What are the recent changes to Thailand's visa exemption and Visa on Arrival schemes?

Question

Dear members, this is the summary of the visa rules change by the MFA.

Please wait for published in the Royal Gazette. 
The list of countries are not released officially yet (a slide of country names is marked as "unofficial").

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4. Revision of Thailand’s visa exemption and Visa on Arrival (VoA) schemes (briefed by Mr. Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, Director-General, Department of Consular Affairs)

These revised measures:

(1) granting only one visa exemption scheme per country/territory

(2) revoking the 60-day visa exemption scheme for all 93 countries/ territories

(3) revising the 30-day visa exemption scheme for tourism purpose and reducing the list of eligible countries/territories (from 57) to 54 countries/territories

(4) introducing the new 15-day visa exemption scheme for tourism purpose for 3 countries/territories

(5) revising Visa on Arrival (VoA) and reducing the list of eligible countries/territories (from 31) to 4 countries/ territories.

Details and criteria can be found in relevant Ministry of Interior announcements, which will be published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect 15 days after publication.

This revision was made based on the following considerations:

(1) national security

(2) tourism and economic interests

(3) reciprocity

(4) the reduction of overlapping visa exemption privileges, which may otherwise create confusion for foreign visitors

(5) the convenience currently provided by the e-Visa system.

Ask Thailand · Answer

Recent changes to Thailand's visa rules announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) include a revision of visa exemption and Visa on Arrival (VoA) schemes. Key changes entail: 1) only one visa exemption per country, 2) revocation of the 60-day exemption and a revision of the 30-day exemption list from 57 to 54 countries, 3) introduction of a new 15-day exemption for selected countries, and 4) a reduced VoA eligibility from 31 to 4 countries. Full details will be published in the Royal Gazette and take effect 15 days after publication.

Mick **** · Answer

What does 'granting one kind of scheme per country' mean.. just speak plain english? Does that mean only 1 visa exempt per year?

Dca ***** · Answer

Thanks Ellie as always!

Tod ********* · Answer

NOTE this is the unofficial graphic that the MFA posted on their video (it's just a cleaned up version) thanx go to [mention redacted] for the image :)

Until it's published in the Royal Gazette this is all we got and even this could change once the dust settles :P

James ******** · Answer

Thank You [mention redacted] ... VERY helpful 👌

Kathy ****** · Answer

With these changes appearing to be just a matter of time before becoming effective,  I wonder if this will impact those entering on exempt status then applying for the 90 day Non Immigrate O Retirement visa, then the one year extension.

Tod ********* · Answer

this is the link where they mention the changes (which as yet have NOT been published in the Royal Gazette)

[url redacted]

What are the recent changes to Thailand's visa exemption and Visa on Arrival schemes?

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