BREAKING: Thailand Cabinet Approves Ending 60-Day Visa-Free Stay – What It Means for You
If you’ve been using Thailand’s generous 60-day visa exemption to enjoy extended stays in Phuket, big changes are on the horizon.
In a major policy shift, the Thai Cabinet has officially approved a resolution to scrap the current 60-day visa-free entry programme. Moving forward, the framework will revert to the previous immigration regulations, meaning most affected nationalities will see their visa-exempt stays cut back to 30 days.
Why is the policy changing?
The 60-day visa exemption was originally rolled out as a post-COVID boost to supercharge tourism. However, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul explained that the extended stay period brought unintended consequences. Authorities noted an increase in foreigners illegally establishing roots, running unauthorized businesses, or engaging in “grey-market” and criminal activities.
To clean up the system, the government is shifting its focus away from raw tourist numbers and toward “quality tourism” and national security.
What we know so far:
- The 30-Day Return: Most of the 93 countries currently enjoying 60 days will revert to a standard 30-day visa exemption.
- Effective Date Pending: The Cabinet has approved the change, but an exact enforcement date has not yet been announced. The resolution must first be passed to relevant agencies and published in the Royal Gazette.
- Case-by-Case Reviews: A specialized Visa Policy Committee will evaluate countries individually to see who might qualify for future easing based on economic impact and security.
What should you do next?
Don’t panic! The 60-day stamp is still active today until an official effective date is announced. However, if you are planning a long-term stay in Phuket later this year, relying purely on visa exemptions is about to get much trickier.
Instead of dealing with frequent border runs or sudden policy shifts, it’s time to look into proper long-stay pathways like the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), Elite Visa, or Retirement options.
Need to secure your long-term stay in Phuket? Don’t wait for the new rules to disrupt your travel plans. Contact the team at TMT Visa Service Phuket today, and let’s get your long-term visa sorted smoothly!