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

[gk10012001]

Well I think it is stupid.  I am semi retiring this year and was definitely planning on heading to Thailand for my 16th trip.  A nice long 89 day vacation was my plan starting in October.  60 days on arrival, then a 30 day extension.  Easy peasy which is why I first went to thailand so many years ago.  Visa exempt on arrival worked great for me as it was very difficult to plan my trips in advance and get visas in advance given the nature of my contract jobs which sometime start and stop unexpectedly

[PETERTHEEATER]

17 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Its a bargain.

I lost my wife there. But is gets worse. I found her again.

[Bday Prang]

8 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

They still have the METV choice yes. You can squeeze 9 months out of that. The old multiple entry tourist visa was indeed cheap, the newer METV has a few more requirements though, and is a little more expensive. You need to show bank statements from previous months as well.

So nothing too onerous, and nothing to stop undesirables obtaining one.

The only ones to be screened out would be those that have come here "too much" 

[Cabradelmar]

15 hours ago, Yolando said:

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.

Who cares what the US does or doesn't do. This is Thailand. And if you want to stay more than 60 days you should be required to get a visa. Read the article. TAT has done the research. Tourist (long or short haul) don't stay for more than 30 days. These snowbirds, as you call them, are not tourist, and should have the proper visas. 

[VBF]

8 hours ago, kwilco said:

 

In the first two months of 2025, Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand decreased by 12% year-on-year to 1 million, mainly due to economic challenges and safety concerns, as reported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand 

They may be TAT official figures but my comment was my IMPRESSION of Pattaya at this time.  Many more crowds of Chinese in places I go and have gone in the past.

I've no idea if one can trust TATs numbers - have you?

[NoshowJones]

On 3/18/2025 at 8:04 AM, 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

What about doing something to attract retiree's, many of them have retired here and taken Thai families out of poverty? It is not mainly retiree's who come here and cause trouble or take part in criminal activities.

Thailand must be one of the worst countries in the world to retire to, ie 90 day reports and other negative unnecessary immigration issues. There were no compulsary 90 day reporting when I first came to stay in Thailand about 20 years ago, if I knew that there was a possibility of being treated like a criminal on parole I would never have retired here.

[NoshowJones]

20 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Why don't more of these people just head for Florida?

There is much more to do in Florida.

 

Florida is a very cool place, with hundreds of miles of beaches.

And, the women there hardly wear anything on them.

 

and how much is it for short time, long time, massages with happy endings etc? 

[Greenwich Boy]

10 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

They still have the METV choice yes. You can squeeze 9 months out of that. The old multiple entry tourist visa was indeed cheap, the newer METV has a few more requirements though, and is a little more expensive. You need to show bank statements from previous months as well.

Recently got a METV from London. No financials needed. Requirements pretty much same as SETV

[CK1980]

12 hours ago, racket said:

 

How is this not making things safer? Visa-free rules are all about security to start with. I don’t buy that the leisure industry would undo a change from less than a year ago (July 2024)—they loved the extra tourists from the 60-day visa deal. Now you think they’ve flipped? You’re just swallowing what the media says.

 

I hope they rethink this decision, as I believe the 60-day visa exemption supports Thailand’s economy more than it harms it. According to Pattaya Mail: "Many of the exposed abuses have involved Chinese passport holders."

 

Why not focus on tackling the source of the issue instead one would think…

You are talking nonsense. 

 

This is what you 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.'

 

What a ridiculous thing to suggest. And even if it were true how would reducing visa exemption from 60 to 30 days increase security?

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

35 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

and how much is it for short time, long time, massages with happy endings etc? 

 

Why don't you just HEAD FOR MIAMI, and find out for yourself?

 

OR...even better....

 

Head for IMMOKALEE, FL.....

[black tabby12345]

Thai Hotels Association linked these activities to the rise in condos being rented out illegally...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I felt this is the fundamental "reason" behind this whole new proposal

(60->30days for visa waivers).

 

Hotel owners  feel they got their clients snatched away by those condo owners(renting their vacant rooms to the "short term" tourists).

So, they want the govt to reduce the chances of their "competitors", by cutting back visa waivers' stay permit period(they must have lobbied high profile MPs).

 

And the "Unpermitted business operation by aliens", is just an excuse to cover up their real interests.

 

I felt bit of De Javu.

To me, it looked similar to another issue: Tobacco makers VS Vapor suppliers.

Tobacco trade group actively lobbied politicians to outlaw e cigarette, in order to keep their monopoly in Thai smoking market.

 

I am absolutely a non-smoker.

And that is really none of my concern though.

 

[sanabavy IV]

On 3/18/2025 at 6:10 AM, StayinThailand2much said:

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. 😝

yes, 45 days, and Malaysia 3 months.

[JensenZ]

On 3/18/2025 at 8:40 AM, DrJack54 said:

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

They must keep running the SETV program to handle tourists from nations not on the 60-country list.

[black tabby12345]

On 3/18/2025 at 9:36 AM, Robert_Smith said:

There's always Cambodia....

 

regards,

bob.

 

And their Retirement Visa conditions are also a lot more relaxed than this kingdom.

 

If you are over 55, you only have to show your passport to prove your age.

No other requirements.

 

While you need to produce a couple of other documents like: Proof of retirement, financial capability proof(e.g bank statement with the current balance) if you are under 55.

 

I studied their retirement visa scheme years ago.

And the above is the information I got at that time.

Compared to Thailand, it is pretty recent; since 2016.

 

 

[bergenser1]

18 hours ago, kwilco said:

Assuming they allow you to re-enter that many times

I have been flying in and out of Thailand since 2009 like this without any problems.

I have been questioned twice in immigration about all my arrivals, and my answer was simple, "Because I like it here" 

The passport got stamped without any further questions both times.

[black tabby12345]

20 hours ago, KimchiCurry said:

DTV on the chopping block.

 

If merely 60 days stay permit allowance is Abused That Often, why not another(valid for 5 years)?

LOL.

 

[Jiggo]

19 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

No it doesn't. Vietnam has longer visa exemption now, Malaysia 90 days, Cambodia more, and the Philippines more. Thailand will be dragging along in the rear window of these countries, but can compare themselves with Indonesia.

Vietnam for only 13 countries not sure if the number is going to be changed, as only being temporarily and about to be extended.

Cambodia you still have to purchase a visa, that has just gone down to 30 dollars, don't  think that will help there tourist industry.

Bali is in Indonesia and seem to be having similar problems as Thailand with tourists taking up employment and overcrowded resorts etc.

[kwilco]

17 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Unless one has a re-entry permit ?

so if you use Thailand as a hub on a 60 day visa, you have to pay for. re-entry permit every time and don't get ny extra days on re-entry

[kwilco]

error

[kwilco]

17 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Unless one has a re-entry permit ?

so if you use Thailand as a hub on a 60 day visa, you have to pay for. re-entry permit every time and don't get ny extra days on re-entry

[pomchop]

7 pages of questions comments and worries and still don't see any official word if and when anything is absolutely agreed and officially ready to be implemented and when?

 

Maybe it will change, maybe it won't.  Just something else like farangs paying tax that is being "discussed"...TAT could perhaps consider how much confusion these premature announcements can cause to people who are trying to plan a trip in the next few months. 

 

How about you pass a rule that all changes require six month advance notice with a complete list of applicable rules and regulations and FAQ? 

 

 

[sidneybear]

On 3/18/2025 at 10:54 AM, Robert_Smith said:

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.

They might think the same thing about you.

[Robert_Smith]

2 minutes ago, sidneybear said:

They might think the same thing about you.

We (my country) is not currently engaged in any sort of invasion of another sovereign state, if I remember correctly...

 

and btw, me and Peter were just sitting there happily stoned, not saying a word, reading our books when these Vlads showed up and disrupted the whole scene...

 

What do we do wrong, exactly?

 

bob.

[sidneybear]

On 3/18/2025 at 10:44 AM, quake said:

Flip Flop Thailand, at it again.

Them pesky foreigners coming here and spending there money.

 

The vast majority of bona fide tourists stay no longer than a couple of weeks, and there are other visas for those who stay longer. It's hard to refute.

[sidneybear]

Just now, Robert_Smith said:

We (my country) is not currently engaged in any sort of invasion of another sovereign state, if I remember correctly...

 

and btw, me and Peter were just sitting there happily stoned, not saying a word, reading our books when these Vlads showed up and disrupted the whole scene...

 

What do we do wrong, exactly?

 

bob.

So you don't want Americans to be allowed in then? They've been invading sovereign states for decades now. 

[Robert_Smith]

1 minute ago, sidneybear said:

So you don't want Americans to be allowed in then? They've been invading sovereign states for decades now. 

the hell are you on about now.

 

get lost will ya!

 

bob.

[sidneybear]

Just now, Robert_Smith said:

the hell are you on about now.

 

get lost will ya!

 

bob.

No need to be rude, just because you are incapable of civil debate. 

[Patong2021]

On 3/18/2025 at 5:13 AM, CecilM said:

Glad to hear that.

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

A tourist visa is a proper visa.  How is it that other countries can manage much longer visa periods? Schengen -90 days, Canada- 180 days, Vietnam -90 days, Japan -90 days, Australia - Options of 3, 6 and 12 months (without the Thai type of hassles), Indonesia  30 days VOA or 60 days evisa, Singapore -90 days and so on.

 

60 days is a reasonable  period. The extended  period for tourist visas is not the cause of the problems with foreigners. The problem is the failure to screen who is coming into Thailand and  the opening of the doors to  criminals from  known countries. Blaming everyone because of the   incompetence and corruption of local Thai officials won't solve the problem. The troublemakers will remain and the quality visitors won't stay.

[OldmanJ]

Why do they need any place open after 1.00am except fuel stations,hospitals and 7/11.Close them all down especially if they only cause problems because of drunken fools.

[kwilco]

12 hours ago, bergenser1 said:

I have been flying in and out of Thailand since 2009 like this without any problems.

I have been questioned twice in immigration about all my arrivals, and my answer was simple, "Because I like it here" 

The passport got stamped without any further questions both times.

What a silly comment it's not just about you and you don't even speak Thai! - there are nearly 40 million people do that every year. You don't say how many times per 12 months/year, or how long you stay or if you visit neighbouring countrie or if you do land/sea/air borders. -you don't say what kind of visa or entry you are using. How about you POOT?

I've been flying and driving in and out of Thailand for over 30 years, but then most of that time i had a B visa with multiple re-entry permit and a work permit. I have been asked for POOT on a few occasions but that's partly because I didn't need it as I pointed out with my visa.

tourism in THailand doesn't centre around just you - it involves millions of other people who come here if varying itineraries and hopes - if we go back to exactly the old system, as I said is raises a whole raft of regulations and restrictions that aren't in force at the moment.....but so long as you're happy.....