Thailand Revises Visa-Free Stay Policy as Travel Demand Continues to Rise

Thailand has announced that the 60-day visa exemption introduced in July 2024 will be rolled back, reducing the visa-free stay for most travelers from key markets—including the United States, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Canada—to 30 days. The decision, driven by rising abuse of the longer visa, including illegal work, repeated border runs, and exploitation via nominee companies, comes after government data revealed that the average tourist stay was only nine days, far short of the policy’s intended boost to tourism. Hong Kong residents, however, continue to benefit from the longstanding 30-day bilateral waiver, ensuring uninterrupted travel for both leisure and business purposes. Thailand has officially announced that the 60-day visa exemption, introduced in July 2024, will come to an end once it is published in the Royal Gazette. The decision marks a significant shift in the country’s tourism and visa policy, aimed at addressing widespread misuse of the previous exemption. Officials cited concerns over illegal employment, exploitation via nominee companies, and repeated “border-run” extensions as key reasons behind the rollback. Cabinet records revealed that the average tourist stay was only nine days, undermining the original goal of boosting long-term tourism.