Thailand has announced new visa policies that will take effect on July 15, 2024, in an effort to boost travel and tourism and revive its economy. These programs include expanded Visa on Arrival (VOA), a longer 60-day visa exemption, a new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for digital nomads, and prolonged student visas.
Thai citizens are no longer required to have a visa; this number has increased from 57 to 93 countries and territories. Under this program, visitors may remain for up to 60 days for leisure and brief business visits, with the possibility to extend for a further 30 days at the Immigration Office.
At immigration checkpoints upon arrival, nationals of 31 nations and territories—up from 19 previously—can now apply for VOA. Under this program, visitors pay 2,000 Baht for a visa and are allowed to remain for up to 15 days for tourism. The following nations have recently become eligible: Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Kenya, Namibia, Paraguay, Serbia, Seychelles, Tunisia, Vanuatu, and Venezuela.
Thailand is launching the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) in an effort to draw in digital nomads, remote workers, and participants in a range of activities including martial arts training, Thai cuisine workshops, sports instruction, medical care, conferences, and music festivals. A maximum cumulative stay of 180 days, which may be extended for a further 180 days, is available to DTV holders, their wives, and their dependant children. A 10,000 Baht visa fee must be paid, and applicants must provide evidence of finances or a guarantee of at least 500,000 Baht for the length of their visit.
Thailand has extended the duration of stay for international students pursuing higher education, enabling them to remain for an extra year after graduation. In this period, students are free to look for work and, if employed locally, switch to a B visa for non-immigration without having to leave Thailand.
Because more visitors, remote workers, and students will be drawn to Thailand as a result of these new visa restrictions, the travel and tourism industry is predicted to develop sustainably.