The government approved a series of new visa initiatives on Tuesday to boost tourism, including visa-free and visa-on-arrival programs, extended stays for students, and reduced health insurance requirements for retirees.
According to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke, these measures were proposed by the Foreign Ministry to enhance visitor numbers, considering the significant impact tourism has on the national economy.
The list of countries eligible for visa-free entry will grow from 57 to 93, with new additions like Albania, Cambodia, China, India, Jamaica, and others. Visitors under this program can now stay up to 60 days.
The cabinet also gave the green light for visa-on-arrival facilities for 31 countries, an increase from the previous 19.
An attractive proposition for visitors looking to work and explore tourist attractions is the new five-year visa that allows stays of up to 180 days, extendable for a further 180 days, instead of the former two 30-day stays.
For students, the post-graduation stay duration has been extended to one year, enabling them to seek employment in key sectors required by the country, eliminating the immediate departure rule after completing their studies.
These changes will come into effect starting Saturday, June 1.
Regarding retirees, individuals aged 50 and above applying for long-stay visas previously needed health insurance worth 3 million baht. Now, the requirement has been reduced to 440,000 baht, split into 400,000 baht for inpatient care and 40,000 baht for outpatient services.
Furthermore, the cabinet approved an expansion of e-visa services at Thai consulates and embassies, doubling the locations from 47 to 94, starting in September.
