Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay to 30 Days to Combat Abuse

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of TTG Asia

 

Thailand is set to reduce its visa-free stay allowance from 60 days to 30 days, a move aimed at curbing the misuse of the visa exemption for illegal business activities. The decision, agreed upon in principle by relevant authorities, is spearheaded by the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

 

Sorawong Thienthong, the Tourism and Sports Minister, stated that the Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the issue following extensive discussions with stakeholders over the past weeks. They collectively decided to shorten the visa-free period, but more discussions are necessary before the official announcement.

 

Since July 2024, Thailand has permitted travellers from 93 countries to enter for up to 60 days without a visa, an extension from the previous allowance for 57 countries. Nevertheless, tourism operators have raised concerns, noting that most long-haul tourists typically stay for 14 to 21 days, while short-haul visitors average about one week.

 

The Association of Thai Travel Agents highlighted worries about the increased duration contributing to illegal work and businesses by foreigners. Concurrently, the Thai Hotels Association linked these activities to the rise in condos being rented out illegally.

 

A former MP from Phuket also called for a crackdown on foreign businesses circumventing Thai laws and urged a shortening of the visa-free period. In response, Natthriya Thaweevong, the ministry's permanent secretary, announced plans to enforce the Tourism Business and Tourist Guide Act more rigorously.

 

 

 

A special joint operational centre, involving six agencies including the Tourism Department and Tourist Police, is actively investigating such illegal activities in popular tourist hotspots like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, and Bangkok.

 

In 2024 alone, licenses of 40 tourism companies were revoked for misconduct, such as illegal alterations of company directorships or shareholding structures.

 

In Phuket, licenses for 15 tour companies were cancelled due to violations. There was even an instance involving a Thai committee member appearing as an owner across five different company names, further highlighting the exploitation of business regulations.

 

By tightening the visa-free stay duration, Thailand aims to deter illegal business operations while maintaining its appeal as a premier tourist destination. Details of the changes are expected soon, as authorities balance welcoming tourists with protecting against legal infractions and preserving the integrity of the Thai tourism industry, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-18

 

 

[Gottfrid]

Awesome news! A very good decision, but they must also look into what nations that should not have any visa free possibilities.

[quake]

Flip Flop Thailand, at it again.

Them pesky foreigners coming here and spending there money.

 

[Robert_Smith]

They make it up as they go along.

 

Can they just do us all a favor though and blacklist the Vlads the same as the EU have done?

I would be very appreciative of that.

 

Pattaya is literally thronged with them. They are everywhere.

Enough is enough.

 

regards,

bob.

[hotsun]

due to thailands location and the type of tourists they depend on, id say theres not much they can do to achieve their goal of taking our money and not have us be there

[Harrisfan]

Just limit the worst 3 trouble makers.

[KhunBENQ]

Time to do more cutbacks.

Reduce list of visa exempt countries.

Speed up with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

Stricter enforcement of existing rules at the checkpoints (onward/return flight, financials).

[hotsun]

Just now, Harrisfan said:

Just limit the worst 3 trouble makers.

Offending china russia and india would mean the govt doesnt get paid. It will be for everyone, because of those three

[Yagoda]

Excellent decision

[Robert_Smith]

18 minutes ago, hotsun said:

due to thailands location and the type of tourists they depend on, id say theres not much they can do to achieve their goal of taking our money and not have us be there

...They would much rather tourists wire them the money from their home countries without ever even stepping foot on to their scared land.

 

regards,

bob.

[GanDoonToonPet]

It was only implemented as a short-term measure anyway so nobody should be surprised.

[Harrisfan]

Most troublemakers stay 2 to 3 weeks. The longer stayers are better class of people. So it would make no sense.

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

It was only implemented as a short-term measure anyway so nobody should be surprised.

Exactly. If it was designed to be a permanent change then could have scrapped the SETV at the same time.

Clearly was a temporary move along with being trial run to access impact

[Mason45]

Thats a very good idea but why not cut all free visas. Do they really believe that the trouble makers will behave themselves by changing the law. While they're at it all entertainment establishments should close down by midnight. How man assualts and traffic deaths occur  between midnight and 4 am?

[Mr Meeseeks]

I fail to see the correlation between visa free entry and working illegally and/or owning illegal businesses...

 

Am I missing something?

[Harrisfan]

5 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

Thats a very good idea but why not cut all free visas. Do they really believe that the trouble makers will behave themselves by changing the law. While they're at it all entertainment establishments should close down by midnight. How man assualts and traffic deaths occur  between midnight and 4 am?

They would lose millions of tourists. 

[Mason45]

1 minute ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I fail to see the correlation between visa free entry and working illegally and/or owning illegal businesses...

 

Am I missing something?

If they cut out all free visas they would get some idea the type of people about to enter Thailand> some of the visa applications would be refused before they arrived here,

[Harrisfan]

6 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

If they cut out all free visas they would get some idea the type of people about to enter Thailand> some of the visa applications would be refused before they arrived here,

Cambodia gets 2.3m tourists. Thailand 28m. Visas kill tourism. Only 500 bad eggs, kick em out and ban them for 5 years.

[NorthernRyland]

They do this shuffle every year. Loosen the rules during high season then tighten them in the low season when it doesn't matter anyways.

 

Next year come November they'll be spread wide open for Ivan, Chin and Ravi.

[StayinThailand2much]

Thank god, I haven't booked my Thailand holiday yet! Is Vietnam still offering 45 days? May give the IO a big grin if they ask me 'how long you stay'... 30 days, then off to other destinations. 😝

[Yagoda]

6 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Cambodia gets 2.3m tourists. Thailand 28m. Visas kill tourism. Only 500 bad eggs, kick em out and ban them for 5 years.

Cambodia only has one place to go.

[Harrisfan]

Just now, Yagoda said:

Cambodia only has one place to go.

Vietnam gets 13m. They have stricter visas.

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In Phuket, licenses for 15 tour companies were cancelled due to violations. There was even an instance involving a Thai committee member appearing as an owner across five different company names, further highlighting the exploitation of business regulations.

 

And what does that have to do with an extended duration of VFEs?? 🤔

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

Time to do more cutbacks.

Reduce list of visa exempt countries.

Speed up with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

Stricter enforcement of existing rules at the checkpoints (onward/return flight, financials).

 

I bet, a large number of the 'bad apples' are Chinese... But no, can't just cut visas for them, because big CCP brother will be p**sed. Maybe it really is, like the Chinese tour guides in Pattaya said years ago, Thailand IS (practically) "a colony of China"...

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, Robert_Smith said:

...They would much rather tourists wire them the money from their home countries without ever even stepping foot on to their scared land.

 

regards,

bob.

 

The day will come when they are drunk and bold enough to actually come up with a 'tourism' campaign like that, I'm sure... 😆 

[Yagoda]

11 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Vietnam gets 13m. They have stricter visas.

More tourist attractions, better beaches, better marketing.

 

Here is how it works in Cambodia. You go to Angkor. You leave.

[Robert_Smith]

4 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

The day will come when they are drunk and bold enough to actually come up with a 'tourism' campaign like that, I'm sure... 😆 

"Amazing Thailand 4.0"

 

So Amazing that you don't even need to get on a plane. Just wire us your money and we will send you a 12 hour, custom tailored video in 4K...

 

regards,

bob.

[Gknrd]

Not good news for me, I was going to come after June to stay for a while. But, I am not going through the 30 day tourist visa again.  That is a pain in the A$$.

[Yagoda]

8 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

The day will come when they are drunk and bold enough to actually come up with a 'tourism' campaign like that, I'm sure... 😆 

You could call it the Buffalo Rescue Campaign:

 

Tinkling Thai Music

Fast Cuts to bucolic fields with pretty girls and Buffalo

Cut to Dead Buffalo

Pretty girl sobbing, villagers look on wailing

Deep Voice, (Sam Elliot drawl or even David Attenborough for that touch of English class)

"Thousands of innocent Thai farm girls have their lives ruined because their Buffalo dies".

"Please help us save these innocent lives"

"Contribute today."

"Save the Buffalo"

Cut to teary eyed beautiful Thai girl, looking down she gazes into your eyes and whispers brokenly "Thank you, kah", then smiles "I lub you", fade out, bank details on screen.

 

[Robert_Smith]

4 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Not good news for me, I was going to come after June to stay for a while. But, I am not going through the 30 day tourist visa again.  That is a pain in the A$$.

There's always Cambodia....

 

regards,

bob.