is awful. The TR Visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issuance. That means that once issued, the visa validity starts reducing. This is different from the leave to stay period.

If some quality senior citizen from Norway wants to come and spend 60 or 90 days in Thailand they will have to jump through hoops to stay by providing the following;

1. Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document

2. Photograph taken within the last six months If the photograph does not reflect your current appearance you may be refused to enter the Kingdom of Thailand

3. Document indicating current location- Applicant’s local utility bills (shows applicant’s name and address) e.g. electricity bill/ gas / mobile phone / rental agreement.

4. Travel booking confirmation - Flight details showing applicant’s name, departure date, all flights en route from UK/Ireland/UK territories to Thailand and onward ticket to another destination.

5. Proof of accommodation in Thailand, e.g. Accommodation bookings, invitation letters from family/friends in Thailand

People with options, i.e. quality tourists will say, F. that and go elsewhere. It's a stupid strategy.

If Thai government thinks this will fix its problem with scummy visitors, they are wrong. The scum will still arrive. The only solution is for Thailand to screen passengers and to upgrade its security systems to meet Australia/EU/Canada/Japan/ USA/UK/South Korea information sharing standards.

"The government hopes that shorter stays will curb illegal activities, though details on how this will reduce crime are unclear."

???

I agree with the comments made most tourists come for less than 30 days

And if you want to or need to apply foe a extra 30 days it's pretty simple apply at the nearest immigration office pay 1900 baht

Its not hard

When does this come into effect, as I'm due to arrive on 12 July and staying for 38 days?

It has to be put in the Royal gazette and then there's 15 extra days.

People are all like - just get a proper visa - fair enough but it makes life easier to have it this way and suits me perfectly for my 2 month trips so it's an added thing but I can do what I need to do. Next trip in June - now safe with 2 months thanks.

If I wasn't married I'd bypass Thailand and go to Vietnam. One never knows I may have a few off spring there as I'm a VN vet and I was shagging VN girls on a daily basis. I was 20 years old so I was up for it whenever it came along.

It would be interesting to see an article written by an investigative journalist (are there actually any investigative journalists in Thailand?) that digs into some of the worst crimes recently reported and finds out what sort of visa (if any) the alleged criminal had, did he overstay, did he do proper 90 day reporting, etc.?

In fact, if successful it could become a series of articles that starts with the major crimes and works its way down to the bar brawlers and the street fighters. The analysis might even be useful to the government ministers responsible for setting immigration policy.

The government could partner with the luxury hotels to offer a special visa service upon check-in. The international hospitals all seem to have visa service departments to assist their patients needing visa extensions. I'm sure the government and the hotel associations could come up with a scheme that would be attractive to high end tourists, would ensure higher priced hotel rooms are filled, and would be even more painless than applying for an e-visa. This is all very blue sky thinking of course and it would never happen. And if it did, somehow the bureaucrats would get involved and muck it up.

The VER went to 60 days mid-2024, and for the entire year of 2025 tourist numbers actually dropped 7% (to 33m). And for 2026 TAT is projecting about the same (30-34m arrivals). But in 2019 when the VER was 30 days, THA saw 40 million tourist (the most ever). All this anecdotal clutching and whining from select people is ridiculous. If you really NEED to visit for more than 30 days get a METV. Its not that difficult. And don't worry about Thailand, because regardless of the VER, tourist (30+ million) will always flock here.

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The 60-day visa-free stay was introduced to boost tourism, contributing over 10% to Thailand's GDP.

Wrong on the facts (again)... Tourism only accounts for 8.5% of Thailand's total GDP.

1 hour ago, Cabradelmar said:

Wrong on the facts (again)... Tourism only accounts for 8.5% of Thailand's total GDP.

The other 1.5% have learned how to bypass Visas and Immigration.

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

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.

Apparently, the reason given for making it 60 days was to encourage tourism after the Covid nonsense.

So for a few years we've all had a freebie - now the status quo has been restored.

As recently as 2020 I applied for a SETV for 60 days stay - it took about 20 minutes online. All the documents they require, I already had in electronic form (as will most people nowadays) so just a matter of uploading.

The £30 fee was irritating, no more, BUT on a 2 month stay in Thailand hardly a major extra!

All these moans are from people with short memories IMO.

Before Thailand started issuing eVisas, one had to fill in a paper form, assemble all documents using that strange paper stuff (!) get a pre-paid secure envelope for the return of one's PP and then send it all (including one's original PP) to the Embassy (or Consulate before that).

So obtaining and filling in paper form, copying, 2 trips to the Post Office and then wait. Plus, in addition to the visa fee, the secure postage 2 ways was about an extra £10 (from memory)

For goodness sake stop bloody whinging some of you!!!!!

15 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...

In my opinion the reasons they have given are probably unsubstantiated.

From the OP

recent arrests for offenses like drug crimes and operating businesses without permits have led to public pressure for change.

Have they actually checked how many/what % of foreigners committing crimes entered the country visa free? How many foreigners decided to come to Thailand to commit crimes because they could get a 60 day stay instead of 30?

Guess the criminals will just have to work faster if they can only get 30 days visas then ! 🙄

16 hours 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.

Why would you buy another ticket out? Just go to immigration and extend the 30 days.

15 hours ago, davee58 said:

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

Indeed. Has to be published first.

2 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

The process of obtaining a tourism visa for 45 or 60 days is cumbersome and expensive if one wishes to travel around the region. Even the single entry visa administration is awful. The TR Visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issuance. That means that once issued, the visa validity starts reducing. This is different from the leave to stay period.

If some quality senior citizen from Norway wants to come and spend 60 or 90 days in Thailand they will have to jump through hoops to stay by providing the following;

1. Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document

2. Photograph taken within the last six months If the photograph does not reflect your current appearance you may be refused to enter the Kingdom of Thailand

3. Document indicating current location- Applicant’s local utility bills (shows applicant’s name and address) e.g. electricity bill/ gas / mobile phone / rental agreement.

4. Travel booking confirmation - Flight details showing applicant’s name, departure date, all flights en route from UK/Ireland/UK territories to Thailand and onward ticket to another destination.

5. Proof of accommodation in Thailand, e.g. Accommodation bookings, invitation letters from family/friends in Thailand

People with options, i.e. quality tourists will say, F. that and go elsewhere. It's a stupid strategy.

If Thai government thinks this will fix its problem with scummy visitors, they are wrong. The scum will still arrive. The only solution is for Thailand to screen passengers and to upgrade its security systems to meet Australia/EU/Canada/Japan/ USA/UK/South Korea information sharing standards.

BS. Before getting my retirement visa I did a couple of 90 days e-visa and, yes, it took a few minutes (from memory all could be done from the phone) but if the so called "quality" tourist dont want to invest a few minutes to prove they are actually of some "quality" so be it; sure Pattaya wont miss a few of the drunken peeping Norwegians

33 minutes ago, VBF said:

For goodness sake stop bloody whinging some of you!!!!!

The whiners are likely the 2 week a year only filling time untill the annually event. Remember far to well the paper mill which, for me applying at an embassy in a country different from passport was PIA.

Thai Immigration make no money from a 60 (or 30) day visa exempt entry. But every extension of a 30 day exemption or issue of a tourist visa or extension or use of an agent makes money.

4 hours ago, wil iam not said:

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?

Let's face it, the Brits do take the biscuit for performing.

7 minutes ago, BusyB said:

Let's face it, the Brits do take the biscuit for performing.

Yep, Cliff and the Shads were first, then J P G & R.

Or would Ginger Baker comply.

What’s with all this massive whining about people now being ‘forced’ to change their travel plans? Have they all lost the plot? After 30 days (or a few days before) you just go to immigration, extend your visa, and that’s that. A real intellectual challenge, I know.