Thailand is preparing to reduce visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of 93 countries, a move aimed at tightening immigration controls while maintaining tourism flows.
Key Points
- Policy shift: Authorities believe shorter stays will help prevent misuse by foreigners engaging in illegal activities, nominee businesses, or repeated visa runs.
- Tourism resilience: With most visitors staying around 21 days, officials expect minimal impact on tourism revenue. Extensions beyond 30 days will remain available.
- Industry support: The Association of Thai Travel Agents backs the reduction, noting that long stays are often exploited for non-tourism purposes.
- Background: The 60-day visa-free scheme was introduced in mid-2024 under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to boost arrivals. While initial surges from China, Taiwan, and India were notable, most tourists continued to stay less than a month.
- Immigration measures: Since late 2025, the Immigration Bureau has tightened checks on foreigners making repeated border runs.
Authorities seek to balance national security concerns with the country’s reliance on tourism, a key sector of its economy. Officials believe the adjustment will help monitor overstays more effectively while still encouraging international visitors to explore Thailand’s attractions within the revised timeframe.
Economic Outlook
- Average tourist spending is unlikely to decline significantly, given typical stay durations.
- Stricter controls may reduce opportunities for foreign-run nominee businesses, protecting domestic operators.
- Thailand positions itself as a quality-driven tourism hub, balancing economic benefits with immigration enforcement.
Regional Context Thailand’s adjustment contrasts with Malaysia and Vietnam, which continue to offer longer visa-free stays to attract extended visitors. However, Thailand’s established tourism infrastructure and reputation may offset the shorter entry period. The government appears to be prioritizing sustainable tourism and tighter oversight of foreign business activities over aggressive visitor growth.
