Russians no more visa exempt ?

[stevenl]

I was just told, seemed reliable, that from 1 September onwards Russians are not allowed to enter visa exempt anymore but will revert back to the old 'visa in advance' system.

Apparently there was a 3-year deal, signed by a former PM, which according to the new rulers does not bring enough positives for tourism so will not be extended.

Needless to say this would have a major influence on Thai tourism.

Anybody have any more information?

[96tehtarp]

There is nothing mentioned of this change on the Royal Thai Embassy Mosows' website yet.

Attached is the list.

visa-exemption-list2014en.pdf

[Pattaya46]

The "Thai-Russian Visa Exemption Agreement"

seems to be from 2005 for a indefinite period.

See http://www.thaiembassymoscow.com/download/pdf/th-ru_visaexempt_en.pdf

Link found on http://en.thaiembassymoscow.com/

[phirho]

The deal was signed in 2005 and became active since 2007 (so 7 years, not 3). Before this agreement Russians didn't need visa in advance but could get visa on arrival at the airport.

It establishes mutual visa-free regime (so Thais get 30 day visa exemption in Russia as well). Because of this agreement, in the past toughening of visa regime did not apply to Russians (e.g. there was a time when G7 countries only got 15 days at land borders but Russians still got 30)

Russians are the 3rd largest nationality among tourists arrivals in Thailand, so I doubt what you say is true but with the current crackdown who knows..

[ubonjoe]

Sounds like one of many unfounded rumors going around.

Russians do not get a normal visa exempt entry. There is a bilateral agreement between Thailand and Russia that allows them entry and it is the reason they get 30 days at border crossings.

[ubonjoe]

I have removed a off topic post with political comment in it.

[JomtienEats]

Seems implausible to me. There's a lot of tourist rubles in Russian beach holidays.

Holidaymakers will be fine, but I suspect things will get a lot tougher for long-stay Russians . . . the Thais suspect they are working or maybe involved in crime. That's what they are trying to clean up.

There will be a lot of rumours flying around - people inconvenienced by the new rules will want to get them some bad press, in the hope that all the rules will be rolled back.

[mxer90]

I was at ban pakard/chantaburi crossing a couple if weeks ago re-entering for my 2nd TR entry. As we were standing in line to exit the Thai side an immigration official was constantly shouting "Russian, any Russian?".

I immediately thought about the recent announcement about cracking down on certain nationalities, russians, i believe, being one.

Anyway back in the van, just about to leave and the driver turned around to a Russian guy and asked "how many day you get". He looked a little dejected and said "seven". I don't know his exact situation but I would guess he was trying for a 30 day exemption or whatever the Russians would normally get before, and was denied.