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

[sabai-dee-man]

2 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Glad to hear that.

Stay longer than a few weeks, get a proper visa. 

 

A lot of bitter people here. You sound like one of them.

 

I've been visiting for over 25 years, and never (knowingly/intentionally) broken the law.

[bergenser1]

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

so you're the problem?

Me the problem, that's Irony, I hope.

I never stay past 180 days during a calendar year, nor have I overstayed my entry stamps.

I exclusively stay in boutique hotels or serviced apartments, I have zero business nor income from Thailand.

I'm strictly in Thailand as a tourist, and all I am guilty of, is to spend my hard-earned money here.

[kwilco]

3 minutes ago, bergenser1 said:

Me the problem, that's Irony, I hope.

I never stay past 180 days during a calendar year, nor have I overstayed my entry stamps.

I exclusively stay in boutique hotels or serviced apartments, I have zero business nor income from Thailand.

I'm strictly in Thailand as a tourist, and all I am guilty of, is to spend my hard-earned money here.

so yoyu'r a saint!  what will you do if they return to limited entries on 30 day? Will you get back to tourist visas?

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, thaibreaker said:

Of course they will continue with extensions.

Really how do you know?

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, thaibreaker said:

It's not a revolution, they're just going back to how it was pre July last year, just adding the ETA.

there was a lot more liberalised than just the 30 day entry.

[Suitcase]

1 hour ago, ThailandGuy said:

How about Tourist that already had bought their tickets spending more than 30 days?  They are f.... !

 

[Suitcase]

Just now, Suitcase said:

 

They still will have a total of 60 days with an extension just like they have now

[Purdey]

I wonder how many people were tricked into buying tickets based on a 60-day visa? Obviously, the two months visas were working, that's why there are so many tourists. I don't like crowds more than the next person, but raising expectations and flip flopping back will not help the country's tourism industry.

[couchpotato]

2 minutes ago, Suitcase said:

They still will have a total of 60 days with an extension just like they have now

Yes but now the IO has the option to grant that extra 30 days, which was probably fairly automatic with the 60 day free entry, as the Govt was pushing this. But now the Govt may give IO's orders to be more careful on the extra 30 days...or I might be way off base.

[dundas]

So on the basis of a 60 day visa waiver, I've already booked my travel with just under 60 days in Thailand.  Now I will have to do what I did last year, when the promised 60 day scheme was endlessly delayed – before I even attempt to enter Thailand I will buy the cheapest possible never-to-be-used outbound ticket at the 30 day mark, and after I arrive, go to Immigration for a ฿1900 extension. Next year, I'll know better. 

[Cabradelmar]

What they really need to do is refuse entry for anyone attempting back-to-back visa exempt entries (or require at least a 30 day gap between subsequent visa exempt entries)... 30 visa exempt with a 30 day extension while in country is 60 days... that's more than enough for any tourist. If you need more than that you are not a tourist, and you absolutely should be required to get the proper visa from a Thai consulate.

[pomchop]

The decision, agreed upon in principle by relevant authorities, 

 

 

Agreed in principle is not the same as done deal....there can still be lots of other principles that are not agreed to or never will be agreed to that can hold it up or they just leave it alone.They collectively decided to shorten the visa-free period, but more discussions are necessary before the official announcement.

 

"

 

Please post when it is totally done and passed and what date it goes into effect.

[thai006]

don't make 30 days back before i landing here on 3 april lol

 

actually i can have 90 days for a 30 days entry because i have thai child , but make the visa easier  in laos you need spend 10 15 working day for a visa , sound insane 

 

 

[Suitcase]

12 minutes ago, dundas said:

So on the basis of a 60 day visa waiver, I've already booked my travel with just under 60 days in Thailand.  Now I will have to do what I did last year, when the promised 60 day scheme was endlessly delayed – before I even attempt to enter Thailand I will buy the cheapest possible never-to-be-used outbound ticket at the 30 day mark, and after I arrive, go to Immigration for a ฿1900 extension. Next year, I'll know better. 

Use onward ticket

It only cost you $16

[CK1980]

1 hour ago, racket said:

This isn’t about stopping illegal business or what the media says. It’s about Thailand boosting security after deporting over 40 Uyghurs, which upset the West. Thailand’s worried about retaliation, and stuff’s already happening in the south.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if we also see a temporary rollback of the DTV or stricter requirements.

 

The move to a 60-day visa-exempt period was welcomed by every major economic sector when it was introduced and took effect. You can look back at articles from that time to see the reaction.

 

Again, this move is all about increasing national security after what happened with the deportations.

How is decreasing the visa exemption from 60 to 30 days going to increase national security?

 

You are talking absolute waffle..

[bergenser1]

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

so yoyu'r a saint!  what will you do if they return to limited entries on 30 day? Will you get back to tourist visas?

No, Instead of staying 36 days every time, I will only stay 30 days.

Theres no way I would waste a day at immigration just for a week extension, so I will limit myself to 30 days then.

So, Instead of staying in Thailand for 180 days a year, I end up at 150 maximum.

That accumulates to 30 days lost revenue over the year for the hotels I stay in, and the businesses I frequent.

[WHansen]

8 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

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

Agreed. 

It was put in place to pay for the vote buying 10,000 Baht gift.

Unfortunately, in the past year Thailand has turned into a s hole if you are unfortunate enough to live in a high tourist location.

[VBF]

52 minutes ago, pomchop said:

The decision, agreed upon in principle by relevant authorities, 

 

 

Agreed in principle is not the same as done deal....there can still be lots of other principles that are not agreed to or never will be agreed to that can hold it up or they just leave it alone.They collectively decided to shorten the visa-free period, but more discussions are necessary before the official announcement.

 

"

 

Please post when it is totally done and passed and what date it goes into effect.

At last!

All these people complaining about having bought tickets for 60 day stays   This isn't law yet so by the time it is (if it is) you will have entered Thailand and got 60 days permission as per current rules. 

For the rest of us (yes including me) next time get a 60 day SETV.  I last did that in 2024 and it took about 15 minutes on line.

OK it cost £30 .... peanuts on the cost of a trip to Thailand.

[kwilco]

12 minutes ago, bergenser1 said:

No, Instead of staying 36 days every time, I will only stay 30 days.

Theres no way I would waste a day at immigration just for a week extension, so I will limit myself to 30 days then.

So, Instead of staying in Thailand for 180 days a year, I end up at 150 maximum.

That accumulates to 30 days lost revenue over the year for the hotels I stay in, and the businesses I frequent.

Assuming they allow you to re-enter that many times

[black tabby12345]

10 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

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

 

Might be a difficult decision.

Quite a few Visa Waivers  from the first world, also making headlines each day as we see...

 

[kwilco]

10 minutes ago, VBF said:

At last!

All these people complaining about having bought tickets for 60 day stays   This isn't law yet so by the time it is (if it is) you will have entered Thailand and got 60 days permission as per current rules. 

For the rest of us (yes including me) next time get a 60 day SETV.  I last did that in 2024 and it took about 15 minutes on line.

OK it cost £30 .... peanuts on the cost of a trip to Thailand.

Trouble with a visa is irt expires when you leave regardless of how long you've been there - if you plan to travel around the region you'll need aan METV.... and you are also assuming the price for a visa will remain the same

[Espanol]

9 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Just limit the worst 3 trouble makers.

 

 

Looking at the news on the Asean Now forum, it seems the British are causing the biggest problems.

 

 

[VBF]

7 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Trouble with a visa is irt expires when you leave regardless of how long you've been there - if you plan to travel around the region you'll need aan METV.... and you are also assuming the price for a visa will remain the same

True but realistically do you not think that will apply to very few people, and those it does affect will be able to use a combination of SETV and visa free entries of 30 days each if planned correctly?

 

Even if the price doubled, which I doubt, it would still be VFM IMO

[CK1980]

12 minutes ago, Espanol said:

 

 

Looking at the news on the Asean Now forum, it seems the British are causing the biggest problems.

 

 

Maybe broaden your opinion of the world to more than the Asean Now forum....

[DonniePeverley]

 

 

This is welcome news. 

 

Will it be implemented ? I'm not so sure. 

 

The sheer volume of tourists here on long term stay is going through the roof - who are then working illegally to support themselves. The volume of trouble makers (most likely with criminal pasts) here is astonishing. Little law enforcement dosen't help. AirBnb through the roof which is horrifc (buyers walking away from the market for fear the purchased condo will become an airbnb and hotels suffer). 

 

The real problem though is the DTV visa. Many are taking advantage of that with the laws in the process to obtain one. That visa needs to go or either toughened up. 

 

The real problem though is Thailand needs to clean up it's tourism image. The image around the world this past few years has been horrific. The set of cheap mass tourists it has inflicted on itself is very poor. Tourists would not behave as badly as they did in Singapore or Dubai. Quality over quantity. 

[thaibreaker]

2 hours ago, kwilco said:

Really how do you know?

Are you serious? Why on earth would they not allow extensions anymore, which have been a routine for decades, on every visa and visa exemption. That makes absolutely no sense.

 

You're worrying too much. Buy a bagel and an ice coffee, and relax. Nothing good comes out of being hysterical.

[geisha]

I doubt changing anything will help stop the crooks and thugs. They will get a visa and do some visa hops. Where there’s a will there’s a way. What they can do is be more active and use their common sense at immigration, and the local police where these people live. They know who’s abusing the system, go after those. Stop the Russian , Chinese and Indians from opening businesses with a Thai front man. The land office needs looking into too, make sure that the people buying houses etc know what exactly they are buying , bricks not land. Lots of people have lost fortunes because the rules are not clear and the sellers are bent. There are only horror stories coming out of Thailand in the international news. If the authorities did their job ( example , stopped the illegal bike rentals) elderly expats wouldn’t be beat to the ground, the 20 000 + Thais and tourists who die on the road might hugely diminish, and make full insurance mandatory for all tourists.

Just a pipe dream .

[black tabby12345]

10 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

 

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

 

Previous military regime(2014-2022) did it.

And it made previous govt enormously unpopular.

Especially after their policy of Border Blockade due to Coronavirus scare(2020-22).

And anti-govt rally took place in major cities of this kingdom.

[Ralf001]

Awesome news! A very good decision, it should never have increased from 30 to 60.

[Yolando]

1 hour ago, Cabradelmar said:

30 visa exempt with a 30 day extension while in country is 60 days... that's more than enough for any tourist.

I'm guessing you are from the US, which gives 90 days visa free to all countries it allow visa free access to.  

 

Quite a lot of tourists visit countries for more than 60 days.  Thailand gets a lot of snowbirds from northern Europe that stay longer than that.