# Thailand aims to reduce visa-free stay period from 60 days to 30 days to curb illegal activities

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/crime/203643-thailand-aims-to-reduce-visa-free-stay-period-from-60-days-to-30-days-to-curb-illegal-activities
- Published: 2025-03-19T10:07:00+07:00
- Author: Abhishek Prakash

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.

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The primary forms of misuse include:

 1. **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.
 2. **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.
 3. **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.
 4. **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.

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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.