r/Thailand • u/SensualCommonSense • 1d ago
News Thailand Reduces Visa-Free Stay To 30 Days & Limits Its To 60 Nationals From September 15, 2026
https://loyaltylobby.com/2026/08/30/thailand-reduces-visa-free-stay-to-30-days-for-60-nationals-from-september-15-2026/126
u/Unique_Driver4434 1d ago
This will surely stop all the criminal foreigners that were the justification for doing this. They'll behave themselves for 30 days. It's only when they get an extra 30 days do they turn into criminals and start committing crimes, exactly at the 31-day mark.
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u/KapiHeartlilly 1d ago
Exactly, no criminal ever stays less than 30 days, also non criminals just stop spending money after 30 days as they just sleep on the beach or streets I suppose, so it's a great idea as per usual.
On a serious note, give it less than 6 months for them to be discussing changes again 😂
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u/jackass4224 19h ago
They’ll discuss it again when they see visitor numbers are done and the higher ups start asking why is this happening 😂
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u/yallapapi 17h ago
Thailand is basically the guy who smacks his TV because it’s not working instead of getting it repaired
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u/nightwinging-it Sathorn 1d ago
Something in the air in Thailand that makes tourists commit crimes one minute after the 30-day mark
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u/I-Here-555 1d ago
It won't fix all crime, but it will cut it exactly in half. Instead of criming for full 60 days, foreign criminals will only crime for 30 days now, then go home. Great success! /s
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u/captain_shane 19h ago
It'll stop the real criminals too, like the chinese call center scammers, nominee companies, and construction companies that build skyscrapers that fall down. /s
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u/Silver_Wealth_893 1d ago
30 days is probably a rough average of time until they run out of money...that's the main problem here I think.
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
that's why u always had to pay to extend it it's never been free 90 days ...
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
also for almost all tourists this is not the case they rather save money living in Thailand for a month because prices at home are 10x more then what they spend in a month in Thailand...
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u/Top_Tank2668 1d ago
As a tourist you still have to pay accomodation in your home country and there's a lot that's more expensive in Thailand than at my home
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u/Ok_Collar5937 1d ago
As no one has answered: plenty ditch their places to go travel.
Not everyone keeps an apartment back home, or they rent it to someone short term as a sub-lease.
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
what is expensive in Thailand? Butter ok , bier ok but except that i dont know a singel thing more expensive in Thailand then Switzerland/USA/Singapur/japan/Germany ...🤷
yes some importet goods are more expensive then in the country they originate from. still 3$ cheap nobody thinks about the 50 cent cheaper at home with one stuff when you save the 400% on rent .
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u/Top_Tank2668 1d ago
Again, how to save on rent as a tourist? Whatever
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
Airbnb for example just use it wat it was designed for , rent out your space whilst on vacation yourself 🤷.
probably even produce an offset to live of if your private apartment is not that shit ...
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u/Top_Tank2668 1d ago
Private apartments are called private for a reason. But ok, you do you and Thailand is for free, I get it
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
i just rent it out fixed and live of the monthly earnings sorry i hurt you feelings
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u/Top_Tank2668 1d ago
Not about feelings. I can afford two apartments, so what. It's just stupid to say Thailand is cheap because you can rent out your apartment at home. But you don't get it, that's fine
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u/bob_smithey 1d ago
Only 4x for me in a medium cost of living. Hehe. As a tourist as well. Just living maybe closer to 10x.
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
that's the difference as a tourist u get hotel / Airbnb/ maybe even pool villa ofc u pay 30-40.000 on rent but long ther u get nice house 10-15k . almosy like a double garage where im from and you get nice house instead...
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u/mdeeebeee-101 1d ago
"Thailand changes foreigner visa rules..............................................again."
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u/ItsSignalsJerry_ 1d ago
bus ride to the Cambodian border, a brief visit to Cambodia
Who wrote this? Cambodia land border is closed. Utter garbage ignorant news report.
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u/SnOOpyExpress 1d ago
"Thailand is also limiting the land border entries (no endless visa-runs) to two, except for the nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Singapore.
There will be no limit on the number of entries by air (there was great confusion about this.)"
Visa run by air travel
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u/I-Here-555 1d ago
There will be no limit on the number of entries by air
Not officially, but there will almost surely continue to deny entry in practice to those deemed to "visit too often". That inconsistent policy has been in place for a long time.
except for the nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Singapore
Limiting ground entries to two per year for Myanmar and Laos folks is going to mess up plenty of lives and business in border regions.
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u/jonez450reloaded 18h ago
Limiting ground entries to two per year for Myanmar and Laos folks is going to mess up plenty of lives and business in border regions.
Not really. Myanmar and Laos nationals can apply for a border pass and a border pass lets them come and go as they please be it that travel is limited to border provinces or specific districts within provinces.
With a border pass, a Laos national can stay 3 days and 2 nights per trip. Myanmar nationals get between 1 week and 1 month per trip depending on the type of pass.
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u/I-Here-555 13h ago
Those are useful, but there are caveats.
You have to officially reside in one of the specific border provinces. If it's anything like Thailand, plenty of people might live there but be registered elsewhere.
You also can only visit a few border provinces (e.g. only Udon and Nong Khai).
Increasingly, Malaysiana are eligible for border passes as well, but they were still specifically exempt from the 2 entry limit.
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u/shaghaiex 20h ago
>There will be no limit on the number of entries by air (there was great confusion about this.)"
There are no limits in writing. But be sure there are limits and an entry can be refused for no reason. Entry (to any country other than your own) is a privilege, not a right.
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u/Arcade_akali 1d ago
Seems Russia isn’t included in the visa free list anymore so that’s a step in the good direction at least.
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u/vhax123456 1d ago
No. Russia still gets visa free to Thailand up to 30 days
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u/Nalmyth 1d ago
Russia is not on the list of the 60 remaining
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u/vhax123456 1d ago edited 1d ago
Because Russia got reverted to the pre 2024 agreements - 30 days visa free. Out of 93 countries, 60 got adjusted to new 30 days scheme. The rest (33 countries) got reverted to bilateral agreements or old rules.
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u/MiI0rd 1d ago
The Russians here are dodging the war, if the few who are here where all respectful towards Thai is have 0 issues with them. Majority of them are good, please don’t include them as supporters of Russian war. Half may be dodging recruitment, but more than half rejects Russia’s war. It’s too easy to dehumanize a countries citizens, but almost all I’ve talked to hates their current war. There is a reason they are here, and I’d rather them here then on the battlefield wasting their life and those of Ukrainians
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u/Supawoww 21h ago
This is just a blatant falsehood. There are MANY Russians here who OPENLY support the war…
Idk where you are but you can just go to Pattaya to find plenty like this.
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u/yterais 1d ago
more than half rejects Russia’s war
that's not what the statistics say, 50-70% of Russians support the war, they just don't want to get drafted themselves
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u/MiI0rd 1d ago
Out of the ones who fled. You’re talking about out of the general population. Very different statistics
Edit: also, this is also obviously observable statistics and not fact. I can only speak to my own experience and speak to what I personally observed. I’m giving a ruff estimate, at no point did I wright down names and opinions and then calculate it.
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u/MiI0rd 1d ago
First off, you and are are two birds of a feather. However, I think you’re missing my underlined point. As long as they are not causing their host country issues, I love that any fighting age man of Russian decent go take a long arse vacation for the foreseeable future. Who cares if they support or are against it, long as they are not in Russia/Ukraine they are not killing Ukrainians
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u/sanasigma 1d ago
This is exactly why statistics are confusing at times and can sometimes "lie", you gotta remember only the ones that don't support are outside of russia, so almost 100% of the russian who are outside of russia will say no to the war.
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u/arjuna93 1d ago
Russian state statistics is famous for accuracy and honesty, yeah…
To begin with, whatever numbers you presumably get inside of Russia are clearly biased heavily, since a lot of Russians who are against current policy are not in Russia anymore.-1
u/Otherwise-Initial668 1d ago
Ah yes, and statistics never lie
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u/ZippyDan 1d ago
We can assume statistics are usually correct, and have some semblance of a shared, objective reality. Or we can assume all statistics are lies and there is no such thing as truth, and everyone can just live in their own imaginary bubble of what they feel is correct.
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u/FindingUnable3222 1d ago edited 23h ago
Statistics is correct.. the question is how it's gathered.
In this case, it's gathered as "we know your name/address/phone number. Are you supporting the war, or want to say something that leads you to prison?"
And people are answering according to what they think is the safe answer.
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u/Otherwise-Initial668 1d ago
There is the 3rd more reasonable option of investigating how the statistics were gathered and presented and by whom
Rather than blindly accepting or rejecting
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u/I-Here-555 1d ago
Russians still get 30 days by bilateral agreement, and Thais can visit Russia visa-free too.
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u/TrendTrader888 10h ago
Its always funny to see white people complaining about another country tightening its immigration policy when Western countries are always looking to tighten their own.
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u/FinancialFreedom12 1d ago
Attacking the people bringing money into the country is wild. If anything, just force people to bring a criminal background check once every 3 years or something. If the goal is to get rid of problem foreigners, actually create a policy that will do so without fucking over the whole country's revenue stream....
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
I don't realise the entire mission. can only speak for Pattaya and Bangkok but here it's 99% young man groups drinking to much and then fighting/ not pay bill or drive intoxicated and race ...
none of them get any restriction from this update they only stay 2-3weeks maximum anyway. Nobody party for years the people living here long term especially the elderly i never seen comit crime at all . (ok they are mostly pedos but age difference as long as adults not illegal in Thailand sadly)
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u/FinancialFreedom12 1d ago
Then find ways to minimize it by setting a policy that will stop it… My wife and I are planning on moving over next year with the DTV but it seems like we might have issues because of the blanket policies attacking foreigners. I’m happy to go spend my money in a country that won’t look down on us.
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
Thailand still one of the best but and the tourist visa i dont need myself so i don't care but the new visa rule that you can only apply in your home country is so fucked . imagine living here for 5 year's paying every visa extension 4 times a year + the proof of adress you need to bring .
why they want me to fly around the world now apply for Visa ONLINE 🤬 anyway the only resort to fucking fly back is a stamp in my passport wtf like that have any effect on my behaviour here in future or last 5 years.
just a really big waste of money (50k for me) and shit for environment to fly around the earth for a online visa 🤦
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u/Green_War6445 1d ago
If you are moving, then obviously you are going the citizen route. That takes 3 years tops. If you can't manage to learn thai in 3 years then you should gtfo.
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u/FinancialFreedom12 1d ago
That’s so incorrect it’s not even funny. There are multiple long term visas that don’t require you to learn Thai or become a Thai citizen. You take your meds today?
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u/SortInternational 20h ago
A dvt visa which requires you to LEAF the country EVERY YEAR is not a permanent residency.
the only option for real permanent residency that will me ACCEPT by your old home country would be a senior (over 50) or becoming a thai passport holder.
learning thai is difficult but if you wanna stay in a country long therme there is no option anyway so just learn in from beginning... sure a thai partner or family there helps alot but there are also language scools every corner ...
all other kinds of visas are either temporary, extremely expensive, or require you to visit immigration every 3 months, pay to extend and proof of housing ... nothing of this has to do with a permanent residency!
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u/FinancialFreedom12 20h ago
Okay now that’s a fair take, but my wife and I are planning on traveling in and out of Thailand frequently. You’re right, obviously the DTV isn’t granting permanent residency, but we also aren’t trying to become residents. Hence why visas like the DTV exists…
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u/SortInternational 20h ago
Absulutly dvt or all longer visas are a great first step of moving. nobody came here first day and said i want to become Thai ...
ofc the whole process takes time and yes like u say for most dvt holders it doesn't make a difference at all because they woud travel other countries anyway...
also all kinds of visas/ stays help you to get the thai passport eventually on day... the more the better.
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u/SuccessfulMethod4159 20h ago
Thailand should do like Bhutan, $100 per day Visa. To get quality tourists, huh.
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u/SlightWerewolf4428 1d ago edited 1d ago
India, 30 days.
Same as UK, German and Swiss citizens.
wow, smart policy.
EDIT: I mean, nothing against the Indians, but I thought Thailand was concentrating on non-mass tourism, trying to capture the high spending segment. This just keeps the numbers up.
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u/I-Here-555 1d ago
What happened to White privilege!? They shall regret this indignity when we sail a warship up Chao Phraya! /s
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1d ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
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1d ago
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u/FuzzyOne64 1d ago
The attitude of people who think they have a right to enter a foreign country and any restrictions on entry as an a-front are part of the problem. I don’t blame them and happy to see them tighten it up. Same for Japan. Once Malaysia and the others see what happens when you lower your visa requirements, they’ll tighten back up.
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u/Turkarize 19h ago
I don’t see anyone talking about how every South American countries doesn’t give a fuck and gives 90 day visa free and nothing bad seem to happen… what’s up with that? Not disagreeing with you here…
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u/Santzes 1d ago
This probably isn't the discussion for it, but why so?
I feel I'm a citizen of the earth, and wish I could see as much of it as I can, and wish anyone could see my home country and find their place in the world they enjoy the most. It feels quite stupid that we have some polygon on map and all the people born on that polygon make rules about people from which polygons can enter theirs. wtf it's 2026 we should be over this. People are individuals and should be handled like that. I've got no problems with countries making rules about what is acceptable within the country, if the rules make any sense at least, but having a constant visa lottery based on things people can't affect in any ways doesn't make any sense.
Not to mention that all the countries that lately have started doing random foreigner annoyances have pretty much gone really shitty way. I wonder why.. (I don't, I know why but not gonna say it out loud)
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u/Upbeat_March6617 19h ago
Your logic is all people should be able to travel to anywhere around the world….which is quite unrealistic. Everywhere have limited resources. Imagine if amusement park is free for all, there will be too many people. The locals who built those infrastructure will be annoyed.
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16h ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
Tourism and travel related questions should be posted to the dedicated subreddit /r/thailandtourism.
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u/No_Adhesiveness_3593 21h ago
It is all a scam. The rich airline owners had somethng to do with this to be sure. Also, it cut a lot of spending and income around the border from expats who have visa, residency, and work in Laos, Cambodia, etc...I live across from Nong Khai. I used to spend over 1,000 dollars a month there but I have not been there in over two years now. I save my entry for going to the doctor. I have no interest in living in Thailand but I do like shopping there. Thailand could give us with visa, and docs from Laos at least a multiple hop into Nong Khai or Udon Thani so spend money. But now I can't go to the doctor more that twice without flying to Bangkok, flying to Udon/Khon Kaen, taking a bus back to Nong Khai. It is all just too expensive. The boder flips only kept a lot of good people in the country spending money. Most criminals never flipped they paid to have their visas stamped.
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1d ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
Tourism and travel related questions should be posted to the dedicated subreddit /r/thailandtourism.
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18h ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
Tourism and travel related questions should be posted to the dedicated subreddit /r/thailandtourism.
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u/AccomplishedBrain309 22h ago
They should be cracking down on overstays and foreigners working in Thailand without papers. I have been going to visit my family for 3 months for the last 14 years. This year i will need an o visa or we can only stay for 1 month. I guess we can go to the Philipines or Cambodia. We only spend money on travel, accomodations and food were not running a buissness and support the economy.
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23h ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
Your post was removed because it contained hate speech (racism, sexism, bigotry, xenophobia, etc.) and/or offensive content. Posts or comments promoting hate based on identity directed at individual users is not allowed.
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u/Hefty-Giraffe7255 17h ago
Number ONE. Thing Thai's hate is losing money I will be very surprised after Say. Next high Season the Visas will revert back to 60. Days. And Border Crossings Returned
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1d ago
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u/Projektion 1d ago
Not clickbait. It has been announced in the gazette in the very link you have provided, the 16th announcement down:
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u/CyroSwitchBlade 1d ago
so.. unlimited runs by air every 29 days then??
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u/I-Here-555 1d ago edited 5h ago
That's allegedly, what the article says, but I doubt they'll stop the current policy of occasionally denying entry to those deemed to visit too much, depending on the mood of the officer.
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
still only 2 visa free entrys per calender year...
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u/seBen11 1d ago
That limit only applies to land borders. There's no limit on entries by air per se, it's still down to the immigration officer to decide whether you're a genuine tourist or not.
Someone using Bangkok as a hub for South East Asia may have a handful or more entries without even hitting 30 days total, and would unlikely to be challenged.
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
i talked to an immigration officer like 1 week ago . your right if you only use 3 days or less for a layover it doesn't count. 2 times 5 days comming 3. time again he woud send back , he also said not all everyone desires same if same person goes to 10 imigration officers he might get 11 different responses he said ...
He also said that it massively depends on the country u origunate from , USA they dont like anymore same russians and ofc Indies (not really relevant for this i know ) ...
also he said that they can see now all previous entries to Thailand in there system and he even seen my first one from like 2016... so new passport not working anymore...
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u/CyroSwitchBlade 18h ago
Why would they not like USA anymore??
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u/SortInternational 18h ago
hmm i think u know the answer...
USA startet completly bullshit war and the whole world expept American (because they have there own supplie) pays +-50% more for energy and fuels ...
also trump is a racist and promoting hate speech against foreigner off course foren countrys dont like him then ...
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u/Umi_Gaming 16h ago
My question is, wouldn't it be smart to fly out and in before the new changes take effect to take advantage of the 60 days and 30 day extension if you already visited Thailand once this year, to get the 2nd visa free in with the most of it?
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
still only 2 visa free entrys per calender year...
so 120 instead of 180 days totall visa free per year
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u/yingguoren1988 1d ago
So they included India but not China.... that's really not going to go down well in Beijing.
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1d ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
Tourism and travel related questions should be posted to the dedicated subreddit /r/thailandtourism.
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u/Enoch-2591 23h ago
Pain in neck for me an ex expat who booked a 60 day golfing extravaganza earlier in year. The best part of a day to be wasted getting an extension. Everything is just so shortsighted. Should be used to it having spent years in LOS. Only now get surprised when nothing surprises!
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u/HungryGuyOnABicycle 22h ago
I'm tired of all the changes and unnecessary complications. Thailand is not affordable anymore. China is a much better option. Hainan Island 👍🏽
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u/BulkyAvocado215 1d ago
I still don't really understand where countries like Mexico fall. Can anyone brief me?
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
not enough diplomatic relationship. there are just not many Mexicans going to Thailand and probably almost no Thais ever went to Mexico so neither of the countries is interested in negotiating better deals ...
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u/GeraldoSuave 1d ago
Good thing I applied for and got my 60 visa since I will arrive on September 21, 2026 for 90 days :-)
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u/Green_War6445 1d ago
2 weeks to implement. Yikes. The embassy in Denmark takes at least a month to get an appointment.
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22h ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
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22h ago
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u/Thailand-ModTeam 15h ago
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u/FluentFreddy 1d ago
Ah I was just trying to work out how long to visit for, all that cash burning a hole in my pocket, I guess I’ll just use BKK for a stopover again. One less decision!
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u/upside_down_frown1 1d ago
Hasn't been posted in the Gazette. This trash article says it is likely to be posted. But got enough clicks and then can get more engagement when the post it again when it actually gets posted.
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u/OneLife-No-Do-Overs 1d ago
It's posted in the Royal Gazette.
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u/upside_down_frown1 1d ago
Care to share a link? Everything i read its not posted in the Gazette.
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u/OneLife-No-Do-Overs 1d ago edited 1d ago
https://ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/128703.pdf
Or go to the Gazette and you can see it in the list of all the announcements made today.
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u/midwestsweetking 1d ago
I’m loving all the bitter people who can go elsewhere if they don’t like it
So happy I still get 3 months 🤣🤣
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u/sniveling-goose 1d ago
It's all good, the retired Western perverts can still easily get permanent residence though.
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u/I-Here-555 1d ago
WTF? Nearly nobody ever gets Thai permanent residence. In fact, straight-to-citizenship is easier (for those who qualify).
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u/benroon 1d ago
lol ED?
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u/SortInternational 1d ago
if im forced to leaf the country even years it's not a permanent residency as most countries do not accept dvt visas as proof of permanent living there cuz the visa says on the paper no allowance to stay 365d/year ...
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u/armymike1523 1d ago
So I'm gonna be good for 60 days as an American?
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u/I-Here-555 1d ago
American exceptionalism strikes again!
Didn't you read the article, everyone on the list gets 30 days instead of 60. USA is on the list.
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1d ago edited 1d ago
[deleted]
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u/Lashay_Sombra 1d ago
They cannot remove the old 60 days via 'bilateral agreement ' unilaterally
Anutin got into trouble for trying that at start of covid
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u/numenor00 1d ago
Nationals of the following countries can enter Thailand visa-free for 30 days:
Australia,Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Maldives, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America,