What are the latest updates on the 60-day visa exempt entry program in Thailand?

May 31, 2024
6 months ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS:

CHANGES TO THE VISA EXEMPT ENTRY PROGRAM

Okay boyz & squirrellz it appears that the 30 day visa exempt entry program (which was previously for 57 countries) will be expanded to more countries AND will go from 30 to 60 days starting June 1st, 2024

The UK government updated their "travel to thailand" page showing that it's 60 days

AND

This graphic was put out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is appearing on websites of the thai consulates now

We still have not seen an official posting in the Royal Gazette or any police order revision from Thai Immigrations about this visa exempt entry change

BUT

I'm getting tired of denying people who want to post about it so here is the thread.

We know what you know and that is just the same endlessly repeated news.

Guess we'll all find out together, June 1st at 12:01AM :O
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Starting June 1, 2024, Thailand's visa exempt entry program will expand to include more countries and extend the stay duration from 30 to 60 days for eligible travelers. This update comes amid mixed reactions and uncertainties as there has been no official confirmation from Thai immigration authorities in the Royal Gazette. Discussions are ongoing within the community regarding the implications of this change, such as the potential for extensions and existing visa rules for certain countries.
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I knew that it was premature to toot the drum and beat the horn about this 60 day entry stamp πŸ˜•

This was a stamp from a Lao person this morning at the land border Ban Pakard, they got 30 days NOT 60 πŸ™

Lao is on the list of new countries that will get the 60 day stamp BUT they only got 30, it appears that the change didn't take effect
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Someone who entered Suvarnabhumi, got 30 days
Gareth ******
Thank you
Tony **********
Is the 5 year visa non o multi entry type by another name πŸ€”
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
I think you're talking about the OX visa that's nothing to do with this announcement
Tony **********
@Tod ********
yes but the DTV part for 5 years up to 180 days for 10k would think have some of the conditions of o multi entry visa
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
no one knows how it will really work, all you can do is wait for more information

that DTV will have it's own criteria
Tony **********
@Tod ********
OK just a random on my part the new online visa part from sydney seems strait forward but as has been mentioned no option for a multi entry cheers for the update πŸ‘
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
there is NO choice on the eVisa system at this time to select DTV πŸ˜• it's not even been hashed out yet as far as how it works. It's not anything to do with Non-Immigrant visa choices it's its own choice and not been added yet
Paul *******
Anyone arriving tomorrow please share
Justin **********
And how does one prove they are a remote worker to obtain a 180 day DTV visa exactly? Does selling eyelashes on eBay for a total of 500 baht a month profit cut it? Where and how do they draw the line ?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Justin *********
it would appear from reading around that visa doesn't start tomorrow

and

you will wait for the information they will have to put out at the consulates when they start selling it
Sarah **********
I heard this on the news here in France a few days ago!! Good news!!
Craig **********
Got my tourist visa through this morning. Does the new 60 day rule effectively render that useless?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Craig *********
nope, print out the PDF and show the tourist visa when you enter into the country no issues, you'll get 60 days when you stamp in
Bill **********
@Craig *********
new measures have not been enacted yet. The Thai MFA says β€œthe effective date of the new measures will be announced upon completion of legal procedures.” So you might still need your visa.
Jan ******************
Most interesting issue is if visa exemption still includes right to a 30 days extension upon 60 days.
James ********
Ivan ***********
The U.S. Embassy website still says 30 days. I wonder if they will ever update it.
James ********
@Ivan **********
when its published in the Royal Gazette.
Willem ****
@Ivan **********
Thats correct. The new measures are not yet effective. They need to be signed of and published in the Royal gazette first.
Fra *****
Why are some countries (russia for exampel) in both lists?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Fra ****
because they can enter on Visa Exempt entry OR a Visa On Arrival

strange I know πŸ˜•
Paul *******
@Tod ********
So there are people who would prefer to pay 2000 Baht and only be permitted to stay 15 days vs free and able to stay 30 days, then 90 and now 60 (Russians are able to stay 60 days). That makes zero sense. Absolutely no Russian would go for a VOA.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
no I would wager there are not πŸ™‚ ,

I said the VOA rules are not easy to amend and it was easier to just put them on the visa exempt entry list
Maureen ********
@Paul ******
That's not how I understood Tod's answer. I think they just did not remove the VOA rules, and added these countries to the 60days exemption list. These exemptions could be temporary too.
Maureen ********
@Tod ********
Very strange. And who will get to decide which one to apply ? :)
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Maureen *******
the person entering the country decides
Maureen ********
@Tod ********
but why would anyone on that list opt for a 15 day VOA (for a cost) vs a (free) 60 visa exemption?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Maureen *******
the VOA rules are not as easy to amend as the rules for free entry so rather than change them they just left those countries have VOA agreements with thailand still.
Maureen ********
@Tod ********
Thank you! That's a good answer.
Brandon ************
The big red flag for me is that the MFA didn't commit to a date. They just said it's effective after the completion of legal procedures. So until I see the first 60 day visa exempt stamp, I'm skeptical.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
as am I, πŸ˜• but I got tired of deleting requests for posts about it so thought I'd let them "run wild" on this thread πŸ˜›
Brandon ************
@Tod ********
I've been doing the same for the most part πŸ˜…
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
PLEASE NOTE: That country list is not correct,

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru & South Korea all still get 90 day entry stamp because they are bilateral agreement countries who have reciprocal entry between them.
Robert *******
Just read the note next to the loud speaker and you know when it will be effective.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
At this time we do not know if this 60 day stamp can get a 30 day extension (although there is nothing to suggest it won't be able to)

NOR do we know if the "two free stamp entries by land in a calendar year" rule will still be in effect for the 60 day stamps or not.

Time will tell.
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