Thailand to Revoke 60-Day Visa Exemption for 93 Countries
En resumen
- Thailand will revoke its 60-day visa exemption for tourists from 93 countries, including the UK, citing security and economic concerns.
- The new policy will allow stays based on country-by-country agreements, with many facing a 30-day limit.
Resumen generado por IA
Por qué importa
Thailand is revising its visa policy, revoking a 60-day visa exemption for tourists from 93 countries. This change is driven by concerns over national security and the economy, following a period where the exemption was in place to boost tourism post-Covid.
UK citizens are among dozens of nationalities who will soon have to apply for a visa if they wish to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days.
Tourists from 93 countries have been able to visit without needing a visa for 60 days since July 2024, as part of a government effort to boost the economy following the Covid pandemic.
But it approved plans on Tuesday to revoke this exemption, with how long travellers can stay to now be decided on a country-by-country basis. It cited security and a confusing visa scheme among reasons for the change.
There have been a series of high-profile arrests of foreigners in the south-east Asian nation, including cases linked to drugs and sex trafficking.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the government found the policy needed revising "to be more suitable for the current situation, both in terms of the economy and national security".
Nationals who have enjoyed the 60-day exemption include those from Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain and the US.
Many of those countries' citizens will have to apply for a visa for stays longer than 30 days, the Thai foreign ministry said, though some will have exemption periods shorter or longer than this based on reciprocal agreements with individual countries.
The new visa system will come into effect 15 days after it appears in the Royal Gazette, where legal and regulatory notifications are published.
The foreign ministry said it aimed to reduce instances of multiple visa exemptions applying to the same country "that confuse foreigners".
Thailand is one of Asia's top holiday destinations, with tourism a key component of the nation's economy.
It had nearly 40 million visitors in 2019, but this number fell dramatically during the pandemic and has only recovered in the past two years. Nearly 12 million people have already visited so far this year, official figures show.
But a number of foreign nationals have been arrested for a range of crimes in recent months, including UK citizens accused of drug smuggling.
Qué observar
Perspectiva de IA — posibilidades, no hechos
Thailand will implement a tiered visa system based on reciprocal agreements with individual countries.
Muy probable · En días
A decrease in short-term tourist arrivals to Thailand.
Probable · En semanas
Preguntas abiertas
- Which specific countries will have shorter or longer exemption periods than 30 days?
- What are the exact security concerns cited by the government?
- What is the anticipated economic impact of this policy change on Thailand's tourism sector?
- Will there be any exceptions or special provisions for certain nationalities or travel purposes?
