Thailand
is preparing to tighten its visa-free entry rules for international travelers, cutting
the maximum stay period in half for visitors from 93 countries.
According to Reuters,
the country’s foreign minister, Sihasak Phuangketkaeow, announced this week that
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will present a proposal to the Cabinet that would
reduce foreign tourists’ visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days. It was not disclosed
when this new policy would take effect.
Back in July 2024,
Thailand expanded visa-free access to 93 countries. But now, the more lenient
policies are being exploited by some visitors who are using extended stays to
engage in criminal activities, including operating businesses illegally in
Thailand.
Under the new
proposal, authorities would also review the eligibility criteria for several
other visa categories, including student visa, digital nomad programs,
investment visas and long-term residency permits.
The move comes as residents
in some of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations claim that some foreign
nationals — often Russians, Chinese and other expatriates — are driving up
prices and pushing out local workers by circumventing business ownership laws.
However, Thai
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressed this week that the country is not
looking to eliminate visa-free travel altogether.
“Free visas are
not about unconditional entry,” he said, according to The
Independent. “We need to find the best balance.”
The proposed visa
changes put Thailand in a tricky position, since the country depends heavily on
international tourism revenue. Officials are attempting to crack down on
illegal activity without stifling an industry that brought in nearly $50
billion from 33 million foreign travelers in 2025.
Thailand’s tourism
industry has already pushed back against proposals to shorten visa-free stays
and introduce a tourist entry fee, warning that tighter restrictions could prompt
travelers to opt for nearby destinations like Vietnam
or Malaysia
instead.
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