Thailand has reinstated its 30-day visa exemption policy for tourists from approximately 60 countries, effective April 1, 2023. This marks a reversal from the previous regulation that permitted visitors from these countries to stay for up to 45 days without obtaining a visa beforehand.
Tourists from mainland Europe, the UK, the US, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and other nations will now be granted a 30-day stay in Thailand if they choose to enter the kingdom without obtaining a visa prior to arrival.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) states that visa-exempt visitors will still have the option to extend their stay once for an additional 30 days by going through immigration, allowing them to travel throughout the country for a maximum of 60 days.
Visa-exempt countries will also have the alternative to obtain a 30-day extension by briefly exiting and re-entering Thailand. However, land border crossings are limited to twice per calendar year. While there are no official restrictions for entry by air, immigration officers reserve the right to deny tourists entry and require them to obtain a formal visa from a Thai embassy beforehand.
Furthermore, the visa-on-arrival period, which had been extended from 15 to 30 days, has now reverted to 15 days for countries eligible for visas on arrival.
The TAT reportedly plans to approach the new government after the general election with the aim of potentially revising the visa program once again to attract more tourists. (NNT)
(Source Pattaya Mail)
