Frequent changes to Thailand’s visa rules in recent years have made it difficult for travelers to keep track of the latest requirements. If you’re confused about how long you can stay in the country, you’re not alone.
In this article, we explain these changes and explore why the Thai government has implemented them. We also delve into the current situation and let you know exactly how long you can stay in Thailand.
Thailand’s Extended Visa Exemption
In 2023, the Thai government raised the maximum visa-free stay from 30 to 45 days for foreign visitors.
In July 2024, they expanded the visa exemption period to 60 days for travelers from 93 countries and territories. This change aimed to attract tourists interested in longer stays and increase spending. Visitors could also extend their stay for an additional 30 days if needed.
Thailand has seen a huge rise in the number of tourists visiting since these changes were implemented.
More than 11 million foreign nationals visited Thailand in 2022, and more than 28 million the following year. In 2024, this rose to 36 million, with tourists spending 1.6 trillion baht. The TAT credits the extension of visa-free stays with helping to achieve this.
Nevertheless, in March 2025, Thai authorities proposed reducing the visa-free period back to 30 days. This change was motivated by concerns about some travelers misusing the longer stays for unauthorized business activities.
Although the adjustment has been announced, there is no confirmed date for its implementation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently gathering feedback and conducting research to assess the potential impact of shortening the stay.
New Entry Requirement: Thai Digital Arrival Card
If you’re planning a trip to the country in 2025, you also need to be aware of a new travel document required by all travelers regardless of passport.
As of May 1, 2025, you’ll need the new Thai Digital Arrival Card before entering the country.
This digital document replaces the older paper arrival forms. It is part of Thailand’s push to improve border security and speed up immigration procedures. It also helps authorities better track traveler flows and enhance security.
The main points to keep in mind are that it:
- Is required for all foreign travelers, regardless of visa status.
- Must be completed online before arrival.
- Includes personal data, travel plans, accommodation details, and a health declaration.
Once you submit the application, a QR code is generated. You must then present this at immigration upon entry.
Apply for Thailand Arrival Card
What Measures Will Thailand Take to Boost Tourism?
Thai tourism authorities are proposing 3 key measures to help boost tourism, including extending 2 visa policies already in place:
- Visa exemption extended from 30 days to 45 days for eligible nationalities
- Visa on Arrival extended from 15 days to 30 days for eligible travelers
- Increase flights to Thailand
The 45-day visa exemption rule and 30-day Visas on Arrival are already in place until at least March 31, 2023, with plans to extend them to the end of the year.
To take advantage of these policies to boost tourism to the target levels, the TAT is also engaging in talks with airlines. The aim is to increase flight frequency and start new flight routes to Thailand.
The TAT aims to generate tourism revenues of 2.38 trillion baht ($72 billion) with these measures.
How Extending Visa-Free Stays Has Helped Tourism in Thailand
Thailand is the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia and a favorite destination for tourists. After being hard-hit by the pandemic, the tourism industry has started to recover.
The TAT aimed to receive 10 million tourists in 2022. By opening up the country’s visa policy with extended visa-free stays, Thailand smashed this target with over 11 million visitors. This continued to grow each year, up to 35 million in 2024.
Thanks to these initiatives, Thailand’s tourist sector showed one of the highest rates of recovery in the region post-COVID.
By increasing the maximum length of stay permitted, the TAT aims to encourage tourists to stay for longer and spend more money. When the initiative was introduced, they predicted that tourists would spend 5 days longer on average than they would have otherwise done.
If the average tourist’s daily spend is 4000 – 5000 baht per day, this would add up to roughly an additional 20,000 baht spent by each tourist for every trip made to Thailand. All together, this means a lot of extra money going straight into the Thai economy.
The results show the scheme is working. Not only are more travelers arriving in Thailand, but they are also staying longer – including some settling there as digital nomads. There has been a noticeable increase in Russian tourists making extended trips, likely to enjoy the warm climate during the colder months back home. This has also been helped by the return of flights directly between Russia and Thailand.
Chinese tourists are one of the key groups that Thailand intends to attract. The Chinese previously made up a huge proportion of visitors to its shores, but China’s strict travel restrictions have been in place until recently. Now that the borders are open, Thailand will hope to count on a surge of arrivals from China.
The TAT have also said that they hope to double pre-pandemic tourism figures by 2025, with 80 million foreign arrivals.
It remains to be seen whether reducing the visa-free stay to 30 days will affect this goal.
