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

[BrandonJT]

4 hours ago, JemJem said:

 

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

 

I hope and pray they don't do this one.  It's already complicated and confusing enough for people with how often they flip-flop the number of days and list of countries.  To have 3 separate lists of countries (VOA, Visa Exempt 30, and Visa Exempt 60) would make it exponentially worse! All or none! And leave the list of countries alone as well!

[zzzzz]

10 hours 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.

LOL:
NOT all people travel based on how long they can stay somewhere
I wouldn't choose to live in China if they gave me a free 10 year visa

[Rob Browder]

On 3/18/2025 at 6:48 AM, at15 said:

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.

The solution was to make the TR-Visa 90-days.  Oh, but then people would stay longer and spend more money here - can't have that.

 

Any "criminals" would just go see Immigration's agents for a longer-term stay - would only need a couple days to get that sorted, so 30 vs 60 days is irrelevant.

[Rob Browder]

16 hours ago, JemJem said:

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.

Yes, Immigration have agents for that by land and air (as well as for extensions-of-stay).  If doing this repeatedly, one can pay for "no hassle" entry, or play the lottery they might not let you back in.

[at15]

2 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

The solution was to make the TR-Visa 90-days.  Oh, but then people would stay longer and spend more money here - can't have that.

 

Any "criminals" would just go see Immigration's agents for a longer-term stay - would only need a couple days to get that sorted, so 30 vs 60 days is irrelevant.

Consider that Phuket immigration alone does around 228 million baht per year on foreigner visa extensions and you have your answer.

 

[zzzzz]

2 hours ago, at15 said:

Consider that Phuket immigration alone does around 228 million baht per year on foreigner visa extensions and you have your answer.

 

and please where did u read this??

[Daithi85]

On 3/18/2025 at 6:14 AM, DrJack54 said:

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..

How long do you think it will take before it's changed to the 30 days?

Will it be an over night decision or will they give notice of the date it starts?

What's your thoughts Dr jack?

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, Daithi85 said:

Will it be an over night decision or will they give notice of the date it starts?

Just a guess : I can't see it happening super quick. 

It will be kicked around for a while.

Hopefully for those that have made travel plans based on the 60 days can be given advanced notice.

 

Given that (my guess) tourists make plans well in advance it could impact many.

 

As posted the fall back plan B would be to obtain SETV via e-Visa platform.

Not ideal but doesn't wreck holiday plans. Still leaves 60+30(extension) possible. 

[Serenity_Now]

its irrelevant if someone is there for 5 days or 60
if they are of a certain mindset then theiving getting smashed.

Spain and Corfu went through all this befre plus in EU they get football supporters nd it really doesnt matter how harsh the police response they dont care especially if you get mob mentality

Thailand wants to boost its figures to absurd amonts whilst most other nations are looking to control it more and introucing two teir pricing models often berated here.

Thailand advertises itself as a cheap piss up hookers now we have dope as well.

plus its on the prty circuit all those heading to oz with their work permits now its koh panang full moon then up to pai for mushrooms 

then there is the chinese

thats something completely different 
especially in terms of setting up criminal enterprise

so we will have media hype picking out all the foriegners 
and the less they show thai criminality they get to stand on their soapbox all pious

if im a criminal and the only hurdle to getting 60 days is 1900baht well ...............

dont try make sense of anything TAT does its all just p*s*ing i the wind 
much like me writing this a certain futility 

 

[bkknirvana]

This is all about greed. Thai Gov monkeys thought there would be more tourists this year. It's not happening, so they want to get back the 1900b extension fee for 30 day arrivals.

[Rob Browder]

18 hours ago, bkknirvana said:

This is all about greed. Thai Gov monkeys thought there would be more tourists this year. It's not happening, so they want to get back the 1900b extension fee for 30 day arrivals.

... and selling 60-day Tourist Visas.  A better solution would have been returning India and China to 15-day VOA (addressing their 'criminals" concern), and making the TR Visa 90-days.  Oh well.

It seems really simple to deal with the "illegal working" problem - just set the policies based on the ratio of the Thai minimum-wage versus the visitors' countries.  If the visitor country's min-wage is nearly the same, then 30 days.  if it is lower - 15-day VOA.  If it is multiples higher, 90-days or more.

[DrJack54]

On 3/19/2025 at 6:52 PM, Daithi85 said:

How long do you think it will take before it's changed to the 30 days?

Will it be an over night decision or will they give notice of the date it starts?

What's your thoughts Dr jack?

New thread running in News forum.

 

 

 

 

[bravo19]

On 3/18/2025 at 12:45 AM, 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.

Nobody will cancel the trip to Thailand if a visa is needed. Apply for TR Visa is very easy and cheap.

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, bravo19 said:

Nobody will cancel the trip to Thailand if a visa is needed. Apply for TR Visa is very easy and cheap.

That's true however given that many people book flights we'll in advance one would hope that plenty of notice is provide for any change back to 30

[thai006]

4 hours ago, bravo19 said:

Nobody will cancel the trip to Thailand if a visa is needed. Apply for TR Visa is very easy and cheap.

easy and cheap 

 in france they say 3 or 4 working week to get a tr visa  so i dont call it easy lol

[zzzzz]

if someone books a trip to Thailand expecting to stay visa free for 60 days and it changes to 30 days,
NO big deal,  get a 30 day extension in country
and just book an onward ticket for $10

in case airlines ask for a return within 30 days..

 

[Harrisfan]

On 3/19/2025 at 9:52 PM, Daithi85 said:

How long do you think it will take before it's changed to the 30 days?

Will it be an over night decision or will they give notice of the date it starts?

What's your thoughts Dr jack?

It might not happen and which countries if it does?

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

It might not happen and which countries if it does?

At a guess anyone currently in the entilted to 60 days would simply be entilted to 30 days. 

 

 

[Harrisfan]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

At a guess anyone currently in the entilted to 60 days would simply be entilted to 30 days. 

 

 

93 nations now. Big change will cost millions in tourist dollars.

[thai006]

if they change the visa policy  , will be after songkran i think , in May 

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, thai006 said:

if they change the visa policy  , will be after songkran i think , in May 

Will take some time.

This will be kicked around for a while. 

No way prior to Songkran. 

[Jack1988]

tourist visa is cheap and easy to apply. Would not lose that much money. It's not a big deal

[thai006]

32 minutes ago, Jack1988 said:

tourist visa is cheap and easy to apply. Would not lose that much money. It's not a big deal

took 4 to 5 week in france to apply not so easy for french lol 

[Jack1988]

2 minutes ago, thai006 said:

took 4 to 5 week in france to apply not so easy for french lol 

I got my tourist visa approved in less than 10 days last time

[thai006]

17 minutes ago, Jack1988 said:

I got my tourist visa approved in less than 10 days last time

from paris ??

[Jack1988]

16 minutes ago, thai006 said:

from paris ??

UK

[BrandonJT]

10 hours ago, bravo19 said:

Nobody will cancel the trip to Thailand if a visa is needed. Apply for TR Visa is very easy and cheap.

If you apply for a tourist visa through the Thai embassy in New Zealand, it's $300 NZD.  Almost 6000 baht or $170 USD.  Not cheap at all.

 

And that's just for single entry.  The METV is $1000 NZD.

[Jack1988]

7 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

If you apply for a tourist visa through the Thai embassy in New Zealand, it's $300 NZD.  Almost 6000 baht or $170 USD.  Not cheap at all.

 

And that's just for single entry.  The METV is $1000 NZD.

I paid 1200 baht fee last time. Very cheap

[BrandonJT]

Just now, Jack1988 said:

I paid 1200 baht fee last time. Very cheap

Yes, but blanket statements that it's "fast and cheap" is not true.  Every embassy is different.  Some are fast, some are slow.  Some are cheap, some are expensive.  NZ really takes the cake in the expensive department though.

[DrJack54]

8 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

If you apply for a tourist visa through the Thai embassy in New Zealand, it's $300 NZD.  Almost 6000 baht or $170 USD.  Not cheap at all.

I had no idea it was that expensive.

I require visa to enter Vietnam (Oz) and a multi 90 days is $45usd.

$300NZD seems ridiculous. 

 

EDIT: Just checked fee for tourist visa for Thailand from Oz (Sydney) : 

Single entry (SETV) $60aud

Multiple entry (METV) $300aud