Thailand’s cabinet approved a reduction of visa-free entry for tourists from over 90 countries. The change reverses a July 2024 policy that granted a broad 60-day visa exemption to selected regions, including the United States, Israel, parts of South America, and the Schengen area. Under the new framework, visa-free stays will be capped at 30 days, with some nationalities limited to 15 days. Officials cited security concerns and noted that the longer window enabled loopholes used for illicit grey-market businesses, unauthorized foreign work, and online scams. The government also plans to enforce a strict limit of two visa-free entries per calendar year via land borders. The measure is intended to address individuals abusing the system rather than target specific nationalities.
"Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the measure does not target any specific nationality but rather individuals abusing the visa system to evade law enforcement. To prevent systemic abuse, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will also enforce a strict cap of two visa-free entries per calendar year via land borders for the standard 30-day tier, mirroring protocols used before the 2024 expansion."
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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