Thailand considers reducing visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days to curb system abuse and tackle transnational crime.
BANGKOK: The Thai government is reviewing its visa-free entry scheme for tourists, including a proposal to reduce the permitted stay from 60 days to no more than 30 days, in a move to curb abuse of the system and tackle transnational crime.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the government was reassessing the current visa-free policy amid concerns that the existing 60-day period may be excessively long and could be exploited by foreigners entering the country for purposes other than genuine tourism.
He said the matter had been discussed with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, including a broader review of all visa categories, some of which could potentially be consolidated to improve efficiency and oversight.
“The review will also examine the criteria for each visa category to prevent misuse,” he told reporters after the Cabinet meeting at Government House on Tuesday.
He stressed that the move was not targeting any specific nationality, but rather focused on activities that could pose problems for the country, particularly those related to criminal activity and national security threats.
“The key point is that Thailand does not discriminate. However, authorities must closely monitor individuals who enter the country for improper purposes, engage in undesirable activities, or pose a threat to national security,” he said.
Currently, Thailand grants visa-free entry of up to 60 days to nationals from 93 countries and territories, including Malaysia, for tourism, business engagements, or urgent work purposes, with the option of a 30-day extension.
