Visa-free stay in Thailand to be cut to 30 days

[TheAppletons]

Article in the Bangkok Post, dated 17 March 2025, states that visa exemptions are reverting back to 30 days.

 

Title of the article is (not surprisingly): "Visa-free stay in Thailand to be cut to 30 days."

[scubascuba3]

Strange though, better to do criminal record checks for 60+ day stays

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, TheAppletons said:

Article in the Bangkok Post, dated 17 March 2025, states that visa exemptions are reverting back to 30 days.

Huge news however guess it was only matter of time.

Not surprisingly the article used Phuket as an example of concerns over the current 60 day visa exempt. 

 

For those that have made plans based on the 60 could consider fall back option of e-Visa Tourist Visa if/when visa exempt reverts back to 30..

[novacova]

31 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Strange though, better to do criminal record checks for 60+ day stays

They’re probably realizing the 60 day is too long for the criminal types as they start to get too comfy here.

[LiamB80]

They’re just losing a lot of money on people not having to apply for a tourist visa. They could care less about criminals, its always about the money in Thailand.

[at15]

It's being discussed but not yet formally published in the royal gazette so we will see if it actually happens.

[at15]

4 minutes ago, LiamB80 said:

They’re just losing a lot of money on people not having to apply for a tourist visa. They could care less about criminals, its always about the money in Thailand.

Totally agree, they have realized now the tourist visa is useless and nobody does it anymore. The revenue at thai embassies around the world probably took a big hit.

[scubascuba3]

2 minutes ago, at15 said:

Totally agree, they have realized now the tourist visa is useless and nobody does it anymore.

That was obvious, they knew that at the beginning 

[at15]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

That was obvious, they knew that at the beginning 

For me and you but thats not how thailand operates they have to see it in practice then they change things

[steve187]

12 minutes ago, LiamB80 said:

They’re just losing a lot of money on people not having to apply for a tourist visa. They could care less about criminals, its always about the money in Thailand.

if that is the case, why did they change to 60 days

[KhunBENQ]

51 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Strange though, better to do criminal record checks for 60+ day stays

And hurry up with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)!

Might keep out the worst of the scum.

[at15]

Just now, steve187 said:

if that is the case, why did they change to 60 days

At the time, I believe they were concerned about vietnam going to 90 days and stealing a lot of tourists but that didnt really happen.

[zzzzz]

most tourists stay less than 21 days
if ur a criminal, doesn't matter how you get in, as its thailand and can always find a way to stay longer 

[LiamB80]

50 minutes ago, steve187 said:

if that is the case, why did they change to 60 days

To compete with other countries in the region that offer longer periods upon arrival. 

[Yolando]

I'm not sure why they gave 60 days to virtually everyone.  That was the mistake.  They should have started with higher income countries.

[Dan O]

53 minutes ago, steve187 said:

if that is the case, why did they change to 60 days

They increased the exempt entry to 60 days to stimulate and generate revenue inside the country. I may be wrong but I don't believe the visa fees flow back to the embassies

[DrJack54]

This topic now running in Thai News forum 

 

 

[scubascuba3]

55 minutes ago, Yolando said:

I'm not sure why they gave 60 days to virtually everyone.  That was the mistake.  They should have started with higher income countries.

The yobo with big neck incident from last couple days was from Switzerland, it's not about money

[Chivas]

2 hours ago, LiamB80 said:

They’re just losing a lot of money on people not having to apply for a tourist visa. They could care less about criminals, its always about the money in Thailand.

 

Which is exactly what I have said from outset but too many took offence

Doubless they'll be sending their apologies in the post along with a cheque for Father Rays foundation

 

On an aside after last entry with no visa and getting questioned  at immigration I had decided to go back to getting Evisas anyway

[Pompeygeezer]

Just now, at15 said:

It's being discussed but not yet formally published in the royal gazette so we will see if it actually happens.

It's being more than discussed.  the article says it's been agreed in principle.  It's a done deal just a matter of when now.

[at15]

12 minutes ago, Pompeygeezer said:

It's being more than discussed.  the article says it's been agreed in principle.  It's a done deal just a matter of when now.

In thailand that means discussed lol. I have seen this "agreed in principle" many times over the years yet nothing ever happened. It may happen but its definitely not certain.

[Pompeygeezer]

Just now, at15 said:

In thailand that means discussed lol. I have seen this "agreed in principle" many times over the years yet nothing ever happened. It may happen but its definitely not certain.

True enough but they have been mentioning it for at least the last month by the anti falang brigade and it now seems much more likely.  

[StayinThailand2much]

3 hours ago, zzzzz said:

most tourists stay less than 21 days

 

In 28 years, I have travelled only once for 'less than 21 days' to Thailand, and that was when flights were much more affordable... Holidaying closer to home is looking more and more like a better option, without the long flight and sour faces at Arrival in Bangkok...

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Holidaying closer to home is looking more and more like a better option, without the long flight and sour faces at Arrival in Bangkok...

Nothing making you come to Thailand.

Fact is Thailand provides option of visa exempt (previously 30 days) or SETV (60 days) 

Both can be extended by 30 days.

 

[OJAS]

52 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Holidaying closer to home is looking more and more like a better option, without the long flight and sour faces at Arrival in Bangkok...

 

You mean the Costa del Wotsit for us Europeans along with loads of undesirables from our home countries? No thank you very much!🤬

 

[zzzzz]

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

In 28 years, I have travelled only once for 'less than 21 days' to Thailand, and that was when flights were much more affordable... Holidaying closer to home is looking more and more like a better option, without the long flight and sour faces at Arrival in Bangkok...

great

1 out of 39 million
congrats.
Most tourists are lucky to get 2-3 weeks off/year

[JemJem]

Still early days, folks. There are 3 possibilities :

 

1. They might not go ahead with this at all.

2. They will go ahead with it, and make it 30 days again.

3. They might change it back to 30 days for some nationalities only.

 

Anyway, if they make it 30 days again, it is best to apply for a tourist visa. Especially if one plans to stay for 3 months. So, first, one can use the 2 month-stay that the tourist visa enables them, and then get a 1-month extension within Thailand. Of course, the requirements and the difficulty to get the tourist visa changes from Thai embassy/consulate to Thai embassy/consulate.

 

Sadly, if they do plan to go ahead with this, it is also worth noting that the chances are high that they will also get more strict with the border runs too. Not just border runs of course. I mean, also with folks who try to get consecutive visa exempt stays via air travel.

 

Times are changing,folks. And, looking like, for worse. 

[DrJack54]

38 minutes ago, JemJem said:

Times are changing,folks. And, looking like, for worse. 

What do you mean..."times are changing"

The previous norm was visa exempt 30 days.

If that changes back to 30 then that would be expected.

40 minutes ago, JemJem said:

 Not just border runs of course. I mean, also with folks who try to get consecutive visa exempt stays via air travel

Back to back on going visa exempt entry via air is an old chestnut.

Nothing new there.

Border runs visa land are no longer limited to 2 per calendar year.

Granted currently best option is to use agent border bounce company. 

43 minutes ago, JemJem said:

Anyway, if they make it 30 days again, it is best to apply for a tourist visa

Outlined earlier in thread. 

[Sigmund]

Long stay tourists will be far better of going to VietNam, Bali, India or even some nice places in China that is more welcoming and less of a red tape hassle.

[DrJack54]

21 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

Long stay tourists will be far better of going to VietNam, Bali, India or even some nice places in China that is more welcoming and less of a red tape hassle.

Please explain long stay options for example Vietnam in comparison to Thailand.

As just one example. 

 

Or still better live in India or China ongoing vs Thailand.

Seriously.