Is the 60-day visa-free stay in Thailand going to be reduced to 30 days?

Dianne Lee i dunno how long the flight is from Australia I'm irish takes me over 14hrs flying time takes 3 hrs b4 I fly and 3 hrs in between so 20hrs to get there same back guts of 2 days hardly worth going for a week is it

Dennis Nellany then you were stamped in incorrectly or are not from a visa-exempt country. Bangkok Post article two days ago - there is a push from the Tourism and Sports Ministry for it to drop from 60 to 30, but it's not a done deal yet.

19/shorter-visafree-stays-on-the-cards

Martin Maclean that is not the government gazzette. Still nothing official yet. Only speculation and rumours

Lynnette Munoz All countries have their regulations, to my knowledge it's around 180 days. After that time you can be considered living as a resident. Border-hopping is abusing the system, you wouldn't get away with it in Ibiza for example. I understood, though, could be mistaken, only certain countries will have their visa exempt reduced to 30 days. Money laundering, trafficking are causing additional problems, hence, contributing to the tightening of rules.

Wayne North If you want figures from govt on numbers of people using visa exempt to live in Thailand or play the visa free system, you might be able to find them on line somewhere. Over the past few years this page has been pretty busy with people doing the exact thing that the govt are trying to limit. Anyway, I'm sure it's not really going to affect many foreign tourists. A 2 month holiday would still be possible. Or a tourist visa giving 3 months. Or one if the other visas they offer. So not sure why you're ranting at me. 🤦

Andy Thompson

What? Visa exempt is visa exempt, meaning you have no visa, and therefore no requirement to fulfill anything

Please explain where it is written and where is technically illegal coming from?

You talking rubbish I fear. If someone is on vacation for 4, 6 or 8 weeks with 60 day stamp, im sure its perfectly ok with no rules saying you cannot work a day or a week or 2 weeks or whatever during that time.

And as for tax, you need to be a tax resident which in in most cases means residing in a country more than 180days in a year.

I feel that you don’t know much about, travelling, and being an expat in foreign countries. Would like to know more about where your statements come from.

David Earl thaib"retirement" visa is for 50 yrs olds. So pretty good they let people come so easily and can stay year on year. Try it in UK or USA. . Not so easy.

Dan Brown i agree work envirment can be healthy but it can also add stress to your life. Other things in life can add purpose, like grandbabies.

Dan Brown yes, I've heard this argument as well. I have a job currently that I know is taking years off my life due to the stress and anxiety. I'm probably in the wrong job, but the compensation is so good, I can't leave. I've qualified for retirement benefits, I'm gonna give it one more year of working. But retirement early has always been my goal. While I have time to enjoy it.

Some unsolicited advice , if I may. I retired at 60 during the pandemic. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen and it made sense at the time. All my friends said that I’d return to work and they were right.

There’s a belief that goes like this :

The connection between retirement age and longevity shows that retiring later often increases life expectancy due to the cognitive, physical, and social benefits of continued work.

In other words , I believe you live longer if you continue to work. It gives you purpose. A reason to get up in the morning.

I’m 67 and hope to live to be the same age my parents did.

They both were 84 when they passed. Both worked , until they couldn’t.

Alan Rothwell 😂

Doug Donlas Excellent alternatives. 👍

Tim Rowley sensible

Tim Rowley Snowbird about sums up your air of entitlement. If the current visa free entry system doesn’t fit your agenda, you can either decide not to come to Thailand or you could obtain a suitable visa. There is a 6 months tourist visa available with a few requirements attached.

Tony Iddiols Canal Street might be a good alternative for you and BTW, if you are so filthy rich, don’t be a tight arse (🤣) and research a suitable visa. You may think you’re something special in the UK, with your boasting, but you are irrelevant in Thailand.

Tony Iddiols I’m sure Canal Street has the same attractions for you.

Mari Lou Fields Get a visa and BTW whinging is not attractive.

Doug Donlas The Thais are obviously not Northern European. They operate on a different wavelength. Wistful thinking on your part won’t change anything. The policy making doesn’t change much, only how it is manipulated. If you can’t handle that, get a tourist visa so you know exactly where you stand.

Doug Donlas not only with tourism, but with everything. Theyare constantly changing the rules.

Chris Barnett if it goes back to 30 I would think you should be able to extend by 30 days at Immigration. Hypothetical at the moment. If not get a tourist visa.

Chris Barnett so the change wouldn't affect you. 30 day plus 30 extension or a 60 day tourist visa plus 30 extension?

Donald Campbell look buttercup, I don't know what "taking the piss" means, but I did notice you didn't answer my question.

Presumably because we both know the answer.🤷

If Thailand doesn't want me spending so much money here then I will just go spend my time and money somewhere I am more welcome.

Preferably a long distance from people like you!👋

@Cody ********

Find a legitimate visa in that case, if you are taking the piss with visa exempt. I doubt your financial input to Thailand will influence the political movers and shakers at all.

@Cody ********

tourist visa is what tourists can get.

Stephen Howell 2025 30-60,60-30, 30-60.

Max Marriott Your figures are totally wrong! It was 30 days for years, went up to 45 during covid, returned to 30 for a short while, then to 60 since July 2024. 😂😂. I guess simple arithmetic wasn't your forte at school!

Allan Repp Absolutely, most tourists spend less than two weeks at a time in Thailand

Allan Repp Makes no difference to tourism. Most tourist come for less than three weeks.

Doug Donlas and sooky sooky la Las like you

Doug Donlas you sound very angry.lol

Doug Donlas Yes 45 to 30 to 60. Before that 30 for the previous 20+ years! 😂😂😂

Doug Donlas have trouble counting on one hand eh? I was in Thailand near the end of 2023 & it was 30 days Visa Exempt. Changed to 60 days on July 15, 2024. Hasn't changed from that yet. Hope that helps you with counting 🤣

Doug Donlas visa exempt has changed once in decades - it won't be twice unless they decide to drop back to 30 days, which hasn't been confirmed yet.

What a strange and creepy comment. Fortunately I could care less what you think. You’re a weirdo on the internet arguing with strangers. Pathetic.

No. The reason they started “enforcing” it was scammers , illegal workers and human traffickers . Years ago , I was told to leave and comeback by an immigration officer. He said that it would prevent me from overstaying. It’s never been a problem before. Maybe stop regurgitating what you read on social media. Makes you sound like an idiot.

Alan Moore you must be joking thinking he would do it for Thailand tourism. It is all personal agenda. It is going to cut down on tourist. Bringing in corporate instead.

Chris Finn You bet your ass I remember! Anutin is from Buriram in Isaan. I think when he was a young man, some big dicked farang stole his girlfriend and he's had a hard-on for foreigners ever since...