September 3, 2026
Thailand’s visa policy has erupted into a fresh political and tourism controversy after the government moved to reduce the visa-free stay for foreign visitors from 60 days to just 30 days.
“Kwang” Thassanun Sirilerkmekasakul, Deputy Spokesperson of the Economic Party, has sharply criticized the move, arguing that simply cutting the permitted stay will not solve the underlying problem if loopholes involving foreign capital, nominee companies and visa-related agencies remain open.
Under the new policy, Thailand will reportedly replace the previous 60-day visa exemption for 93 countries and territories with a 30-day stay, effective September 15, 2026.
The government says the changes are intended to close loopholes, prevent misuse of visa privileges, strengthen national security and implement the principle of “one country, one entitlement.”
However, Thassanun argues that reducing the visa-free period only addresses the problem at the surface.
Foreign nationals seeking longer stays may still have access to other visa channels, including routes involving nominee structures and agencies, as well as applications related to studying Muay Thai or the Thai language.
Another major route is the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which allows eligible travelers to stay for up to 180 days per entry.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also introduced additional supporting-document requirements for applications, announced on August 28, 2026.
Thassanun says the central issue is therefore not simply how many days foreigners are allowed to stay, but whether authorities can effectively tackle foreign business networks that allegedly exploit Thailand’s visa and corporate systems.
She is calling on the government to conduct deeper investigations into financial transactions, nominee companies, law firms and agencies suspected of facilitating the misuse of legal and immigration channels.
Her message is clear: cutting visa-free stays to 30 days will not eliminate the problem if the networks behind the loopholes remain operational.
The September 15 implementation will therefore become a major test for the government — whether it is merely “closing the front door” for political appearances, or whether it can actually dismantle nominee networks at their roots.
VIHOK NEWS
References: NEWS1; Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; Royal Thai Government; Thailand visa-exemption measures and related official information.
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