BANGKOK — After reports that some foreigners have exploited the visa exemption to commit illegal acts, including the major case of the State Audit Office building collapse, Thailand’s Prime Minister has ordered a review of this program to shorten the permitted length of stay from 60 or 90 days.
Jirayu Huangsap, spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, said that during the cabinet meeting on April 22, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to jointly study and evaluate the impact of the visa waiver for various countries.
The focus is on assessing the appropriateness of the length of stay with the aim of maximizing the national benefit and aligning it with the original purpose of promoting tourism.
Currently, the visa exemption scheme is available to nationals of 93 countries and territories for the purpose of tourism or urgent work, for up to a 60-day period of stay and can be extended for another period not exceeding 30 days.
It has been found that the visa waiver policy has been exploited by certain individuals who enter Thailand to work illegally or exceed the permitted length of stay. Therefore, the Prime Minister has asked the relevant authorities to strictly enforce the law against lawbreakers.
At the same time, she called on all ministries to help restore the confidence of foreign investors and tourists. She assured them that the government is fully prepared to ensure safety and support economic stimulation in the second half of the year through various support measures.
The visa exemption measures began during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration to boost tourism, starting with Chinese and Kazakh tourists on September 25, 2023. The government announced an increase in the number of countries whose citizens are allowed to stay in the Kingdom for up to 60 days from July 15, 2024 onwards.
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