Finally, it is possible to stay in Thailand without a visa for a period relatively longer than the typical vacation. The current government leading the country has decided to focus on tourism, and one of the most important initiatives in this regard is the reform of the visa regime. The new rules were announced a few weeks ago, and now, in mid-July 2024, the first package of changes is coming into effect. Among these, the standout is the new period of stay granted to those arriving without a visa. This new regulation has already stirred various Facebook groups and forums discussing Thailand. This first package of changes also includes another interesting opportunity: the visa for digital nomads called DTV. However, in this first article, I will focus on the new period of stay granted to those arriving without any type of visa.
Difference between visa exemption and visa on arrival
As usual, many confuse VOA, visa on arrival, and visa exemption. Therefore, a small clarification is necessary. Citizens of 93 countries around the world can enter Thailand and benefit from the visa exemption regime. This term means this passport holders can enter Thailand without having previously requested a visa and without having to request it at the airport or the land entry point they are crossing. This is implemented through a small stamp placed on one of the passport pages indicating the entry date and the last day by which one must exit, net of extensions, to avoid overstaying. This privilege is now granted to citizens of 93 countries worldwide, previously only 57.
On the contrary, for citizens of some nations, a visa is issued directly at the border. This means that the travelers in question must have passport photos, other documents, and the cost for issuing the visa with them. This results in a sticker that occupies an entire passport page along with the entry stamp, as in the previous case. Other nationalities are still in the worst situation: travelers from these nations must request a visa before departing for Thailand.
60 (+30) days in Thailand without a visa
Finally, we come to the real novelty of the moment. So far, if you intended to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days but, for various reasons, could not request a tourist visa, you had only two options:
- Request an extension of the granted stay period.
- Do a visa run, a short trip out of Thailand to re-enter immediately after and get another 30 days.
Now, all this finally falls away. Forget about the tourist visa, the waits to get it, or the official portal that occasionally acts up. Take your passport, buy your plane ticket, and go. Upon your arrival, you will be granted 60 days under the visa exemption regime. Moreover, this stay period can be extended by an additional 30 days, as previously done, directly on-site. To do this, you must go to the immigration division of the police in the area where you are, fill out the required form, present the necessary documents, and pay the fee of 1900 baht provided for this.
This means that from July 15, 2024, the day the new regulation came into effect, it is possible to stay in Thailand for up to 3 consecutive months without having to leave and without having requested any type of visa.
Necessary documents to stay in Thailand without a visa
Even though you can stay in Thailand without a visa for this relatively long period, remember that to depart, you need a passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity at the time of your entry into the country. Besides this, remember that you must also have a ticket out of Thailand within the maximum stay period granted to you, now 60 days. This does not mean a return ticket to your country but only an exit ticket from Thailand. It can be to a neighboring country or any other country in the world. This is to avoid potential problems at the boarding moment, where, occasionally, an overzealous check-in agent might prevent you from boarding the plane if you do not have an exit ticket or if your return is beyond 60 days and you do not have a visa. If you find yourself in this situation, know that there are possibilities where your trip may be canceled.
However, the problem is easily resolved. For example, you can buy a ticket, which you will not use, to a country near Thailand from a low-cost airline, or you can get a so-called onward ticket. These are flight bookings that generate a verifiable code at check-in for a flight departing from Thailand within 60 days of your arrival, all at a cost of a few dollars without the obligation to confirm the ticket later. You can find more information on these bookings on the Onward Ticket website.
Some considerations
It has been many years since such a decisive easing of the tourist visa regime for Thailand has been seen. As mentioned, this is just one of the changes introduced in the initial phase of a plan that will cover various classes of visas for traveling and staying in Thailand in the coming months. Being able to stay in Thailand without a visa for 60 or 90 days, I believe this is the minimum stay period necessary for a person to try to make the big move of relocating, for those interested in this, or to enjoy a longer period than usual vacations without too much hassle regarding visas. The measure has already come into effect and is not temporary, but knowing the Thai authorities, they might reconsider very quickly. So, if you want to take a nice trip to Thailand, this could be your right opportunity.
FAQ
To conclude, here are some frequently asked questions about staying in Thailand without a visa that are usually posted online.
Can I extend my visa exemption period?
Yes, you can extend the granted 60 days by an additional 30 directly in Thailand.
If at the end of the 60 days I do a visa run and re-enter Thailand without a visa, how many days will I get?
In this way, you will get another 60 days, but abusing this practice is not well regarded by the border authorities.
Do I have to pay to get the 60 days of stay without a visa?
No, the initial 60 days are free; the possible extension of another 30 days costs 1900 baht.
Do I get 60 days of visa exemption by entering via land or air?
You can enter either by land or by air; you will always get 60 days.