Has the visa exemption period for US passport holders in Thailand changed to 60 days?

Jul 9, 2024
4 months ago
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Has the visa exemption for US passport holders change to 60 days yet?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
As of July 2024, the proposed extension of the visa exemption for US passport holders to 60 days has not been officially implemented. Discussions and proposals have been made, but there has been no confirmation or publication in the Royal Gazette, which is required for any legal change to take effect. Comments suggest hope for an update in July, yet there is skepticism about accuracy and timelines, with many suggesting to apply for a 60-day tourist visa as a practical alternative.
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Robert *****
July 15. Announced
Alfred *****
Apparently on another site, they have reportedly wrote that , it will be on July 15 , as the latest updates were that , it was awaiting the PM 's signature. It could be just another rumour...
Bart **************
This is asked at least 5 times per day by now.
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
my apologies, I searched through the group first to see if it was asked already and didn't see anything.
Bart **************
@Jessica *******
so, the last published expectation was end of June or early July, which they've by now both missed. Without an official update on the ETA, common sense would dictate that if the aforementioned window was projected but missed, a neighboring window would be a likely candidate for implemention. Then we talk mid July.

I'm willing to speculate however that it may also be later, e.g., end of July, or even August.
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
hopefully, I'm switching from a boi non B visa to a tourist visa. Ive left the country. I was just being hopeful on return that the visa exemption would be extended to give me more time to get my affairs in order. That's ok though. 2 months should be fine!
Bart **************
@Jessica *******
we can speculate all we want, but if there's decisions involved, what's often the best approach when dealing with uncertainty is going for a solution that works with both outcomes. Getting a tourist visa is exactly that.
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
yeah it's to late for that. I arrive back to Thailand today.
Bart **************
@Jessica *******
only one thing I can't stand and that's that so many repliers here in threads like this just can't stick with facts. Only because a proposal was approved and not implemented yet, and because it is Thailand and Thailand has a certain record on flip-flopping, any events or facts in this whole discussion suddenly have to be outright denied.

"Nobody knows" --> no, we have ETAs published by official sources. They may be hit or missed but we have them published.

"Nothing decided" --> wrong, it IS decided.

"Maybe nothing happens so don't provide false info" --> no, things have already happened (cabinet decision, publications in official sources, just not the ones that affect actual border procedures), so if it now stays 30 for the foreseeable future, we can't say nothing changed, we're then actually dealing with two changes: an upcoming change to 60 days that reached pre-implementation stage, and a reversal of it. Actually saying that nothing might change is the more speculative answer, at this stage, because you're assuming on a reversal that goes against the latest (officially published) status. It may be true, and I'm not against speculating, but it is more speculative than just presenting the current status. It is more speculative also than providing an ETA based on the facts.
Roy *********
Henrik *****
DONT SHARE

RUMORS RUMORS RUMORS.

Hasn’t happend yet, and nobody knows when (if ever) or if the Thai Parlament will voted the proposal through.

Until it is publiced in the Royal Gazette, don’t share.

RUMORS RUMORS RUMORS

DON’T SHARE
Roy *********
@Henrik ****
This is actually the latest official announcement about this 🙄
Henrik *****
And late june and early juli has passed, with no meeting in parlament about it yet.

Don’t confuse people, with rumors.

Luckily the solution is easy, ~1300 Baht, and apply for 60 days tourist visa.
Nigel **************
No
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you for those who happily supplies me with the answers I needed! Much appreciated. 🙏
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Again this group is called Thailand visa advice. I assumed the experts on this group stay up to date were on here. Hoping to Eliminate the time I have to spend Google researching the correct information. @ Berry and @ steve whorf. appears to upset you that groups like this exist.
Jan ******************
@Jessica *******
There’s no magicians with a crystal ball on this site and this is still the latest update, but i can assure you that the day it eventually will happen, for sure everyone will know.
Hugh **********
@Jessica *******
nah, they just want people to know they’re still alive. 🤔
John ******************
@Jessica *******
Those know-it-alls just like to show they are the smartest, Jessica 👍
Phil ******
Henrik *****
Don’t wait for it !

Get a 60 day touristvisa (~1300 Baht).

Problem solved.
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
I don't have time to apply, I'm in Vietnam and leave tomorrow, but thank you
Barry ********
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Barry *******
guess my 1 free is up
Kevin ******
Nothing in The Royal Gazette yet. Hopefully it will be in place before you travel here.
Rob **********
No nothing has changed.
Steve *******
Appears no one has heard of Google.
Bart **************
@Steve ******
this isn't on Google.
Steve *******
@Bart *************
yes it is. Google would lead you to a number of sites , including the Thai embassy, which would have this information.
Bart **************
@Steve ******
don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Google. But although Google does many things very well, what it really doesn't, is dealing with recency. It often returns news articles from decades ago if you are googling the current status of something. Here in this case, I've just tried, and didn't even find the most recently published ETA (screenshoted by several contributers here, quoting end of June/early July as the ETA). But even if that's what you find, with Google you can't be sure if that's the most recent update.

In groups like this however, you can actually learn this. You may assume the common crew answering in topics like this is up to date. Hence, unlike with many other things, this group is the place to find your answers, and not Google. Wishing Google implements some recency parameters in their search engine some day, but unfortunately so far we will have to work without.

Not all the answers in the group are as useful, but some are. I'm assuming the TS can filter and reach the conclusion she's after.
Steve *******
@Bart *************
it’s all in how you construct the search. Just type in Thai visa and you’ll get all sorts of stuff. Block in certain terms, exclude others and direct it to certain sources and you get much better resilts
Bart **************
@Steve ******
I searched "Thailand visa exemption 60 days" hoping to find the latest news on it. Could have further specified it, but I thought this was already quite specific.
Steve *******
Bart **************
@Steve ******
errrr, I was a lot closer to the answer the TS was looking for than these results here. Your search isn't even on topic.
Steve *******
@Bart *************
that search leads to the sites that will answer the question
Bart **************
@Steve ******
fair enough, I had the follow-up question still in mind from the conversations that followed. That's my bad. Apology.
Steve *******
@Bart *************
no worries. In the end it’s find the nearest embassy and ask them.

Even then they’ll may miss something. The Singapore embassy did with me. Minor though. Otherwise they were accurate and efficient.
Bart **************
@Steve ******
yeah the embassies are horrendous on accuracy. Even yesterday I saw the LA embassy posted that land border entries grant only 15 days. That's a decade ago 😥
Steve *******
@Bart *************
like this. Returns official sources. I could have tightened it more but really no need on a search like this
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
thank you for this. It's the exact issue I face when trying to reach up to date information. Also due to seo and paid ads those things pop up first and don't have the correct information.
John ******************
@Steve ******
relax , Stevie
John ********
@St***
, why are you part of this group then. I mean I'm sure there is a group for " Snarky bitter douchebags in Thailand " somewhere. You "Try Google " people will fit in quite nicely there.
Euan ********
@Steve ******
might as well close this page as the vast majority of questions asked would be answered on Google.
Ken **********
@Euan *******
close ……
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
any google

Unfortunately paid add and other misinformed information pops up. It's not always easy to find the correct sites. Thank you for your comment though.
Lee ********
@Jessica *******
I found info in 1min of searching on google 🤣🤣🤣
Miroslav **********
Probably during this month July. Some articles and meetings talked about it. Many people's wait for it too.
Henrik *****
The solution is easy and cheap.

Apply for 60 day tourist visa ~1300 Baht, and you can do it now, so no reason to wait.
Graham ******
@Henrik ****
and pay, surely not when Facebook says it will be free? 555
Henrik *****
1300 is peanuts in a 60 day travelbudget, and not worth to wait for something that may never happend.
James ***********
@Miroslav *********
people were saying “probably” one, two, three, five weeks ago, etc. I would say possibly by October ….

…..for sure 🙊
Graham ******
@Miroslav *********
Nobody knows so please don't speculate
Bart **************
@Graham *****
saying "nobody knows" sounds more speculative to me than just presenting the facts and providing an ETA based on those.
Graham ******
@Bart *************
Nobody knows is the truth, no speculation, a fact
Bart **************
@Graham *****
what is more speculative: presenting the facts, or denying them? What is more speculative, providing an ETA based on the facts, or not providing any because of a (falsely stated) nobody knows anything?

We can agree that the guy you replied to speculated. A little. But his reply is at least based on facts. Denying those is not helping anyone and frankly imo is also coming across more speculative, as if cabinet approval not actually happened.
Thaimer ******
@Graham *****
how does his speculation affect you?
Graham ******
@Thaimer *****
It doesn't, I just point out that speculation is not fact so that others don't get caught out
Thaimer ******
@Graham *****
he clearly wrote “probably”, and that’s not a fact
Miroslav **********
@Graham *****
Not only this but Consular meeting in Chiang Mai confirm it too.
Ken ***********
@Miroslav *********
well, late June is gone and it is now July 9...so it looks like this post from the Consular meeting in Chiang Mai is wrong.
Miroslav **********
@Ken ******
Not bad is actual from last 4 days you can not read? 🤔Meeting was on 5th July and talked about "during July". 🤣
Ken ***********
@Miroslav *********
I can read very well...the post you shared says early July....now it is 7 July....YOU need to read.
Wayne *********
@Miroslav *********
thats old news late June early July has passed now and it didnt happen
Miroslav **********
@Wayne ********
Still is start of July. 🤣
Michael ********
@Miroslav *********
Hey lets get a bet going, i bet wont be July 1000 baht (money to charity admins choice
Jim ********
@Michael *******
You've been here too long. Not fair on the others who actually believe the "proposals" that never go anywhere
Wayne *********
@Miroslav *********
July started 9 days ago it's a third into July not early no more
Miroslav **********
@Wayne ********
You can talk this Thai Consular and Ministry of foreign affairs. 🤣
Wayne *********
@Miroslav *********
they can yap as much as they like, they are not the ones who approve anything, they just give lip service that suckers believe as gospel
Miroslav **********
@Wayne ********
If you think 🤔 up to you Finally we will see soon.
Wayne *********
@Miroslav *********
yes and if not in July you owe everyone a beer because your reliable information was not reliable :)
Miroslav **********
Максим **********
@Wayne ********
also some in government said - it will be June, not July

Maybe forgot a year 🤔
Miroslav **********
@Максим *********
What you see? 🤔 June or July or Both? 🤣
Максим **********
@Miroslav *********
thry said this after this. Sometime in June.
Wayne *********
@Максим *********
correct could be never. Doesn't bother me I have 5 year visa
Andrew ***********
@Miroslav *********
that is not law, so until it is in the Royal Gazette and a date is confirmed, best to stop guessing.
Miroslav **********
@Andrew **********
It maybe will not be in Royal Gazette.
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Henrik *****
@Miroslav *********
That is also only RUMORS.
Andrew ***********
@Miroslav *********
it has to be to published in the Royal Thai Gazette to become law. So there is no Maybe.

(Laws enacted by the Thai government are required to be published in this gazette in order to take effect).
Graham ******
@Miroslav *********
well we've already missed late June so don't hold your breath
Michael ********
@Miroslav *********
you obviously not been here long if you believe that.
Miroslav **********
@Graham *****
It is not speculate. No lie about it. Thai Consular and Thai Government speaker talked about it.
James ***********
@Miroslav *********
“ talked about it” EXACTLY
Miroslav **********
John ********
NO
Max *************
Nope, it's still just a proposal. You have to wait and see.
Bart **************
@Max ************
it's approved, just not yet implemented:
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*****
412
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Brandon ************
There have been no changes. No one knows if or when the proposal will go into effect.
Jessica ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
thanks Brandon
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