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Will Thailand Extend the Visa Exempt from 30 Days to 90 Days?
Thailand Visa ExemptTravel TipsImmigration PolicyExpat LifeTourist VisaLong-term VisasVisa Extensions
Aug 28, 2023
3 years ago
Colin *********
ORIGINAL POSTERListening today to the "Thai Expat Daily Show" Podcast, a Thai News podcast by an Irish Expat, he quoted the new Thailand Prime Minister as saying that he was considering extending the Visa Exempt from 30 days to 90 days.
Obviously there's things that they would need to consider before extending it, such as losing income from extending the Visa Exempt by 30 days @ 1900 Baht. Also there is currently also a Tourist Visa (60 days, off the top of my head without checking) & lost income from that.
What do you think about that? A couple of thoughts of my own:
1) there's a lot of people who use the current Visa Exempt and extensions to spend as much time in Thailand as possible, virtually living there. Wouldn't a 90 day Visa Exempt make it easier to 'live' in Thailand? Your thoughts?
2) for those with intentions to obtain a Retirement Visa or Marriage/Spouse Visa, it would seemingly make it easier, with more time to open a Bank Account and getting those Visas organised without the stress of running out of time as with the current Visa Exempt and extensions. Your thoughts?
Obviously there's things that they would need to consider before extending it, such as losing income from extending the Visa Exempt by 30 days @ 1900 Baht. Also there is currently also a Tourist Visa (60 days, off the top of my head without checking) & lost income from that.
What do you think about that? A couple of thoughts of my own:
1) there's a lot of people who use the current Visa Exempt and extensions to spend as much time in Thailand as possible, virtually living there. Wouldn't a 90 day Visa Exempt make it easier to 'live' in Thailand? Your thoughts?
2) for those with intentions to obtain a Retirement Visa or Marriage/Spouse Visa, it would seemingly make it easier, with more time to open a Bank Account and getting those Visas organised without the stress of running out of time as with the current Visa Exempt and extensions. Your thoughts?
TLDR : Answer Summary
Recent discussions sparked by the Thai Expat Daily Show podcast suggest that the new Prime Minister of Thailand is considering extending the Visa Exempt period from 30 days to 90 days. This proposal could provide more convenience for tourists and expats looking to stay longer without the need for frequent visa runs or extensions. However, commentators express concerns about potential revenue loss for the Thai government, as well as increased scrutiny on visa abuses. There are also mixed opinions on the impact this might have on long-term visa processes for retirement or marriage.
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Nicholas ************
They could split the difference in rising cost to 3000 for 90 days visa
Paul *******
Another option would be to follow in the footsteps of developed countries. Increase visa exempt to 90 days but instead of allowing visa exempt nationalities to show up without notice, introduce a paid ESTA system. Similar to Australia, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and what the EU and the UK will introduce next year.
Apply once, pay a small fee, get a 2 or 3 year permission to come and go. Reform the tourist visa to allow 90 day entries valid for a year, but with at least a month or two gap between visits.
Apply once, pay a small fee, get a 2 or 3 year permission to come and go. Reform the tourist visa to allow 90 day entries valid for a year, but with at least a month or two gap between visits.
Paul *******
1) No. They could deny entry to anyone abusing the system as they are already doing now.
Reforming the immigration system and reducing overcrowding by eliminating the 30 day extensions could free up some resources to do other things. After all, if Thai immigration were that cash strapped, they could require everyone to pay for a visa on arrival instead of allowing visa free entry.
Reforming the immigration system and reducing overcrowding by eliminating the 30 day extensions could free up some resources to do other things. After all, if Thai immigration were that cash strapped, they could require everyone to pay for a visa on arrival instead of allowing visa free entry.
Todd *********
Won’t happen but great if they did follow Vietnam on this pathway. Only need 4 renewals to say year round that way 🙂
Nick ****************
It’s not going to happen. Loss of revenue and reduced work at immigration offices means fewer jobs adding to unemployment. Far more likely is a charge for all visas generating millions of baht. Just think 1900 baht from all those visa exempt people. Why should some nations be more privileged than others? You can see the eyes rolling with baht signs !!!!
Paul *******
@Nick ***************
The 30 day extensions aren't that lucrative as not that many people use them. They need to free up resources and reduce overcrowding and job creation is not as important as it used to be. They could easily make up the shortfall by increasing the cost of visa extensions from the present 1900 Baht to 2500 or 3000 Baht. It's been several years since they last increased them anyway.
Reply to
Paul *******
Reply
Twiggy ******
I love it if it happens. They “live” here and they spend money. People under 50 mostly cannot afford the elite visa. They live in Thailand without working so they can’t have work permits.
Kevin ********
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Nick ****************
They say the 90 day reporting is to keep track of foreigners when they commit crimes. However most criminals don’t have a visa in the first place so they arent in the system anyway.
Paul *******
@Nick ***************
Most criminals most certainly have a visa, but they pay off immigration.Colin *********
ORIGINAL POSTERReply to
Colin *********
Reply
Marty *********
I would think the tourist generated income throughout Thailand would be more important than the visa fee income.
90 day entries may decrease the workload at immigrant which they may think is a good thing.
If you are living in Thailand you should be here on a long stay visa. It would be pretty easy for immigration officials to question and deny entry to those abusing a 90 day entry when there are alternatives.
Sure, 90 days to start would be more convenient to those looking to get through the process of getting a non-O and a one year extension but not that much easier. Something that new expats might appreciate more would be making it easy and straightforward to open a bank account in the first place. Allow people opening a bank account to easily demonstrate that they were pursuing a long term visa.
90 day entries may decrease the workload at immigrant which they may think is a good thing.
If you are living in Thailand you should be here on a long stay visa. It would be pretty easy for immigration officials to question and deny entry to those abusing a 90 day entry when there are alternatives.
Sure, 90 days to start would be more convenient to those looking to get through the process of getting a non-O and a one year extension but not that much easier. Something that new expats might appreciate more would be making it easy and straightforward to open a bank account in the first place. Allow people opening a bank account to easily demonstrate that they were pursuing a long term visa.
Jo **********
@Marty ********
agree on everything!!!Colin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
agree with everything you said.Reply to
Colin *********
Reply
Riaan **********
The way I read it, is that it is only considered for Chinese, Indian and Russian tourists
Paul *******
@Riaan *********
They're never going to do that for the Chinese. They've already made it more difficult for them to apply for visas in the first place. Imagine all the Chinese criminals coming in visa free, overstaying and running illegal businesses. Never going to be allowed.Jo **********
@Riaan *********
no these get only 14 daysRiaan **********
@Jo *********
currently yes, but as I read die Bangkok Post, the aim is to scrap the VOA, and give them the benefitReply to
Riaan **********
Reply
J ******************
It is only a possibility, a remote one at that .Given how long it took to get a Prime Minister, would not be holding my breath
Colin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@J *****************
maybe it will take a while. Maybe aimed at reducing the number tourists using the 30 Visa Exempt and extensions to live 'illegally' in Thailand.J ******************
@Colin ********
it was a suggestion of tourism operators in Phuket so the story goesColin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@J *****************
maybe they're sick of the Russian 'invasion' that's apparently brought with it a lot of illegal activities 🤔Reply to
Colin *********
Reply
Gregor **********
just run your figures, 15 to 25 million of people less who spend 1900.- Baht on extensions . . . .This means billions (!!) of Thai Baht LESS in revenue. It won't happen, because they are much too greedy for such a step
John *******
@Gregor *********
And even more going into the economy! Think overall and quit thinking with a narrow minded view!Gregor **********
@John ******
"narrow minded view" ?? Can you tell my how much the chief post of Chonburi immigration office is worth?John *******
@Gregor *********
Well, after dealing with major immigration officers in the past, I would say a lot! I fo not know why one pf them called himself Joke Yai, but his Karoake bar was visited by many high Thai police officers!Gregor **********
@John ******
what's "a lot" ? So you never picked up a number?John *******
@Gregor *********
Something best not said.Gregor **********
@John ******
exactly . .I don't like to draw any attention. Learned to fly under the radarReply to
Gregor **********
Reply
Gregor **********
@John ******
Economy and Tourist spending, that's a whole different topic. I am talking about the revenue from tourist visa & tourist extension fees. This revenue goes into billions of BahtReply to
Gregor **********
Reply
Marty *********
@Gregor *********
Most tourists are here for less than 30 days.Gregor **********
@Marty ********
millions of tourists buy extensions every year, millions of Chinese and Indians buy VOA for 2000.- THBPaul *******
@Gregor *********
Nonsense. You don't have millions of tourists with that much time on their hands. Your numbers are plucked from thin air.Gregor **********
@Paul ******
you would be surprised if you knew the number of tourist extensions Thai Immigration sells every yearMarty *********
@Gregor *********
These tourists spend much more than 2000 once they are in the country. The money going into the economy by attracting more tourists more than makes up for one time visa fees.Reply to
Marty *********
Reply
Jo **********
First they need to get rid of 90 day reporting which is absurd, outdated and useless.
Michael ********
@Jo *********
i have never bothered with 90 day reporting 5555Twiggy ******
I don’t like that 90-day report, too.
Wolfgang *******
Dave **********
@Jo *********
they love the finesColin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jo *********
I know very little compared to many in the group, but 90 day reporting is nothing to do with Tourists, does it? I thought that was for people who were on other Visas.Jo **********
@Colin ********
no but before they address the issue visa exempt with a longer time, they should fix what is really wrongPaul *******
@Jo *********
I totally agree. I'd rather see the 90 day reporting and also the TM30 gone or at least greatly simplified than changing visa exempt to 90 days.Colin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jo *********
what is "really wrong"? I'm not living in Thailand currently, so I would be interested in knowing. That might help me in the future 🤔Jo **********
@Colin ********
it’s the that all the visas, except the LTR visa, whether 1 or much longer require you to report to immigration every 90 days . real painColin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jo *********
if you have a computer, Tablet or Smartphone, it can be done online from what I've read. Reminders can also be set on Smartphones to remind oneself of the date so it's not missed. So, surely not too much trouble unless you don't have one of those devices, or sometimes have to attend in person and maybe not live very close to an Immigration Office.Jo **********
@Colin ********
it’s just that it serves no purposeColin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jo *********
yes, probably so, except to keep tabs on foreigners 🤷🏼♂️🤔Wylie *******
@Colin ********
if you stay in any hotel or place that files a TM30 for you, which they are required to do within 24 hours, then filing the 90 day report will get rejected because the last tm30 they have on record doesn't match the home address when filing the 90 day report. You then have to go to immigration in person to update the tm30 and file the 90 day report. Unless you don't travel anywhere for the 90 days there's a good chance one has to go to immigration in person.Colin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wylie ******
so, going for a short holiday to another province, staying in a hotel or the like, will mean having to go to your local IO for the 90 day report. Is that the same with all Immigration Offices, or do they all have their 'own rules' on this, like with other things?Wylie *******
@Colin ********
they all have their own rules for doing things in person, but the online system is the same regardless of which office you use.Wylie *******
I guess I can't say if the online system just forwards the info to the office or not. So it's possible they could handle it differently.
Reply to
Wylie *******
Reply
John ******
@Jo *********
but with the 90 days reporting the 90 days visa willnot make any difference, you will not be in the country for 90 days!Jo **********
@John *****
two different things.Reply to
Jo **********
Reply
Brandon ************
1) Immigration would just get even more strict and probably not allow you to return at all for months after you max out a 90 day visa exempt.
Mitchell *******
@Brandon ***********
I was thinking the same..Jo **********
@Brandon ***********
wow that’s a bit heavyBrandon ************
@Jo *********
right now they'll likely pull you out of line for doing 2 maxxed out exempts in a row which is 120 days. I doubt they're going to let someone get 90 days and bounce out and back in knowing they'll be about to stay until 180 days. The only option they have is to not allow then to return immediately at all. It will benefit true tourists and will more severely limit people abusing the system.
Jo **********
@Brandon ***********
ok that I could see.Reply to
Jo **********
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