Thailand tightens visa rules for tourists, citing crime by foreigners | Thailand
Thailand has drastically shortened visa-free stays for tourists from more than 90 countries in a bid to curb crimes involving foreign nationals, officials said Tuesday.
Tourism is vital to the southeast Asian country’s economy, but foreign inflows have yet to return to pre-Covid levels.
A series of recent high-profile arrests of foreigners have included cases linked to drug crimes, sex trafficking and foreigners operating businesses such as hotels and schools without proper permits.
Under Thailand’s current tourism plan, travelers from more than 90 countries, including the US, UK, Europe’s 29-nation Schengen area and Australia, are entitled to visit visa-free for up to 60 days.
Thailand’s cabinet approved on Tuesday a reduction in visa-free stays for travelers from those countries.
Tourism minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said that the new visa-free period will be determined on a country-by-country basis, with most foreign nationals allowed to stay for up to 30 days, while some can only stay for 15 days.
Tourists can renew their visas once by visiting the immigration office, a government spokesman told Agence France-Presse.
“60 days was automatic but renewal will be decided by the officer and tourists will have to explain why they are staying longer,” he said.
Foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said last week that the plan to reduce visa-free stays was part of the fight against transnational crime.
He said Thailand was not targeting a specific country, but rather individuals who abused the visa system by committing crimes in the country.
A government spokesman told reporters on Tuesday that tourists “provide benefits such as stimulating the economy, but the current plan allows some people to take advantage of this”.
The visa-free period was previously limited to 30 days but was extended to 60 days in July 2024 as part of the government’s efforts to stimulate tourism and the economy.
Tourism accounts for more than 10% of Thailand’s GDP, although visitor numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Foreign arrivals fell by about 3.4% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2025, while visitors from the Middle East fell by almost a third, according to government data.
Thailand expects about 33.5 million foreign tourists this year, up from about 33 million last year, the government said.
