Thailand: 60-day visa exemption can be extended for 30 days

The Tourism Authority of Thailand confirms that travelers with a 60-day visa exemption can extend their stay by an additional 30 days.

Since July 15, 2024, tourists and business travelers from 93 countries benefit from a 60-day visa exemption in Thailand, up from the previous 30 days.

The major question following this announcement was whether this visa-free stay could be extended in Thailand, and if so, for how many days…

A few days ago, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) provided an update on this issue and reviewed the latest visa policy changes in the country.

Visa exemption: possible extension in Thailand (60 Days + 30 Days)

In its statement, the Tourism Authority of Thailand explains that the country now grants a visa exemption to nationals of 93 countries and territories, compared to 57 countries previously.

TAT indicates that visitors benefiting from this scheme are allowed to stay for tourism purposes and short-term professional engagements for up to 60 days, which can be extended at the immigration office for another period not exceeding 30 days.

Travel experts at VisasNews note that the acceptance of the extension request and the authorized extension duration are at the sole discretion of the immigration officer.

Here is the list of countries and territories covered by this 60-day visa exemption for entry into Thailand:

• Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

As a reminder, by June 2025, visitors exempt from a visa will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (Thailand ETA) before their departure.

More nationalities eligible for visa on arrival in Thailand

While tourists from 19 countries were initially eligible for a visa on arrival in Thailand, today 31 nationalities can use this solution to enter the Land of Smiles.

According to the Thai Tourism Authority, visitors under this scheme are allowed to stay in the country for tourism purposes for a period not exceeding 15 days. The visa on arrival fee in Thailand is 2,000 baht, approximately 58 US dollars.

The 31 countries concerned are:

• Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Taiwan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Venezuela.

A new visa: the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

Thailand introduces a new type of visa, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for the following three categories of travelers:

1. Remote workers, digital nomads, and freelancers;
2. Participants in activities such as:
   • Muay Thai courses,
   • Thai cooking classes,
   • Sports training,
   • Medical treatments,
   • Seminars and music festivals;
3. Spouses and dependent children of DTV visa holders.

Foreigners wishing to apply for this visa must provide proof of funds (or a guarantee) of at least 500,000 baht, approximately 14,200 US dollars, for the duration of their stay. The DTV visa fee is 10,000 baht (≈ 284 USD).

DTV holders, along with their spouses and dependent children, are entitled to a five-year stay with multiple entries for cumulative stays not exceeding 180 days, which can be extended by an additional 180 days.

A new visa category for students in Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand announces the launch of the “Non-Immigrant ED Plus” visa, extending the stay of foreign higher education students by one additional year after graduation.

These students can also find work during this extended period and, if locally employed, they can change their visa type to a “Non-Immigrant B” visa without leaving Thailand.

To apply for an extension, the traveler must submit a permission request to the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok at the following address: Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Tel. +66 (0) 21 41 98 89. It is also possible to visit the Immigration Office in the provinces.