In a bid to boost tourism, Thailand has implemented new visa regulations permitting tourists from 93 countries to holiday in the Land of Smiles for up to 60 days. Currently, only 57 countries benefit from this feature. Additionally, the revised rules will allow foreign students to stay in Thailand for a year after graduation, give visa extensions to digital nomads, relax insurance requirements for foreigners looking to retire in Thailand, and even make more tourists eligible for visas on arrival.
Check out our Thailand visa guide for hassle-free explorations.
Thailand’s visa extension among other newly announced changes for tourists and digital nomads will be implemented from June 2024. As Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy and a goldmine of employment opportunities, this decision aims to boost tourism in Thailand by making the country more accessible than ever.
Thailand extends a warm welcome: Extension of visa stays for tourists
Thailand targets tourism boost with longer stays for visitors, students, ‘digital nomads’ pic.twitter.com/G25mgHIoCg
— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) May 28, 2024
In addition to increasing the stay duration from 30 to 60 days for on-arrival visas, Thailand is also supporting the steadily rising remote work culture by extending the digital nomad visa validity (for remote workers and self-employed individuals) from 60 days to five years, with a maximum stay of 180 days per visit.
Which countries benefit from Thailand’s tourist visa extension?
- China, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia, and Cambodia are new countries added to Thailand’s visa-waiver list, making the passport holders eligible for a 60-day stay.
- New countries that are now eligible for visa on arrival in Thailand and will get a 60-day stamp include Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Morocco, Panama, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Uruguay, Albania, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador.
- Passports of countries that were already receiving a 30-day visa stamp upon arrival, and are now eligible for a 60-day stamp, include India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Fiji, Georgia.
- Countries that were already enjoying visa-free travel to Thailand and can now enjoy a 60-day stay include Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, The Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Peru, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, Brazil, and Brunei.
Pre-pandemic, Thailand earned 1.91 trillion baht by welcoming 39.9 million tourists in 2019. With 14.3 million tourists already in 2024, the country aims to reach a record-breaking 40 million by year’s end, generating revenue of 3.5 trillion baht.
Bucket-list destinations for your Thailand itinerary
Revel in nature’s beauty at Thi Lo Su Waterfall at Um Phang Wildlife Sanctuary, Tham Lot Cave in Pang Mapha District, and the Great Thai Canyon of Sam Phan Bok. In addition to framing delightful sceneries, Thailand is a dream destination for beach combing, marine adventures, and trailing national parks. While the country has over 1,400 islands along its coastline, Koh Yao Islands, Phi Phi Islands, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, and Phuket are highly recommended.
If a vacation in Thailand is on the cards for you, get some itinerary inspiration from our guide to the best places to visit in Thailand.
(Feature Image Credit: Day2505/Shutterstock)
Related: Explore The Timeless Beauty Of Thailand’s Most Famous Temples
Written By
Yashita Vashisth and Esha Dasgupta
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