Alternatives to Reducing Thailands Visa Exemption from 60 Days to 30 Days

In March 2025, Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry announced plans of a proposal, but not a firm decision, to cut the visa-free stay for citizens of 93 countries from 60 days to 30 days, aiming to curb illegal businesses exploiting the exemption scheme.

While the move addresses legitimate concerns—like foreigners working or running illicit operations under the guise of tourism—it risks alienating genuine travelers and denting Thailand’s tourism-driven economy, which welcomed over 40 million visitors in 2024 after extending the visa period. Rather than slashing the stay outright, here are several alternatives that could balance security, economic goals, and visitor appeal.

Instead of a blanket reduction to 30 days, Thailand could introduce a tiered system based on nationality or travel history. Countries with low rates of overstays or illegal activity (e.g., Japan, the U.S., or EU nations) could retain the 60-day exemption, while those with higher risks get 30 days. Alternatively, frequent visitors with clean records—like those who’ve entered Thailand multiple times in the past five years without issues—could keep the longer stay. This rewards compliant travelers, keeps tourism flowing, and targets enforcement where it’s needed. Data from the Thai Immigration Bureau could easily inform these tiers, avoiding a one-size-fits-all cut.

Thailand plans to roll out an ETA system by June 2025 for visa-exempt visitors. Speeding this up could be a smarter fix than shortening stays. An ETA would require pre-arrival registration, letting authorities screen applicants for red flags—like prior overstays or criminal records—without burdening legitimate tourists. It’s a light-touch approach already working in places like Australia and Canada, and it could generate a small fee (say, 300-500 Baht) to fund enforcement. Pair it with the 60-day stay, and Thailand keeps its edge as a hassle-free destination while tightening oversight.

The 60-day window doesn’t inherently cause illegal work—lax enforcement does. Rather than punish all visitors, Thailand could beef up checks during the stay. Random audits at workplaces, stricter penalties for employers hiring undocumented foreigners, and digital tracking (e.g., requiring check-ins via a mobile app) could deter abuse. The Tourism Department’s already been tasked with enforcing the Tourism Business and Guide Act more rigorously—focusing here instead of slashing days would hit the root issue. Tourists wouldn’t notice, but violators would.

Keep the 60-day base but tweak the extension process. Currently, visa-exempt travelers can extend by 30 days for 1,900 Baht at an immigration office. Adding a vetting layer—proof of funds (e.g., 20,000 Baht in a bank statement), a detailed itinerary, or a sponsor letter—could filter out bad actors while letting genuine visitors stay up to 90 days. Raise the fee slightly (say, 2,500 Baht) to offset admin costs and discourage casual overstays. It’s a win-win: flexibility for tourists, revenue for Thailand, and a hurdle for exploiters.

If illegal work’s the worry, why not legitimize it? Pair the 60-day exemption with an optional short-term work permit (15-30 days) for specific gigs—like freelance gigs, remote work, or urgent business tasks—applied for at entry or online. Cap it with clear rules (e.g., no long-term contracts, minimum wage compliance) and a modest fee (2,000-3,000 Baht). This nods to the digital nomad boom while keeping things legal and taxable. The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) already does this for 180 days; a shorter version could fit the 60-day crowd.

Rather than cutting each visit to 30 days, limit total visa-exempt time annually—say, 90 days within a 180-day period, tracked via passport scans. This mirrors systems in the Schengen Area and stops serial “visa runners” without shrinking the per-trip window. Long-haul tourists and short-haul ones (7 days) still fit comfortably, while habitual overstayers hit a wall. It’s less disruptive and keeps Thailand welcoming for one-off or biannual trips.

Tourism’s Thailand’s lifeblood—3 trillion Baht projected for 2025, per the TAT. The 60-day boost from July 2024 spiked arrivals, proving longer stays lure spenders. Operators note most tourists don’t max it out anyway—long-haul folks hover at 21 days, short-haul at 7—so the illegal business issue isn’t about duration but enforcement gaps. Slashing to 30 days could sour Thailand’s rep as a flexible paradise, especially against rivals like Vietnam or Malaysia. These alternatives keep the welcome mat out, target the real problem, and dodge a PR hit.