Thailand is a place of great variety, and travellers have long flocked there to soak up everything from the majesty of its temples to the sun on its tropical beaches.
However, if you plan to visit the country soon, there’s an important update you should be aware of – an axing of the 60-day visa exemption, which affects more than 90 countries.
Back in 2024, Thailand relaxed its visa rules and extended the list of visa-exempt countries, in the hopes of boosting tourism growth in the post-pandemic era. Tourism is a crucial industry for the country, after all, amounting to between 10 and 20 percent of Thailand’s GDP.
However, earlier this week Government spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek said that tourism brought ‘benefits, such as boosting the economy, but the current scheme has allowed some people to exploit it’, according to the Guardian.
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More specifically, it’s been reported that the change in visa rules is partly to reduce confusion among travellers, but is also an attempt to curb crime committed by foreign nationals.
From shoplifting and indecent exposure to running illegal businesses with no permit and working with transnational crime groups, Thai authorities are concerned about travellers who abuse the immigration laws.
The tightening of the rules, which involves scrapping the 60-day exemption for 93 countries (including the UK, US, Australia, and Europe’s 29-strong Schengen area), means that now, just 54 countries will be granted a 30-day visa exemption.
Another government spokesperson told Agence France-Presse that tourists will be able to renew visas once by visiting an immigration office, but it will be up to the officer to approve the extension.
For more information, head to the official Thai e-visa website, and make sure you check the requirements for entry before you travel. Visitors from the UK can do so on the FCDO advice page.
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