Hi All,

has there seen any update on when the change to the Marriage Act (Marriage Equality) will be published in the Royal Gazette and the law go into affect?

Let’s vote on the contraversal news….

People say 60 day visa exempt starts 1st September. Is that right?

The press told lies about changes to visas starting June 1st. Where were the government disinformation people to correct those lies before people arrived on June 1st expecting 60 day stamps?

Edit: I have been in Thailand long enough to know that we are being lied to. But foreigners showing up expecting stamps don’t know that.

Just landed at the airport BKK and got the same 30 days exempt on June the First. FYI

New 60 Day Visa Exempt Rule

Just landed after midnight on June 1st and only received a 30 day VE not a 60. I asked the officer the reason and he said the government hasn't passed it yet.

So either he is right or he has been I'll informed, but just be aware that if you are coming in with the 60 day expectation then you maybe disappointed. I'm going to have to come up with a plan B now.

I obviously jumped the gun too quickly.

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

With the new visa changes incoming, if we are already in thailand - is their a way to extend using the new rules?

Visa exempt, visa waiver and Visa On Arrival.

Ok so it’s been confirmed by multiple sources that entry using visa exempt, visa waiver or visa on arrival have reverted back to their original number of days since midnight.

Visa exempt is now 30 days. You can extend for 30 days at a local immigration office.

Visa waiver is 30 days. You cannot extend this.

Visa on arrival is 15 days. You cannot extend this.

For those that are going to post that you can get a 7 day extension on the latter two options is debatable in terms of semantics. You can apply for an extension, but it will be denied. Because of the denial you will be given 7 days to leave the country.

If your entry stamp shows ผ.30 that’s a visa exempt stamp.

If your entry stamp shows ผผ.30 that’s a visa waiver stamp.

If your entry stamp shows TR-15 that’s a visa on arrival stamp (and you’ll be out of pocket by 2,000 baht, so you’ll know that).

No point in debating the pro or cons of whether they should have or shouldn’t have. Its happened.

For those of you that were spouting that “it’s been extended till the end of the year” because of a few media reports - that’s why we have to wait and see if official stuff gets published in the Royal Gazette before we believe it.

You may have seen posts about todays CCSA meeting. Basically they’ve said from October 1st (until March 31st 2023) visa exempt entries will get a stamp for 45 days (up from 30). Visa on arrival, for the counties that pay 2,000 baht on arrival will be 30 days (up from 15).

Although there is no details about extensions it’s widely believed that they will remain unchanged. Visa exempt and tourist entries will still be able to apply for a 30 day extension (edit: for those countries eligible). Visa on arrival is not eligible for extensions.

This has yet to be published in the Royal Gazette so is not yet law but widely expected to be so in the coming days.