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

[Harrisfan]

On 3/22/2025 at 3:27 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

It would be nice if Thailand could just decide what the rules are and keep those rules .

   The rules are constantly changing or they are thinking about changing rules or are about to change those rules or have actually changed the rules and they haven't yet come into effect .

   Visa exempt was 15 days , then 30 days , then 60 days and they aren't sure what it will be next .

   Just make your mind up and stick to it 

Was 30 days for decades for many. 

[DonniePeverley]

6 hours ago, jas007 said:

People always talk about foreigners taking jobs away from Thais by working illegally.  What jobs, exactly, would someone do "illegally"?  What foreigner would want to work for 400 baht a day as a security guard or a clerk at a convenience store?  

 

And whatever the Russias are doing here, how is that taking away jobs from Thai people?  What jobs, exactly?

 

It seems to me that, if there is a problem, that problem should be addressed by the Thai police, not at the immigration counter.   

 

 

Not all jobs are 400 Baht a day. The Russian Hair dresser in Karon charges 400 Baht for a mens haircut. That's even more than my haircut in the UK at my local barber. Bendirom Brit tours around the islands - they are charging some 2k UK pounds to take them around for a week - i know completely absurd. I've seen another British guy doing photography for companies around Phuket, and another Brit making banners for clubs - again these are jobs they are not meant to be doing. 

 

 

[Rob Browder]

On 3/22/2025 at 8:02 AM, webfact said:

However, this extended stay is suspected of facilitating illegal work and business activities among some foreign visitors who exploit the visa-free options.

...

Authorities are therefore contemplating an adjustment to deter unintended exploitations

So, they won't change the policy for countries where the pay-rate is multiples of that in Thailand, right?  Only change the policy for those with a MOTIVE to work-illegally in Thailand?   This would be the sane policy.

[StayinThailand2much]

On 3/22/2025 at 8:37 AM, Tropicalevo said:

No mention of those that do come to Thailand for 60 - 90 days every year.

I have friends who come every year to get away from the cold weather.

 

Spot on. How can one plan a (longer) holiday with such flip-flops in tourism policy? Starts already with a flight out of the country. When to book it; after 30, 60, or 90 days? (And will I later, at the check-in counter on the way to Thailand, get into trouble with such return-ticket?)

[ThailandGuy]

On 3/23/2025 at 12:17 AM, Boedog said:

1900 baht at immigration for extension not a drama

is there a immigration office everywhere?

[TheFishman1]

This government does more flip-flops than any government I’ve ever seen I hope they do their flip-flop which is wanting to tax ex-pats how ridiculous is that anyways I hope they hold off until after I renew my yearly extension TIT

[donx]

On 3/22/2025 at 8:58 PM, zzzzz said:

so u buy a $10 onward ticket to satisfy airlines check in!!
much ado about nothing

Where can I find a $10 onward ticket? Where does such a ticket take me? I'm a US citizen and some destinations such as Laos require that I obtain a visa as well as a ticket that costs at least $100. And I'm travelling with my family of 4.

[zzzzz]

10 hours ago, donx said:

Where can I find a $10 onward ticket? Where does such a ticket take me? I'm a US citizen and some destinations such as Laos require that I obtain a visa as well as a ticket that costs at least $100. And I'm travelling with my family of 4.

takes u nowhere,  
laos VOA  $40,  you do NOT need a visa in advance 

the ticket satisfies the airlines that require an onward ticket if u dont have a visa in advance 


https://bookonwardticket.com/

[Karlik Pu]

On 3/23/2025 at 8:24 AM, Karlik Pu said:

 

It would be a smart decision of Thai government to limit 60 visa free entries to 30 visa free entries  for nationals of some countries like Russia, India and China  who violate Thai immigration laws most by

working illegally in major resorts of Thailand taking jobs from Thais and threatening Thai national security.!

Particularly Putin-russians  are a major concern for Thailand  with very high level criminality  and corruption in Pattaya and Phuket., easy opening condos in Thai banks and getting thai driving licenses to avoid world sanctions due to Putin regime aggression to Ukraine.

Most of those russki mafia thugs  get 1 year student visa  and they start  operate illegally in Thailand .

They  run  for example money exchange companies across Thailand dealing with billions of money laundering  and converting huge amounts of rubles from Russia  that  currently under world sanctions into Thai baht and then in US dollars. which they later successfully invest in real estates companies offering to Russian  tourists Russian languages -luxury villas and condominium across Thailand .

.Putinists feel also free in Thailand  to control russian prostitution  and  sex escort services ,

They (open and run not only restaurants with Thai proxy owners but even numerous Ganja/ Cannabis shops across Pattaya and  Phuket ,control  rent a car a bike companies, working illegally as travel agents and tour guides, some of them even working illegally as Bolt drivers with fake certificate.

Russian hookers use pocket WiFi routers with specific names of public hotspots offering sexual servisers to farangs.

 

Many of puti russians work for criminal Putin regime and  have opened fake Thai import companies to purchase military equipment via Korea,  Japan , China and  Hong-Kong which is needed for Putin thugs  to continue  barbaric war towards Ukraine..

So this is a real threat to Thai national security and visa restriction should be imposed as soon as possible!

 

[Karlik Pu]

Its no secret  why and who create special visa rules for dictator Putin admirers

It’s Thai business lobby advocate longer stay of Putin-Russians in Thailand . High level of. Irruption is similar …

 Bitds of a  feather flocks  together

 

[DonniePeverley]

13 hours ago, Karlik Pu said:

Its no secret  why and who create special visa rules for dictator Putin admirers

It’s Thai business lobby advocate longer stay of Putin-Russians in Thailand . High level of. Irruption is similar …

 Bitds of a  feather flocks  together

 

 

 

 

Must be the same for Indians. They've turned Pattaya into an Indian city. 

[brewsterbudgen]

10 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

 

Must be the same for Indians. They've turned Pattaya into an Indian city. 

More Indian restaurants then?  Hopefully, I love Indian food.

[DonniePeverley]

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

More Indian restaurants then?  Hopefully, I love Indian food.

 

Indian restaurants. Indian tour groups. Indian hotels. Indian nightclubs. Indian restaurants. Everything set up for them. 

 

How much of that is going back into the local economy - only they will know. But it's crazy how much of an influx into one city it has become.

 

Even middle class indians i know are appalled.