Picture courtesy of Department of Consular Affairs

 

Senior officials have met to discuss the potential impacts of Thailand’s 60-day visa-free measure, which allows foreign visitors to enter the country for tourism, urgent work or short-term business engagement without a visa. The meeting, held on 22 October 2025, was chaired by Minister of Tourism and Sports Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn and attended by Deputy Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs Mr. Bancha Yuenyongchongcharoen and Mr. Sunh Arunrugstichai, Director of the Visa and Travel Documents Division. Representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the National Security Council, the Immigration Bureau and the Tourism Authority of Thailand also took part.

 

The participants examined both the advantages and disadvantages of the visa-free measure across different sectors. The discussion focused on its economic benefits for tourism and trade, as well as the possible implications for national security and immigration management. The Department of Consular Affairs presented data and key observations reflecting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ perspective on the policy’s implementation and its broader effects.

 

Deputy Director-General Bancha informed the meeting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently preparing a proposal for the Prime Minister to issue an order to re-establish the Visa Policy Committee. The committee, once reinstated, will oversee and coordinate national visa policy, ensuring that new measures are consistent with government priorities and security protocols. This follows the ministry’s ongoing review of visa facilitation frameworks to balance openness to visitors with effective immigration controls.

 

The meeting marked an important step in inter-agency coordination on Thailand’s visa policies. Attendees emphasised the need for continued collaboration between tourism and security agencies to maximise the measure’s benefits while managing any risks. Inputs and recommendations from this meeting will be formally submitted to the new Visa Policy Committee once established, allowing for a comprehensive reassessment of the 60-day visa-free scheme in line with the government’s overall tourism and economic strategies.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Officials from key ministries met on 22 October 2025 to discuss the impacts of the 60-day visa-free policy.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will propose the re-establishment of the Visa Policy Committee to review the measure.

• Meeting outcomes will guide future policy decisions to align with government objectives.

 

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from MFA 2025-10-27

 

 

 

 

What exactly is the goal here?

1 hour ago, chawbdurian said:

What exactly is the goal here?

 

To unsettle people and to  cause problems for people planning their  holidays in Thailand?

They have the  strategic problem solving capabilities of special ed students. What is so difficult in adjusting the visa requirements for problem  countries and leaving the visa abiding countries alone? 

They need to review the impact of DTV it's attracting too many undesirables and insufferable vloggers trying to make the rent money off the same worn out themes on YT and thick tok. If there is a bigger pest than soi dogs it's vloggers.

1 hour ago, chawbdurian said:

What exactly is the goal here?

 

T0 let in as much tourists as possible?

I did not know you can come in Visa free to Thyailoand and "work or short-term business" for 60 days

So let me get this straight. They want to increase the airport tax, but give 60 days visa free? Make up your minds guys. Which is it? Do you want tourists or don't you want tourists?

2 hours ago, chawbdurian said:

What exactly is the goal here?

Free lunch

Not a good idea. Better to change the tourist visa to a permitted stay of not more than 2 or 3 weeks.

What is wrong with a visa free entry for 30 days? Like it was for many years. Who on earth would think that someone coming to Thailand for 60 days really is a tourist?

34 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Free lunch

 

Lol.

3 hours ago, chawbdurian said:

What exactly is the goal here?

Probably a rather nice meal and plenty of booze.

I think the general idea was to increase tourism numbers, obviously it fell flat during covid and after for a while, Then it surged then Thai people thought no such things as a low season, It declined and they panicked, someone had the bright idea of allowing a 60 visa + 30 days, In my experience most tourist dont come for 60 days, it is encouraging different types of people coming to Thailand is maybe where the problems are coming from, 

3 hours ago, chawbdurian said:

What exactly is the goal here?

to get there name and picture in the paper and on tv

They love shooting themselves in the foot 

43 minutes ago, nofarang said:

What is wrong with a visa free entry for 30 days? Like it was for many years. Who on earth would think that someone coming to Thailand for 60 days really is a tourist?

Members of my family come to visit me every year with at least 60 days including stays elsewhere.

5 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Members of my family come to visit me every year with at least 60 days including stays elsewhere.

I wouldnt want my family coming to visit me for 60 days, 2 weeks is enough, 

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently preparing a proposal for the Prime Minister to issue an order to re-establish the Visa Policy Committee

 

Preparing a proposal to issue an order to establish a committee - just the kind of go-get-'em, hard-charging action we expect 💪

7 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I wouldnt want my family coming to visit me for 60 days, 2 weeks is enough, 

Read what I said...............including stays elsewhere.

And I agree, I wouldn't want your family to visit me. 555

3 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

To unsettle people and to  cause problems for people planning their  holidays in Thailand?

They have the  strategic problem solving capabilities of special ed students. What is so difficult in adjusting the visa requirements for problem  countries and leaving the visa abiding countries alone? 

Geniune Holiday makers rarely stay more than 30 days so I cannot see it making too much of a problem if it is reduced.  Some visitors are abusing the 60 day exemption. But having said that I feel they would be better leaving it as it is and just reduce the amount of countries eligible for the 60 day exemption. Possibly targeting the countries abusing the system.  Some people I was talking to the other week openly admitted they were using it to stay in Thailand a lot longer than they were really entitled too. As for the nationality I am not saying but they were of Asian origin.

1 hour ago, nofarang said:

What is wrong with a visa free entry for 30 days? Like it was for many years. Who on earth would think that someone coming to Thailand for 60 days really is a tourist?

I live in Australia. I come to Thailand every year June to September  to escape the cold  winter here. I rent a condo, mind my own business, civil, and courteous to everyone. I don’t cause any problems. I spend a reasonable amount of money whilst In Thailand. Being an Australian citizen, I am automatically granted a 60 day visa and whilst in Thailand I extend for another 30 days. A lot of people from the northern hemisphere do the same thing October to February to escape the cold

sory they have no clue.

i was always having non o multi , 800k on bank  easy , bcs i stay not more 6 month in year,and come 10 time about.

 

so change 60ndays to 30 problem again

 

and instead have a scam visa dtv , at the end no condition all based on fake  docs

 

since years fed up from their policys and changes

 

thats why not stay all year here more

 

remeber the time when i had investment visa based on 3 mb,  and than later my visa grandfatherd but changed rules ,newones 10mb 

all fed up.... take your new tourist   thailand and be happy with indians and so on

6 minutes ago, merlin4174 said:

Geniune Holiday makers rarely stay more than 30 days so I cannot see it making too much of a problem if it is reduced.  Some visitors are abusing the 60 day exemption. But having said that I feel they would be better leaving it as it is and just reduce the amount of countries eligible for the 60 day exemption. Possibly targeting the countries abusing the system.  Some people I was talking to the other week openly admitted they were using it to stay in Thailand a lot longer than they were really entitled too. As for the nationality I am not saying but they were of Asian origin.

 

The issues that the government says exists are visa overstays, and people working on visitor  visas.  Changing the length of a visitor visa won't solve those issues. Almost all of the visa overstays problems are in respect to the annual visas, not 60 day visas.

 

The immigration department has visitor biometric data and locations. if there is a concern about overstays, then go and round up the visa violators. if there are illegal business, then enforce the law. The businesses operate in full sight of government officials. Perhaps if proper business licensing and permitting was in place it would help. 

 

 One of the most profitable segments of the visitor demographic are the retirees who have the financial means to  travel to a warmer climate during their cold season.  This group will  go somewhere for 2-4 months. Because they are relatively short stay visitors, they are typically paying more for their lodgings than permanent or longer stay foreigners. They typically  are financially secure, have health insurance or the financial means to take care of a crisis. They are also the least likely to get into trouble with the law or to cause embarrassment. One group in particular are the retirees from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. They are low profile, but spend significantly on services and dining,  and are the ideal visitors. The 60 day visa with the option to extend an additional 30 days is an excellent option for them.  Switching to 30 days or making the visa process more difficult to them will just be another discouragement and will be the final push to consider other more affordable and easier options.

A normal tourist has enough for 30 days visa.. Longer stays are making more problems.. Of course if someone likes to stay longer let them apply for a 60 or 90 day visa at the Thai Embassy or Consulate in their country.. At least than there is some control and visa fee...60 day visa no extension possible not allowed to enter the kingdom again within 180 days, same for the 90 day visa..Everybody happy

90/120 days in any calendar year with a maximum one entry time of 60 days is around the sweet spot.

With e gates, digital passports etc tracking of days is very easy for most countries.

The days of visa runs allowing permanent stays are coming to an end is my guess

2 hours ago, nofarang said:

What is wrong with a visa free entry for 30 days? Like it was for many years. Who on earth would think that someone coming to Thailand for 60 days really is a tourist?

Do you realize many western countries are 90 days. 30 days is on the ultra low end world wide!

4 hours ago, proton said:

They need to review the impact of DTV it's attracting too many undesirables and insufferable vloggers trying to make the rent money off the same worn out themes on YT and thick tok. If there is a bigger pest than soi dogs it's vloggers.

 

No, they need to review the retirement visa. It has consistently attracted many undesirables and insufferable creepy old men, who gripe about the country they chose to move to while sitting on a barstool drinking cheap chang. 

 

Most of them use agents as they dont meet the financial requirements anyway, while those on DTV actually do have the money. 

 

If there is a bigger pest than soi dogs, its those old, entitled white men who think only they should have access to proper visas to live in this country long term.

2 hours ago, nofarang said:

What is wrong with a visa free entry for 30 days? Like it was for many years. Who on earth would think that someone coming to Thailand for 60 days really is a tourist?

 Well, me for one 🙂

stay here 7 mnth annually, some periods 90 days visa some not. Depends on my other plans. 60 days make more easy, and guess im not the only 🙂

 

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

 

The issues that the government says exists are visa overstays, and people working on visitor  visas.  Changing the length of a visitor visa won't solve those issues. Almost all of the visa overstays problems are in respect to the annual visas, not 60 day visas.

 

The immigration department has visitor biometric data and locations. if there is a concern about overstays, then go and round up the visa violators. if there are illegal business, then enforce the law. The businesses operate in full sight of government officials. Perhaps if proper business licensing and permitting was in place it would help. 

 

 One of the most profitable segments of the visitor demographic are the retirees who have the financial means to  travel to a warmer climate during their cold season.  This group will  go somewhere for 2-4 months. Because they are relatively short stay visitors, they are typically paying more for their lodgings than permanent or longer stay foreigners. They typically  are financially secure, have health insurance or the financial means to take care of a crisis. They are also the least likely to get into trouble with the law or to cause embarrassment. One group in particular are the retirees from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. They are low profile, but spend significantly on services and dining,  and are the ideal visitors. The 60 day visa with the option to extend an additional 30 days is an excellent option for them.  Switching to 30 days or making the visa process more difficult to them will just be another discouragement and will be the final push to consider other more affordable and easier options.

Exactly correct, the 60 day visa free is fine with the option to extend another 30 days.

That suits the regular tourist and the longer stayers.

The problem are those who abuse the system, target them instead of everyone.

If a certain demographic are causing issues then clamp down on them directly, 

If 

They should bring back the 180 day rule and introduce 6 month tourist visas without the need to extend or leave the country. This would bring them into alignment with most western countries whose economies are less dependent on tourism, I would add.