Thailand unveils new visa rules, sparks mixed reactions

Thailand’s major overhaul of visas and entry rules has sparked a variety of reactions, ranging from joy and excitement to confusion and some resentment.

To clarify the new rules, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs at Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Naruchai Ninnad, addressed readers’ questions in the Bangkok Post’s Deeper Dive vodcast.

The standout change is the new five-year Destination Thailand visa (DTV), which allows stays of up to 180 days, extendable for up to one year. However, the visa is not for everyone and requires holders to fit into one of three categories.

The first category includes digital nomads or freelancers who receive their paycheques from outside Thailand, said Naruchai.

“You can have any type of work and you’re working remotely here in Thailand. Most importantly, the employer is not in Thailand. And your income has to come from outside Thailand. Evidence such as a payslip or a letter from the employer abroad is required.”

The second category covers individuals moving to Thailand for specific activities like Muay Thai training, cooking classes, medical treatment, and attending seminars and music festivals. Applicants need to provide evidence such as an appointment, a course receipt, or an event ticket, said Naruchai.

“It depends on the course. It may be two weeks or one month, it’s up to the applicant. Extensions beyond the initial 189 days require additional documentation.”

Category O spousal visa

The third category includes those with spouses or children in Thailand, requiring proof of relationship. This visa could serve as an alternative to the category O spousal visa but needs an extension every six months and necessitates leaving the country at least once per year.

The DTV does not require health insurance but mandates proof of at least 500,000 baht in assets, which can be held anywhere in the world. Naruchai emphasised that proof of income or assets is not enough to qualify. The applicant must be either a remote worker, undertaking an approved activity, or a spouse/dependent child.

Naruchai also clarified that the DTV cannot replace the one-year retirement visa unless the applicant fits another category. Addressing a complaint that the DTV is a cheaper alternative to the Elite visa.

“There are different benefits and privileges between the two visas. So you would have to choose what will particularly benefit you the most.”

In another significant change, the number of countries eligible for visa-free entry has increased from 57 to 93, including China and India. The entry stamp has been extended from 30 to 60 days, with a further 30-day extension available at an immigration office.

Naruchai explained that the immigration office does not have a specified number of entries per year.

“You can enter as many times as possible within a calendar year. Entrants must show access to at least 20,000 baht but are not required to present a return or onward ticket unless specifically asked by an immigration officer.”

Visa on arrival

The number of countries eligible for a visa on arrival has also risen, from 19 to 31, although this option is less attractive due to its cost of 2,000 baht and a validity of only 15 days. Naruchai clarified that the highest benefit will always be given by the immigration officer, citing the example of Chinese citizens who would receive a 60-day visa exemption instead of a visa on arrival.

The final new visa, introduced on July 15, is the Non-ED Plus visa for the 40,000 foreign students at Thai colleges and universities pursuing Bachelor’s degrees or higher. This visa allows them to stay for one year after graduation and take jobs in their field.

Naruchai mentioned that if you are here previously under the ED visa and you fulfil the requirements of the ED Plus, it will automatically upgrade into the ED Plus, meaning you will not need to have a re-entry permit.

Despite these changes, other visas and the contentious 90-day report remain in place. Although calls to extend the retirement visa to five years were not met, the health insurance requirement for this and the spousal visa has been reduced from 3 million baht to 400,000 baht.

Addressing concerns about foreign criminals, Naruchai assured that security measures are still in place.

“When people applied for a visa, we looked at the blocklist system. Now, we may not have that pre-screening for the 97 countries, but when they arrive in Thailand, they have to undergo security screening using the same database.”

Recent cases of foreign criminals in Thailand have highlighted issues with corrupt immigration officials. Nevertheless, stringent regulations and screenings aim to maintain security without overly burdening law-abiding expats.

For more details, the full interview and Thailand’s new visas episode of the Bangkok Post vodcast Deeper Dive can be found on Spotify or other podcast platforms, reported Bangkok Post.