The Tourism and Sports Ministry insists the government's plan to reduce visa‑free stays from 60 days should not impact tourism, as most foreign tourists on average stay for less than a month.

What are you asking.

Yes recent articles in various papers indicate visa exempt may change back to 30days, from the current 60.

There is no why.

Countries set their own visa exempt rules.

By way of example I'm Oz and need a visa to enter Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam etc.

Thailand could (they won't) do away with visa exempt completely.

Up to Them

Note: changed title.

SETV is 60 days. Assume you are asking about visa exempt

more confusion. I understand that people choose other destinations. This constant flip flop has already pushed many people to Vietnam, which has a stable policy. Many Airlines also started direct flights to Vietnam, bypassing Thailand as a transit point.

4 minutes ago, visarunner said:

I understand that people choose other destinations.

In reality the average tourist spends 9 days in Thailand as pointed out in this:

Source: GoWithGuide https://share.google/owrJMiZ3moLOIRhwn

If Thailand reverted to 30 day for visa exempt for 93 countries that still provides a stay of 30 + 30 (with extension)

Well that puts a wrench in my plans

10 hours ago, visarunner said:

This constant flip flop has already pushed many people to Vietnam

All my friends in my homecountry go for not more then two to three weeks away for a holiday. Working people have around 4 to 6 weeks holiday a year. So 30 days is plenty. You are not talking about real tourists. You are talking about people wanting to stay long time in the country. They are not tourists imho.

2 hours ago, CHdiver said:

They are not tourists imho

Valid point. Keep in mind Thailand has SETV and METV on offer.

It would be interesting to see that if they do revert back to 30 days would it be for all countries?

or as we all know one particular country received 90 days visa free, if they do it for one they

should do it across the board.

On 2/13/2026 at 1:36 PM, DrJack54 said:

What are you asking.

Yes recent articles in various papers indicate visa exempt may change back to 30days, from the current 60.

There is no why.

Countries set their own visa exempt rules.

By way of example I'm Oz and need a visa to enter Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam etc.

Thailand could (they won't) do away with visa exempt completely.

Up to Them

Note: changed title.

SETV is 60 days. Assume you are asking about visa exempt

There is always a why.

My point of view: because tourism numbers are down: Thailand itself said -10% but in reality probably much more. Oh no, lose of face, Thailand is losing huge amounts of tourists to nearby countries. To me it seems one of their desperate attempts to crank up their tourist numbers a bit if ''tourists'' have to leave and re-enter the country more often to renew their visa's, as a result of shorter visa exemptions. Which will be effective as there is a significant number of ''tourists'' living in Thailand on visa exemptions.

Thailand logic: tourism is in a huge decline so let's attract more tourists to make it harder for them to stay in Thailand.

16 hours ago, ChinChan said:

My point of view: because tourism numbers are down: Thailand itself said -10% but in reality probably much more. Oh no, lose of face, Thailand is losing huge amounts of tourists to nearby countries. To me it seems one of their desperate attempts to crank up their tourist numbers a bit if ''tourists'' have to leave and re-enter the country more often to renew their visa's, as a result of shorter visa exemptions. Which will be effective as there is a significant number of ''tourists'' living in Thailand on visa exemptions.

Thailand logic: tourism is in a huge decline so let's attract more tourists to make it harder for them to stay in Thailand.

I fear that your logic may be as flawed as Thailand's.

If I had to leave Thailand after 30 days I am more likely to go somewhere else, rather than return to Thailand.....that is the flaw in your argument. If I wanted to stay longer in Thailand I wouldf get the appropriate visa.

On 2/13/2026 at 5:15 PM, CHdiver said:

All my friends in my homecountry go for not more then two to three weeks away for a holiday. Working people have around 4 to 6 weeks holiday a year. So 30 days is plenty. You are not talking about real tourists. You are talking about people wanting to stay long time in the country. They are not tourists imho.

Course they are still tourists if they spend months in country.....why should I apply for a retirement visa (probably wrong terminology) when I dont want to retire here ?? I have private income now plus very shortly British Government Pension but if I choose 6 months a year I will....

Coming back to the original article itself it got pointed out word for word that the Bangkok Post piece was a rehash of an article last year

Another point was that last Tuesday under Visa revision rules the 60 day visa exempt was to be extended to more countries !

I guess time will tell. Assume that there would be a slight lead in time if it did revert to 30 days otherwise people will encounter obvious problems if due to depart for Thailand shortly

1 hour ago, Chivas said:

I dont want to retire here ?? I have private income now plus very shortly British Government Pension but if I choose 6 months a year I will....

And what cocktail of visas, visa exempt, extensions etc will you opt for.

Keep in mind that ve 60 day is recent deal and may revert to 30.

44 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And what cocktail of visas, visa exempt, extensions etc will you opt for.

Keep in mind that ve 60 day is recent deal and may revert to 30.

I have never stayed more than 77 days on an individual visit

Mixture of VE plus SETV plus extension if required....in fact I have only stayed just 3 times over the 60 days (with relevant extension) and one of those was an error on my part leaving me 1 day over Christmas day 2024

If I was intending to stay in Asia the 6 months in one go like many European snowbirds I'd go for the METV

7 minutes ago, Chivas said:

METV

Well METV is excellent visa option.

Also point is you have a visa.

Good choice for up to 9 months

On 2/14/2026 at 4:06 PM, ricky52 said:

There is always a why.

the official answer i saw was " for security reasons" or similar wording, is that not good enough for you? How about "because they say so" does that satisfy your curiosity ?

3 hours ago, Chivas said:

Course they are still tourists if they spend months in country.....why should I apply for a retirement visa (probably wrong terminology) when I dont want to retire here ?? I have private income now plus very shortly British Government Pension but if I choose 6 months a year I will....

if you want to stay 6 months in Thailand every year then a retirement yearly extension is the way to go,if you want to travel ootside Thailand and then reenter there are other options, ie metv or setv

1 hour ago, steve187 said:

if you want to stay 6 months in Thailand every year then a retirement yearly extension is the way to go,if you want to travel ootside Thailand and then reenter there are other options, ie metv or setv

Don't follow.

The first part correct. Non O with extensions and reentry permit gives complete freedom

Back to back SETV with extensions.

No.

METV yes a good option

On 2/14/2026 at 4:06 PM, ricky52 said:

There is always a why.

the WHY is that 60 days was ALWAYS going to e a TEMPORARY increase, and that was included in the announcement when the increase to 60 days was made known.

On 2/13/2026 at 11:39 PM, Yagoda said:

Well that puts a wrench in my plans

Good!

On 2/14/2026 at 1:15 AM, CHdiver said:

All my friends in my homecountry go for not more then two to three weeks away for a holiday. Working people have around 4 to 6 weeks holiday a year. So 30 days is plenty. You are not talking about real tourists. You are talking about people wanting to stay long time in the country. They are not tourists imho.

I am a tourist. I am retired. I love to visit Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Europe etc. I like to stay as long as I want to if weather is good. Not all people are workers. I have funds to travel and do not wish to permanently live anywhere unless weather is perfect.

As is pointed out in other comments "Up to them". However, let's hope the reduction in a single time period accompanies an increase in the number of individual entries permitted for genuine tourists. eg. Someone fortunate to have a roster to allow multiple short visits can do so (and spend their money honestly whilst experiencing Thailand culture, temples, etc).

I'm not sure the 'powers that be' think things through.

On 2/13/2026 at 11:15 AM, CHdiver said:

All my friends in my homecountry go for not more then two to three weeks away for a holiday. Working people have around 4 to 6 weeks holiday a year. So 30 days is plenty. You are not talking about real tourists. You are talking about people wanting to stay long time in the country. They are not tourists imho.

What do you mean I'm not a tourist if I want to spend 4 months in Thailand? I'm retired and slow traveling.

15 hours ago, steve187 said:

if you want to stay 6 months in Thailand every year then a retirement yearly extension is the way to go,if you want to travel ootside Thailand and then reenter there are other options, ie metv or setv

To do that I would have to pull $30K out of my retirement account, which has tax consequences here in the US.

Just now, technoronin said:

To do that I would have to pull $30K out of my retirement account, which has tax consequences here in the US.

You cannot change Thailand's immigration rules and regulations. However, you have full control over your US retirement planning and tax obligations.

Yesterday morning in DMK

For the first time I asked if I can enter on my UK passport instead of on my visa on the Canadian passport since I'm only staying in the UK for 2 days and avoid the re-entry cost. The immigration officers went and checked and they said that I could use the other passport to enter but if I ever use the UK passport again it could set me up for wasting time and interrogation because they're cracking down on people using new passports. Sounds like people are getting new passports and staying in Thailand longer on new passports. She showed me on another application immigration stamps to see if the new passports are in the system and if they have previous multiple new passports in the system then they're set up for an interview on arrival. One reason from reducing the free entry to 30 days.

On 2/13/2026 at 1:42 PM, visarunner said:

more confusion. I understand that people choose other destinations. This constant flip flop has already pushed many people to Vietnam, which has a stable policy. Many Airlines also started direct flights to Vietnam, bypassing Thailand as a transit point.

They choose Vietnam because it is cheaper.

Because people are abusing the system. They're staying for their 60 days and then coming in again on a 60 days and then applying from their own government a new passport. Start the process over again.

On 2/14/2026 at 7:41 PM, ChinChan said:

My point of view: because tourism numbers are down: Thailand itself said -10% but in reality probably much more. Oh no, lose of face, Thailand is losing huge amounts of tourists to nearby countries. To me it seems one of their desperate attempts to crank up their tourist numbers a bit if ''tourists'' have to leave and re-enter the country more often to renew their visa's, as a result of shorter visa exemptions. Which will be effective as there is a significant number of ''tourists'' living in Thailand on visa exemptions.

Thailand logic: tourism is in a huge decline so let's attract more tourists to make it harder for them to stay in Thailand.

30 million tourist is enough, 40 million was a headache.

We need better tourists, not the fighting and stealing ones.