Thailand's new tightened visa-free entry rules went into effect on Tuesday, September 15.
While travelers from most countries—including citizens of the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia—can still enjoy visa-free travel to the popular Asian destination, the maximum stay length is reduced from 60 to 30 days.
The changes apply to travelers visiting strictly for tourism purposes and those who wish to stay longer can apply for a category "TR" electronic tourist visa (e-Visa) or request an extension.
As part of the changes, land-border crossings will be limited to two entries per calendar year for Americans and many other nationalities. However, those travelers arriving by air or sea are not affected by the two-entry limit.
The new rules are more significant for travelers from 21 countries that no longer qualify for visa-free entry. These include countries like Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, among others.
Changes do not impact the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) requirement for visitors, who must complete the electronic arrival card before entering Thailand.
The new visa-free entry rules are in response to complaints from locals about foreign nationals taking advantage of longer stays to engage in illegal activities and drive up prices by skirting traditional business laws.
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