Thailand Expands Visa Policies to Boost Tourism and Business。
Visa Exemption
Thailand will now offer visa exemptions to nationals of 93 countries and territories, an increase from the previous 57. Under this new scheme, visitors can stay for tourism and short-term business purposes for up to 60 days. This stay can be extended for an additional 30 days at the Immigration Office.
Countries eligible for this exemption include Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
Visa on Arrival (VOA)
Thailand will expand its Visa on Arrival (VOA) program to nationals of 31 countries and territories, up from the previous 19. Visitors under this scheme can stay for tourism purposes for up to 15 days. The visa fee is 2,000 Baht.
Eligible countries for VOA include Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Taiwan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Venezuela.
Countries marked with an asterisk (*) are also eligible for the 60-day visa exemption scheme.
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
A new visa measure, Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), is being introduced for remote workers, digital nomads, freelancers, and participants of various activities such as Muay Thai courses, Thai cooking classes, sports training, medical treatments, seminars, and music festivals. Spouses and dependent children of DTV holders are also eligible.
Applicants must provide proof of funds or a guarantee of at least 500,000 Baht for the duration of their stay. The visa fee is 10,000 Baht. DTV holders, along with their spouses and dependent children, will be allowed a five-year stay with multiple entries for cumulative stays not exceeding 180 days, extendable for another 180 days.
Student Visa (Non-Immigrant ED Plus)
Thailand will extend the stay for foreign students of higher education for one additional year after graduation. During this extended period, they can seek employment. If employed locally, they can change their visa type to Non-Immigrant B without having to leave Thailand.
These new visa policies are expected to enhance Thailand’s appeal as a destination for tourists, business travelers, remote workers, and students, contributing to the country’s economic growth.