Thailand Holds Off on 30-Day Visa-Free Change Decision

[ThailandGuy]

Well many tourist bought already their tickets for upcoming summer vacation based on the current visa of 60 days.  If they bought tickets extending the 30 days they would get in to trouble.  Reducing the visa to 30 days should at least have a 1 year overlap. Because that is the period one can buy a ticket in advance.  So deciding to bring it back on f.e. 1 may this year should start and apply on 30 april 2026.

These JoJo policies are not good for Thailand this way. They should stop the borderruns and people overstaying and illegal working, not the tourist that are coming with good intentions.

[WHansen]

9 minutes ago, ThailandGuy said:

Well many tourist bought already their tickets for upcoming summer vacation based on the current visa of 60 days.  If they bought tickets extending the 30 days they would get in to trouble.  Reducing the visa to 30 days should at least have a 1 year overlap. Because that is the period one can buy a ticket in advance.  So deciding to bring it back on f.e. 1 may this year should start and apply on 30 april 2026.

Can those that purchased flights based on the 60 day visa exempt and are worried about it being reduced to 30 days not just pay £35 for a 60 day SETV ? 30/40 minutes on the Thai Embassy site and job done, i've done it every year except last year and it's very straight forward if you can use a computer. Just a thought.

[pomchop]

How about just sell visas for 50 thb a day....1500 a month....18000 a year.  Overstay or get arrested  and price is doubled on future entry.  Overstay again.  Blacklisted for five years. Too simple?

[PuiPuiHarry]

As owner and working in Thai Trade Service Co. since 1994, to promote Thai foods into Europe I thought I could come to Thailand for a 2-3 months as a kind of retirement after my wife passed away, without any difficulties, but.. I am as welcome as white trash...

Pity, but I will stay in Europe.

[Harrisfan]

2 minutes ago, pomchop said:

How about just sell visas for 50 thb a day....1500 a month....18000 a year.  Overstay or get arrested  and price is doubled on future entry.  Overstay again.  Blacklisted for five years. Too simple?

How bout same as Malaysia? 90 days visa exemption. Just ban the idiots.

[kwilco]

"

Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura reassured that no new visa regulations are currently in place, so tourists visiting Thailand remain unaffected for now." - hardly re-assuring as people plan their holidays up to a year ahead.

[thai006]

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

[Ironmike]

I'm sorry but the crime rates have tripled since they allowed these 60 day visas they need to stop them and go back to 30 days get rid of the trash coming here and working illegally and breaking the laws

[jas007]

38 minutes ago, Ironmike said:

I'm sorry but the crime rates have tripled since they allowed these 60 day visas they need to stop them and go back to 30 days get rid of the trash coming here and working illegally and breaking the laws

And you think the crime rate is related to the length of the visas? Why?  And I'm not sure how people "working illegally" would relate to the crime rate, assuming you mean violent crime that disturbs everyone.  

 

In any case, I'm sure that the Thai tourism industry woful benefit from less crime, overall.  People want to feel safe when they go on vacation. 

[thai006]

48 minutes ago, Ironmike said:

I'm sorry but the crime rates have tripled since they allowed these 60 day visas they need to stop them and go back to 30 days get rid of the trash coming here and working illegally and breaking the laws

 whatever 30 days or 60 if people want work illegally they will do

 

immigration should go to koh tao  koh samui lot of foreigner work here without permit  lol

 

[freedomnow]

Flip

Flop

Thailand.

Is there any country in the world that changes rules for foreign visitors soooo much ?

[Jack1988]

That's good. I don't have to stress to apply for this tourist visas haha

[pattayamick]

9 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

They won't make any changes because it would be an admission they made mistakes. 

 

The sheer volume of Russian and Chinese visitors working (when you stray beyond the tourist path) is astonishing. The Chinese visitors especially are just piliging Thailand for everything. 

 

The 60 day rule, with an extension - essentially allows you to stay non stop with the odd flight back to reset. To go back to 30 day, will highlight those abusing the system. It won't stop illegals working, but it will greatly reduce it. 

 

WIll they do it? No. Because it's the current administration that has basically opened the borders with it's ridiculous easy entry to the whole world, esentially making Thailand an open border to the world - something no other country has done - politics of the playground not real world.

 

The results have been a disaster - with an increase of low rent visitors, crime risen, cheap tourists who spend low, the mass turn off of quality high spending tourists, and open hostility growing from locals (which will only increase if you see what is happening in European tourist spots and Japan). If you allow visitors to stay long term in Thailand (with little checks) they will seek income - it's obvious, and they will take local jobs that should be protected for Thais.

 

You have videos of indian tourists sleeping 20 to a small room, never mind the horrific worldwide viral videos of them sleeping on beaches. The sexual predatory nature of their visits to Pattaya. A visa on arrival would have ensured every India visitor had a hotel booking in their name. But nope this adminstration just threw everything out, including visa outs with a sheer lunacy stimulus. Irony being India doesn't even let Thai's in visa free, despite a much worst economy per person. Vietnam, Malaysia all have checks and balances (including return tickets and accomdoation checks with their visas for Indians). 

 

As i say, other countries may offer an increased amount of stay for certain nationalities - but they also mix in greater controls on certain nationalities. For example, Vietnam ensures Indians obtain a visa before arrival, and ensure every visitor has a hotel booking and return ticket. Thailand has no such checks.

 

The real issue is the extreme lax in the implentation of the DTV. It needs reviewing immediately. 

 

The goal may have been to increaase tax revenues from foods and goods, and help the struggling real estate market. But all that's happened is cheap tourists who don't spend alot per head flood the country, pile pressure on infrustructure, and increase crime, and take jobs from local Thais. The real estate market has become decimated by the short term rental as potential buyers fear a shiny new condo will become a short term rental hub flooded by horrific tourists. 

 

The issue with short term rentals and has priced out local Thai's  - forcing them to move to the outskirts as visitors take up more space. In countries that are still developing it's dangerous to begin to use homes as investment opportunities. The Thai population still need protecting. 

 

Policing has become soft, with fears for putting of tourists - ironically having the opposite effect, as visuals on social media show the growing volume of crime and violence in Thailand, fuelled by drugs and alcohol. There should be a no nonsense approach to the hoardes of Bendirom British and drunk Russians misbehaving. 

 

Thai solution is to add more cheap visitors into this mix is beyond parody. Thailand is bordering on nearly 40 million tourists, and now mix into that you have a set that are staying long term. No other country is having such a huge influx of visitors like this. Countries like Singapore, Malaysia seek out quality tourists with higher spends per net. Singapore offers no free entry to Indian visitors for example. To simply say 'Singapore offers so many days more' is misleading. 

 

The enviromental and physical impact with mass increase in visitors on the country is startling. Go see the impact on Phuket and the horrific over development as a result. Beautiful islands wrecked by over tourism. 

 

There needs to be an immediate return to a 30 day visa programme. 

Implentation of visa on arrival protocols for certain nationalities (like India) to ensure there are return tickets, and each person has a hotel booking in their name. 

The DTV has to be stopped, and a more easier to obtain version of the Elite visa implemented (that isn't ridiculous expensive and impossible to obtain, but stronger than DTV). 

 

 

Nothing will change. The only ones to gain are 7/11 shops and cheap tourists spending money on cheese toasties. 

 

 

Well said👍

[Pompeygeezer]

3 hours ago, ThailandGuy said:

Well many tourist bought already their tickets for upcoming summer vacation based on the current visa of 60 days.  If they bought tickets extending the 30 days they would get in to trouble.  Reducing the visa to 30 days should at least have a 1 year overlap. Because that is the period one can buy a ticket in advance.  So deciding to bring it back on f.e. 1 may this year should start and apply on 30 april 2026.

These JoJo policies are not good for Thailand this way. They should stop the borderruns and people overstaying and illegal working, not the tourist that are coming with good intentions.

What's wrong with people doing border runs?  how do you know they haven't got good intentions?  There

might be many reasons that border runs suit them.  Why do you think just because people are using border runs they must be wrong uns? 

[Pompeygeezer]

2 hours ago, Ironmike said:

I'm sorry but the crime rates have tripled since they allowed these 60 day visas they need to stop them and go back to 30 days get rid of the trash coming here and working illegally and breaking the laws

Utter nonsense. where are you getting that figure from?  You've just made that up.  you plucked it out of the air.  How has 60 days waiver increased crime.  It has no relevance on crime at all. 

[mosesk]

9 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   It maybe a good idea for you to find the correct info first , rather than thinking out loud whilst typing whilst posting on here ?

It is Mexio that has traditionally stamped in for 180 days. That is changing a bit now

[Ben Zioner]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

encourage tourists to engage more deeply

Been doing that a lot.

[wensiensheng]

I can quite see that 21 days would be the average stay for working people coming on an annual holiday. But what this ignores is the “snow birds” , typically retirees, who are looking to spend 2/3 months away from colder climes. These are usually a sought  after demographic because they tend not to cause trouble and spend steady money over an extended period of time. I’m sure that the 60 day visa period is very attractive to them given that it is also possible to get an extension.

 

Canadians flying to Florida and Cuba are a typical example. Scandinavians flying to Thailand are another. As are other Western residents who want to escape winter in their own country. 

One wonders why TAT doesn’t make a big thing about attracting this demographic?

[wensiensheng]

3 hours ago, Ironmike said:

I'm sorry but the crime rates have tripled since they allowed these 60 day visas they need to stop them and go back to 30 days get rid of the trash coming here and working illegally and breaking the laws

You have no data to back up that statement. I bet you’re just going off ad hoc news reports on this forum and in the interest of sensationalism, individual crimes by foreigners have been reported here a lot.

 

Make stuff up if you want, but don’t present it as fact.

 

 

[wensiensheng]

7 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

Schengen Zone does not offer visa free access to India, China, most of Africa, South American countries. It does not even offer visa free access to Thai people. Thailand has removed all restrictions to most of the world - just come and enter, even if you are criminal. If you are a Thai national the process of getting a Schengen or UK visa are soul destroying - as well as the mandatory insurance they make you get. 

 

Thailand is an open border. For example, it seems so enamoured with Indian tourists (often pointing out to the revenue they bring, whilst ignoring the revenue per head is actually pretty low, and the damage from low economic tourists will turn away other tourists). Thailand has removed all checks and balances it had on visitors - when was the last time they even asked to see a return ticket? There were dangers of removing all restrictions on Chinese visitors - there was evidence from neighbouring countries who have put protocols up. 

Well that is the crux of the matter imho. It’s not how long, it’s where from, that is the issue.

[wensiensheng]

9 hours ago, factual monk said:

Country with a 24% of GDP dependent on tourism doesn't have much choice. Those who are doing illegal work... are they doing it alone... HELL No... they are able to do it with connivance of local gangs, business partners, people and Authorities... so just putting blame on tourists is so stupid... clean our own house (administration) first... 

yep, exactly that. There is usually a local person behind the illegal business “owners”. Not sure they ever get penalized though, it’s always the foreign front man

[DonniePeverley]

5 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

How bout same as Malaysia? 90 days visa exemption. Just ban the idiots.

 

 

Malaysia is not getting 40 million tourists a year. Thailand's borders are open to the world - which is an experiment of child like idiotic behaviour no other country has tried it. 

[Harrisfan]

20 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

Malaysia is not getting 40 million tourists a year. Thailand's borders are open to the world - which is an experiment of child like idiotic behaviour no other country has tried it. 

I doubt more than 0.01% cause trouble.

[vmack153]

11 hours ago, norsurin said:

They should have looked on the list of 93 countries and see from where the troublemakers come from and might not allow them stay more then 15-30 days 

Agreed. One would think they'd have a database containing the origin of the majority of troublemakers who are most likely to partake in illegal activities and act accordingly. However, it seems that the most dishonest cultures with their filthy habits, the most disliked by Thais, are from countries given preferential treatment and extended stays. It's all about the money and little to do with safety and protecting  Thai culture.   

[DonniePeverley]

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

I doubt more than 0.01% cause trouble.

 

 

Depends what you mean by 'trouble'. Violence, disorder and poor behaviour can be seen to have increased by anyone with experiencing living here. However, i doubt they are worried by that. What is clearly on the rise is those working here illegally, engaging in scams, etc 

[SiamAndy]

I see the pathetic and hopeless Thai bureaucratic state is at it again. The constant flip flop by the clowns in the banana republic. They don't seem to understand that people are tired of putting up with their nonsense and many will move on from Thailand.

[norsurin]

5 hours ago, vmack153 said:

Agreed. One would think they'd have a database containing the origin of the majority of troublemakers who are most likely to partake in illegal activities and act accordingly. However, it seems that the most dishonest cultures with their filthy habits, the most disliked by Thais, are from countries given preferential treatment and extended stays. It's all about the money and little to do with safety and protecting  Thai culture.   

Right.Its been signs long time on the entrance says NO ARAB..NO ISRAEL WANTED...many criminal hiding in Thailand.I meet a foreigner un Bangkok who told me overstay above 1 year wanted in his country and brag about it I left the table and called my 3 star police friend who came fast.The foreigner get arrested and blacklisted.

[gejohesch]

19 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Sounds like Shakespeare.. to or not to be that is the question... In Thailand the same.. Today they announce this tomorrow the opposite, than a whole lot of talking and a lot of unrest, a lot of unclearness and than delaying to relive again a few months later... Thailand doesn't dare to change things, conservatism will keep the country back and also investors don't dare to invest.. Because what today is possible/allowed can be changed tomorrow... Look at the re introducing of the arrival card. With a few weeks to go nothing is clear yet, and probably it will be delayed too.. Left hand doesn't know what the right hand does or wants

Flip-flopping, confusion and unclearness are characteristics of the way things go with Thai people.

Hidden behind this, possibly another characteristic : the lack of efficiency of the police forces. If there are so many foreigners engaging in illegal activities, would not a good, efficient and reliable police be able to effectively fight against it? Maybe I'm naive, but don't get sufficient info on who enters the country to profile people and narrow down on potential illegal workers? OK, tracking them once they've passed immigration might be an issue.

[hotsun]

7 minutes ago, norsurin said:

Right.Its been signs long time on the entrance says NO ARAB..NO ISRAEL WANTED...many criminal hiding in Thailand.I meet a foreigner un Bangkok who told me overstay above 1 year wanted in his country and brag about it I left the table and called my 3 star police friend who came fast.The foreigner get arrested and blacklisted.

A proud snitch. Interesting

[Daithi85]

20 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Brilliant.

Hold off...

For now...

A mate with family has booked a stay in May for more than 30 days relying on the 60 day stay.

Safe way get a tourist visa.

And then? Next day they will cancel the idea?

He could of just got an extension at immigration if they had of changed it,not a big deal really.