Thailand 60-day visa-free scheme set to be scrapped
60-day visa-free scheme set to be scrapped under tourism reset
Thailand’s 60-day visa-free scheme could be scrapped under a new proposal aimed at tightening visitor screening and shifting the country’s tourism strategy towards higher-value travel.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul has proposed cancelling the expanded visa exemption scheme introduced in July 2024, which allows nationals from 93 countries and territories to enter Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days.
Under the proposal, Thailand would return to its previous system, which granted visa-free entry to travellers from 57 countries and territories. Any future expansion of the list would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The minister said the current policy has made it more difficult for authorities to screen visitors and prevent people from using tourist privileges for purposes other than tourism.
Officials said around 90 percent of foreign tourists stay in Thailand for no more than 30 days, with the average stay around nine to 10 days. Norwegian tourists were cited as having the longest average stay, at about 21 days.
Those staying longer than 30 days are generally covered by other visa categories, including business, education and long-stay visas.
Surasak said data from the Tourist Police showed an increase in offences involving foreigners since the introduction of the 60-day visa-free scheme. He added that public opinion, including comments on social media, appeared to support a review of the policy.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has discussed the proposal with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is expected to submit the matter to Cabinet for approval.
The proposal is diplomatically sensitive because removing visa privileges from selected countries could affect bilateral relations. As a result, officials are considering a full reset rather than targeting specific nationalities.
Visa-on-arrival arrangements would remain unchanged.
Tourism fee and exit fee also under review
The ministry is also pushing ahead with plans for the Thailand Tourism Fee, previously referred to as a “land entry fee”.
The fee would be collected from foreign tourists and placed into a national tourism fund. The money would be used to support tourism infrastructure, maintain attractions, improve safety and cleanliness, and provide accident insurance for visitors.
Surasak said the measure would reduce reliance on the state budget and provide a more stable funding source for tourism development.
The ministry is also studying an outbound travel fee for Thai citizens in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance. One example under discussion is a 1,000 baht fee per trip, which officials estimate could generate around 10 billion baht a year.
The revenue could then be used to support domestic tourism schemes, including travel subsidies and promotions for secondary cities.
In the short term, the ministry is seeking additional funding to stimulate domestic travel, particularly as some international markets face pressure from the conflict in the Middle East.
Plans include reviving schemes such as “We Travel Together”, co-payment travel campaigns, bus travel promotions and tax incentives.
