Thailand Reverses Visa Policy for Tourists From 60 Countries

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand has reinstated its 30-day visa exemption policy for tourists from roughly 60 countries, effective April 1, 2023, marking a reversal of a previous regulation that allowed visitors from these countries to stay up to 45 days without obtaining a prior visa.

 

Tourists from mainland Europe, the UK, the US, Australia, Saudi Arabia and other countries will now only be granted a 30-day stay in Thailand if they choose to enter the kingdom without obtaining a prior visa.

 

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), visa-exempt visitors will still have the option to extend their stay once for an additional 30 days if they go through immigration, allowing them to travel the nation for a maximum of 60 days.

 

Visa-exempt countries will also have another option to obtain a 30-day extension by briefly leaving and re-entering the country. However, land border crossings can only happen twice per calendar year. While there are no official restrictions on entry by air, immigration officers have the discretion to refuse tourists entry and require them to obtain a formal visa from a Thai embassy beforehand.

 

Additionally, the visa-on-arrival period, which had been extended from 15 to 30 days, has now reverted back to 15 days for countries considered visas on arrival.

 

The TAT reportedly plans to approach the new government after the general election to potentially revise the visa program again to attract more tourists.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230403134900568

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-04-03

 

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[zzzzz]

NEVER reversed  its policy
when it began it was Oct 1-march 31st for 45 days, so even when it started it had an end date
how does that =reversal?

[John Drake]

So China and Russia back to 15 day VOA?

 

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, zzzzz said:

NEVER reversed  its policy
when it began it was Oct 1-march 31st for 45 days, so even when it started it had an end date
how does that =reversal?

And if I recall from the start, no one was on the same page regarding this rather new voa policy. 

From what I understand, there was lots of confusion as to what is what and what isn't. 

 

Early on, they were just stamping people in with no purchased voa - paperwork or electronic. 

Perhaps, this boondoggle has been corrected or updated.....or not. 

[MrJ2U]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

So China and Russia back to 15 day VOA?

 

Great ????!

[cheapcanuck]

Those extra 15 days was great for me. 30 days never seems to be enough and I usually extend for another 30 days. I end up leaving the country before the extended 30 days. The 45 day VOA was just right for me and would like to see it come back.

[KhunBENQ]

3 hours ago, John Drake said:

So China and Russia back to 15 day VOA?

 

No for Russia 30 days visa exempt since long.

Yes for China (Visa on arrival/eVisa).

 

[SmokeandIce]

1 hour ago, cheapcanuck said:

Those extra 15 days was great for me. 30 days never seems to be enough and I usually extend for another 30 days. I end up leaving the country before the extended 30 days. The 45 day VOA was just right for me and would like to see it come back.

Not a visa on arrival...visa exempt...big difference

[Deserted]

Why back to 30 days. 45 was much better.

[WHansen]

Strange. The longer a tourist stays, the more money they spend

[radiochaser]

I will be traveling to Thailand in June this year.  I have a return ticket from Thailand to U.S. of A. in August, so longer than 30 days. 

But wife (who will go in July) and I will travel to Vietnam for a week then return to Thailand on one of the airlines.    As I understand the VOA (or visa exempt), I will have 30 days when I first arrive.   I will also have a new 30 day VOA when I return to Thailand by air from Vietnam and will not have to apply for an extension to my first arrival. 

Is my understanding of the 30 VOA issue correct? 

[ukrules]

5 minutes ago, Deserted said:

Why back to 30 days. 45 was much better.

Yes it was better, 90 days would have been even better.

 

I guess they got the high season out the way now they don't care at all.

 

The money is flowing into all the right peoples wallets and all is well, so why not make things a little bit harder for the average tourist and make them pay that 1900 Baht if they want to stay a little longer.

 

[Deserted]

Plus we got the tourist tax coming soon. 

[Sheryl]

34 minutes ago, radiochaser said:

I will be traveling to Thailand in June this year.  I have a return ticket from Thailand to U.S. of A. in August, so longer than 30 days. 

But wife (who will go in July) and I will travel to Vietnam for a week then return to Thailand on one of the airlines.    As I understand the VOA (or visa exempt), I will have 30 days when I first arrive.   I will also have a new 30 day VOA when I return to Thailand by air from Vietnam and will not have to apply for an extension to my first arrival. 

Is my understanding of the 30 VOA issue correct? 

VOA and visa exempt  are totally different things.

 

If you are from US you will get a visa exempt entry. NOT a visa on arrival (VOA).

 

It allows you to stay 30 days. If you will travel onward to VN within that period then no need for extension. You will get a new visa exempt entry upon your return to Thailand which will allow a stay of up to another 30 days.

 

You may need to show the air ticket to VN when you check in for original  flight  to Thailand and then the return flight out of Thailand when checking in for VN-Thailand segment as people entering visa exempt are supposed to have proof of onward travel and some sirlines ask to see it. 

 

When you land go to the regular immigration counter. Do not go to the separate section for visa on arrival. 

 

[proton]

1 hour ago, Deserted said:

Why back to 30 days. 45 was much better.

But only temporary, should be 10 days for Chinese ????

[Deserted]

I'd prefer it if it was only 1 for them.

[Puccini]

49 minutes ago, Deserted said:

I'd prefer it if it was only 1 for them.

Buy it weren't, were it?

[Homburg]

Bummer.  It was nice while it lasted.

[bluejets]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), visa-exempt visitors will still have the option to extend their stay once for an additional 30 days if they go through immigration, allowing them to travel the nation for a maximum of 60 days.

Brought this up a couple of times previously without any real satisfactory answer.

How does one go about this when it is a requirement to have a return flight booking within the 30 day period?

Fine, change the stay options, but then there is the above problem plus any inter-connecting flight/travel bookings that need to be rescheduled.

Usually at a rather large cost and inconvienience.

Better all around to get a 60 day visa entry, which, as pointed out before, means Aus passport has to do a minimum "to Sydney and back" round trip also at additional cost.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand has reinstated its 30-day visa exemption policy for tourists from roughly 60 countries, effective April 1, 2023, marking a reversal of a previous regulation that allowed visitors from these countries to stay up to 45 days without obtaining a prior visa

Thailand really does need to get it's act together.

[Hanuman2547]

The 45 day visa exemption was nice while it lasted.  Now back to the regular 30 day visa exemption.  It would be great if Thailand were to do this same program again later this year.  Just have to wait and see.  It's their country, they can do as they like.

[Salerno]

31 minutes ago, bluejets said:

Brought this up a couple of times previously without any real satisfactory answer.

How does one go about this when it is a requirement to have a return flight booking within the 30 day period?

By purchasing a throwaway ticket for around US$115. There is no need for a return ticket, just a flight out.

 

31 minutes ago, bluejets said:

Fine, change the stay options, but then there is the above problem plus any inter-connecting flight/travel bookings that need to be rescheduled.

Usually at a rather large cost and inconvienience.

They didn't change it per se, the title is just a dog whistle they didn't "reverse" anything, a "special offer" reverted back to normal, as scheduled. The "problems" you alluded to are not much of a problem, now or in the years past.

 

31 minutes ago, bluejets said:

Better all around to get a 60 day visa entry, which, as pointed out before, means Aus passport has to do a minimum "to Sydney and back" round trip also at additional cost.

Lost me there, as mentioned the outward flight can be to anywhere. Most real tourist (in the traditional sense of the word) do in fact go back home after a holiday so not sure the relevance of a round trip comes in nor why it would be at "additional cost"?

.

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, John Drake said:

So China and Russia back to 15 day VOA?

 

Well in the case of Russia I don't think so. Revert to 30 day Visa Exempt based on a bilateral agreement. Probably without the option of extension. 

[Bangkok Barry]

What this does is discourage the rich tourists that the government insists it wants to attract. 30 day entry is fine for the vast majority of tourists, probably 95%+, as most proper tourists just have 2-3 week vacation time before returning to work. Those who have more money can afford to stay longer, but the government makes it more difficult for them.

[chris carre]

11 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

And if I recall from the start, no one was on the same page regarding this rather new voa policy. 

From what I understand, there was lots of confusion as to what is what and what isn't. 

 

Early on, they were just stamping people in with no purchased voa - paperwork or electronic. 

Perhaps, this boondoggle has been corrected or updated.....or not. 

What confusion visa excempt went from 30 day,s to 45.And visa on arrival from 15 day,s to 30.If you find that confusing you must have very limited inteligance

[Hakuna Matata]

13 hours ago, John Drake said:

So China and Russia back to 15 day VOA?

 

I wish it was!

[Hakuna Matata]

7 hours ago, WHansen said:

Strange. The longer a tourist stays, the more money they spend

If they are real tourists, normally they do not stay longer than 10-15 days!

[PB172111]

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

Yes it was better, 90 days would have been even better.

 

I guess they got the high season out the way now they don't care at all.

 

The money is flowing into all the right peoples wallets and all is well, so why not make things a little bit harder for the average tourist and make them pay that 1900 Baht if they want to stay a little longer.

 

Oh dear, someone is on his high horse again. 
Relax and have a cup of tea.

[Hakuna Matata]

7 hours ago, Deserted said:

Why back to 30 days. 45 was much better.

No, I don't think so. I wish they reduced it to 14 days for all countries. Those who want to stay longer than 2 weeks are not real tourists. Many of them take jobs from local people and are involved in criminal activity!

[Sydebolle]

Interesting move, unclear intention though. An American friend from Nebraska wanted to spend a six-weeks summer vacation with his family of totally five here in Thailand. 
As things stand, he needs to apply for visas at USD 200/stamp which will add USD 1'000 on the trip costs which he is not willing to pay ........... your call!