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Thai Examiner | English | News | Nov. 17, 2025 | Regulation

Thailand has implemented stricter foreign tourist visa rules as of November 2025 to combat scams, illegal stays, and visa abuses. Tourists are now limited to two visa extensions: the first for 30 days and the second for seven days. This reduces the maximum possible stay for visitors from 93 exempt countries from 120 days to 97 days and restricts same-day departures and reentries. Repeat border runs beyond two attempts risk outright denial of entry, with authorities targeting abuses linked to scam operations and illegal employment, especially in border areas adjacent to Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.

The Immigration Bureau, led by Police Lt. Gen. Panumas Boonyalak, has launched mass sweeps of overstaying foreigners and increased monitoring of visa exemption misuse. Individuals exhibiting repeated border runs or working illegally on tourist visas face visa revocation, deportation, and future entry bans. These measures aim to close loopholes exploited by foreigners who combine multiple visa exemptions with frequent extensions. However, genuine tourists with short visits and confirmed return flights are expected to remain largely unaffected.

In tandem with these visa restrictions, an intensified crackdown on foreign-owned businesses and illegal activities has expanded, particularly in Southern Thailand's tourist hotspots like Koh Phangan and Phuket. Authorities have arrested multiple foreign nationals involved in illegal businesses and shuttered unauthorized hostels. The government is also reviewing the 60-day visa exemption program in response to public and official concerns. The enforcement campaign aligns with directives from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Police Commissioner General Kittirat Phanphet to strengthen border security and regulate foreign presence nationwide without disrupting legitimate tourism.