Thailand Ends Visa-Free Entry for Short-Term Business Activities

Thailand Ends Visa-Free Entry for Short-Term Business Activities

Beginning September 15, Thailand’s new 30-day visa exemption will apply to eligible travellers from 60 countries and territories specifically for tourism. The system replaces the current 60-day exemption, which explicitly included short-term business activity and certain urgent or ad-hoc work. Business travellers and people entering Thailand primarily to perform work should therefore no longer assume that visa-exempt status provides the necessary permission and may need an appropriate visa and work authorisation. One unresolved issue is whether Thailand’s existing urgent-work notification procedure can still be used alongside the new tourism-only exemption, with clarification still awaited from the Department of Employment. Travellers arriving before September 15 will remain under the rules in effect when they entered, while the new 30-day exemption can still be extended once for up to another 30 days.