Thailand’s tourism sector has seen strong growth this year, largely due to its visa-free policy. However, now that visitor numbers are rising, the government is taking a closer look at how long tourists should be allowed to stay without a visa. On October 24, Thailand’s Department of Consular Affairs, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that officials had held a meeting to review the 60-day visa exemption policy that is offered to citizens of nearly 100 countries. Keep reading for more details.
Thailand Authorities Review 60-day Visa Exemption Policy
In the recent meeting held to review the 60-day visa exemption policy, the authorities took a closer look at the impact of the policy and possible adjustments in the future. The 60-day visa exemption was introduced in July 2024 as part of Thailand’s efforts to revive its tourism industry after the pandemic. It allowed citizens of 93 countries to visit Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 60 days for tourism, business, or other temporary activities. According to VisasNews, earlier, visitors could only stay for 30 days. The change helped increase tourist arrivals and supported local businesses dependent on travel.
However, now, nearly one and a half years, authorities are once again working on this policy, and for this, they held a meeting. The main goal of the meeting was to discuss how the 60-day visa-free stay affects tourism, immigration, and national security. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports said the government is trying to maintain a balance between attracting more tourists and ensuring immigration laws are followed properly. The discussion involved several key agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior, the Immigration Bureau, and the National Security Council.
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Reviewing Visa Policy Every Six Months
From the start, the Thai government had decided that the visa policy would be reviewed every six months to keep it updated and effective. The current review is just part of that regular process, so no final decision or change has been made yet. The purpose of this review is to stop people from using the visa-free program for illegal work or business, while still giving genuine tourists enough time to enjoy their trip, reported VisasNews.
The review also includes travellers who repeatedly enter Thailand under the visa-free program. Officials are now considering whether returning visitors should have a shorter stay period than first-time arrivals. For now, tourists from eligible countries can still enter Thailand without a visa, stay up to 60 days, and extend their stay by another 30 days once inside the country.
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