Thailand extends free visa to more countries and longer-stay travelers

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May 29 (ChinaDaily) – Thai cabinet has adopted multiple visa measures to stimulate tourism, which will benefit tourists from 36 more countries and Chinese travelers who may have plan to stay in the kingdom for more than 30 days.

Visa measures approved on Tuesday include 60-day visa exemption, a new “Destination Thailand” visa, permission for foreign university students who have studied in Thailand to stay for a year after graduation, and changes in regulations for long-stay visas for retirees.

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After a meeting on Tuesday, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed that extension of the period of visa-free stays from 30 days to 60 days will come into effect in June.

The government will also increase the number of visa-free countries from 57 to 93, including Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, Laos, etc. Countries eligible for visa arrivals will also be added from 19 to 31.

For digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers, Muay Thai students, Thai food students, the period of stay will be tripled from 60 days to 180 days.

Moreover, the government will also extend the period of stay for foreign university students to one year after graduation, allowing them to work in professions not restricted to Thais only.

Government spokesperson Chai Watcharong revealed that the estimated cost of the measures, in terms of lost visa fee collections, is approximately 12.3 billion baht ($340 million) per year. However, it is anticipated that there will be a substantial increase in tourist receipts, ranging from 800 billion baht to one trillion baht.

The 57 nations who were already enjoying a visa waiver and can now get a 60-day stamp on arrival are:

1. Canada

2. Czech Republic

3. Denmark

4. Estonia

5. Finland

6. France

7. Germany

8. Greece

9. Hungary

10. Iceland

11. Indonesia

12. Republic of Ireland

13. Israel

14. Italy

15. Japan

16. Kuwait

17. Latvia

18. Lichtenstein

19. Lithuania

20. Luxembourg

21. Malaysia

22. Maldives

23. Mauritius

24. Monaco

25. The Netherlands

26. New Zealand

27. Norway

28. Oman

29. The Philippines

30. Poland

31. Portugal

32. Qatar

33. San Marino

34. Singapore

35. Slovakia

36. Slovenia

37. Spain

38. South Africa

39. South Korea

40. Sweden

41. Switzerland

42. Turkey

43. Ukraine

44. United Arab Emirates

45. United Kingdom

46. United States

47. Peru

48. Hong Kong

49. Vietnam

50. Saudi Arabia

51. Andorra

52. Australia

53. Austria

54. Belgium

55. Bahrain

56. Brazil

57. Brunei

The 13 nations whose citizens were already getting a 30-day stamp upon arrival and will now be getting a 60-day stamp:

1. India

2. Kazakhstan

3. Malta

4. Mexico

5. Papua New Guinea

6. Romania

7. Uzbekistan

8. Taiwan

9. Bhutan

10. Bulgaria

11. Cyprus

12. Fiji

13. Georgia

The six new nations whose citizens now enjoy a visa waiver and a 60-day stay are:

1. China

2. Laos

3. Macau

4. Mongolia

5. Russia

6. Cambodia

The 17 new nations that are now eligible for visa on arrival and will get a 60-day stamp are:

1. Guatemala

2. Jamaica

3. Jordan

4. Kosovo

5. Morocco

6. Panama

7. Sri Lanka

8. Trinidad and Tobago

9. Tonga

10. Uruguay

11. Albania

12. Colombia

13. Croatia

14. Cuba

15. Dominica

16. Dominican Republic

17. Ecuador

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