Thailand Tightens Tourist Visa Exemption Rules
The Thai government has scrapped its 60-day visa exemption for 93 countries and reduced the number of territories eligible for 30-day stays to 54. Officials cited security issues and policy duplication as reasons for the change, which follows concerns over illegal activities by long-stay visitors.
Thailand is scrapping its 60-day visa exemption for 93 countries and reducing 30-day eligible territories from 57 to 54, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The cabinet approved the review to address security issues, reciprocity concerns, and policy confusion. The changes reverse a 2024 expansion and take effect within 15 days of an official gazette announcement.
Thailand's tourism ministry reported arrivals fell 3.31% to 12.9 million between January 1 and May 17, while the state planning agency lowered its annual forecast to 32 million visitors, down from 33 million last year. The country drew nearly 40 million visitors in 2019 before the pandemic.
