Thailand : 60-day visa-free takes effect on July 15

Citizens from 93 countries will be able to stay in Thailand without a visa for 60 days starting July 15, 2024.

Eagerly awaited by many fans of the destination, the date for the implementation of the 60-day visa-free stay extension in Thailand has just been announced by the authorities.

Last May, Thailand announced numerous upcoming changes to its visa policies. Among these changes was the doubling of the visa exemption period from 30 to 60 days for visitors from 93 countries.

Today, the spokesperson for the Thai Ministry of the Interior, Traisulee Traisoranakul, stated that her ministry has just released four updates to the country’s visa policies, “aligning them with global competition to attract more foreign visitors, generate more revenue, and thus boost the national economy”.

“These four announcements are part of the Srettha Thavisin government’s policy to stimulate the tourism economy by taking measures to attract foreign tourists, including facilitating travel”, explained Traisulee Traisoranakul.

According to the spokesperson, Deputy Prime Minister and Thai Minister of the Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, has reviewed and signed these four updates, which have just been submitted to the Prime Minister for signature. They will then be published in the Royal Gazette and will come into effect simultaneously on July 15, 2024.

60 days visa-free in Thailand for visitors from 93 countries starting Monday

Here are the four announcements confirmed today by the Ministry of the Interior, which will be applied starting Monday, July 15, 2024, after official publication:

Thai visa exemption extended to 60 days:

• Establishment of a list of countries and territories whose passport or travel document holders can enter Thailand temporarily for tourism, business, or short-term work purposes and are exempt from visa requirements, allowing them to stay in the Kingdom for up to 60 days. The list now includes 93 countries and territories, up from 57 previously.

More nationalities eligible for visa on arrival in Thailand:

• Increase in the list of countries eligible for Visa on Arrival (VOA) at immigration checkpoints to 31 countries and territories, up from 19 previously.

Introduction of the “Destination Thailand Visa”:

• Introduction of a new visa category, the “Destination Thailand Visa” (DTV), for those who wish to stay in Thailand to work and travel (workcation) simultaneously. This includes highly skilled individuals, freelancers, remote workers, or those who want to stay to learn Thai boxing and martial arts, attend cooking classes, participate in sports training, undergo medical treatments, attend training courses, seminars, and artistic and musical exhibitions. The DTV will allow its holder to stay in Thailand for up to 180 days per entry and will be valid for 5 years.

Extension of stay duration for certain students:

• Update of the rights of foreign students who come to the country with a non-immigrant “ED” visa to study or pursue higher education to attract skilled and potential workers for the country’s labor market. It extends the stay in Thailand for one year after graduation to seek employment, travel, or pursue other activities in Thailand.

The 93 countries qualified for visa-free travel to Thailand for 60 days

Starting Monday, tourists and business travelers from 93 countries and territories will be able to stay in Thailand for 60 days without a visa (after official publication in the Royal Gazette).

For now, the authorities have not specified the terms for a possible extension of the stay duration…

By June 2025, these travelers will need an electronic travel authorization (Thailand ETA) to benefit from the visa exemption.

This new formality to be completed before departure to the Land of Smiles will gradually come into effect starting December 2024.

Here is the list of the 93 countries and territories exempt from visa entry into Thailand for a period of 60 days: