The Tourism and Sports Ministry of Thailand plans to reduce the visa-free stay period from 60 days to 30 days to mitigate the risk of illegal businesses exploiting the visa exemption scheme.
Key points
- The Tourism and Sports Ministry of Thailand plans to reduce the visa-free stay period from 60 days to 30 days to mitigate the risk of illegal businesses exploiting the visa exemption scheme.
- The extended visa-free period has raised concerns among tourism operators and associations, as it is believed to contribute to illegal work, businesses, and daily rentals of condos by foreigners.
- The Thai government is cracking down on illicit tourism activities, with 40 companies losing their licenses in 2024 for violating regulations, and a special joint operational centre investigating illegal activities in popular tourism areas.
This proposed change, which has not yet been officially implemented as of March 18, 2025, stems from concerns raised by Thai authorities about certain foreigners exploiting the visa exemption scheme. Since July 15, 2024, nationals of 93 countries, have been allowed to stay for up to 60 days without a visa for tourism purposes. The potential rollback to 30 days is aimed at curbing activities that violate the terms of the visa-free entry.
The primary forms of misuse include:
- Illegal Work: Some individuals use the visa exemption to engage in unauthorized employment, such as running small businesses (e.g., restaurants or shops), working remotely as digital nomads, or taking up informal jobs like tour guiding or teaching English—all of which require a proper work permit and visa.
- Overstaying or Circumventing Rules: While “visa runs” (briefly exiting and re-entering to reset the stay period) have been restricted (e.g., limited to two land border entries per year), some still attempt to exploit loopholes to extend their presence beyond the intended tourist scope.
- Criminal Activities: Authorities have noted instances where the visa-free entry is used as a gateway for illegal operations, such as drug trafficking, scams, or organized crime, though these are less common.
- Unauthorized Businesses: There’s evidence of foreigners setting up or managing unregistered companies or commercial ventures under the guise of tourism, bypassing the need for a non-immigrant visa and proper documentation.
The extended stay period, introduced in July 2024 for passport holders from 93 countries, has raised concerns among tourism operators. The Association of Thai Travel Agents and the Thai Hotels Association have expressed concerns about foreigners illegally working or conducting businesses in the country, and the increase in condos being illegally rented out to guests. In response to these concerns, the ministry has instructed the Tourism Department to enforce the Tourism Business and Tourist Guide Act more strictly. The department has revoked the licenses of 40 companies in 2024 for violating regulations, with 15 of these in Phuket.
This proposal reflects Thailand’s effort to balance its tourism-friendly policies with stricter oversight. While the 60-day exemption boosted visitor numbers, it also highlighted these challenges. For now, the change remains under consideration, and travelers should keep an eye on official announcements from Thai immigration authorities for confirmation and exact timelines.
