While Thailand opened its doors wide in 2024 with a visa exemption of up to 60 days for 93 nationalities, this measure could be updated and revised by the Thai authorities.
According to a recent report by Bangkok Post, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, supported by the Immigration Bureau, is seriously considering downgrade visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days.
Why this step backwards? Who is affected? And above all, what are your alternatives?
Bharath Mohan (Doi Inthanon, Ban Luang, Thailand) / unsplash.com
A visa waiver from 60 to 30 days?
60-day visa waiver (introduced mid-2024 for 93 countries, including France, Belgium and Canada) was a key measure to boost post-Covid tourism.
However, the Thai authorities, notably the Permanent Secretary for Tourism Natthriya Thaweevong, In their view, this facility created undesirable side-effects. The project is clear: reset the default duration to 30 days.
The 2 official reasons for this change :
- Fighting crime and illegal employment : The authorities have noted an increase in abuse. Fake tourists“ take advantage of the 60 days to work illegally (guides, shops) or set up scams, without obtaining the appropriate visas.
- A key statistic: According to the Ministry, the average length of a tourist's stay in Thailand is 21 days. Reducing the exemption to 30 days would therefore not penalize the majority of holidaymakers, while filtering out the “riskiest” profiles.
Alternatives: How can I stay longer than 30 days?
If you wish to stay longer, Thailand remains a welcoming country, but you'll need to be more rigorous about your formalities.
Option A: On-site extension (The “Last Minute” method)
If you are entering with the 30-day exemption, you can always go to a local immigration office (in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Samui, etc.) to apply for a visa. additional 30-day extension.
Cost : 1,900 THB (approx. €50).
Constraint: Losing half a day in administration.
Option B: Tourist Visa (TR - Single or multi-entry) - The safe bet
Before you leave, apply online for a tourist e-Visa.
Advantage : It entitles you to 60 days on arrival, extendable for 30 days. Or 90 days in total.
The arrival of the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
It's impossible to talk about this change without mentioning the digitization of borders. Like Europe (ETIAS) or the United Kingdom (UK ETA), Thailand prepares its electronic travel authorization ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization).
This system will soon require visa-exempt travelers to check in online before their flight. The objective is the same: better screening of travelers before they even board the plane.
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