The Thai government has approved extended visas for tourists, students and remote workers, and expanded the list of 60-day visa-free stays in the country from 57 countries to 93 to boost the tourism sector and attract digital nomads, government spokesman Chai Watcharong said.
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From June 1, Thailand will expand the list of countries with a 60-day visa-free stay in the country for tourism purposes from 57 to 93. In addition, citizens of 31 countries have the opportunity to obtain a visa upon arrival in the kingdom.
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The measures will also affect foreign students of Thai universities, who will be allowed to stay in the country for another year after graduation, which will attract qualified specialists to various sectors of the economy.
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Sixty-day “digital nomad” visas for self-employed and remote workers are being replaced by a cabinet decision with five-year multiple-entry visas, while stay in Thailand will be limited to 180 days per year with the right to extend for a further 180 days, and the scope of health insurance coverage for foreigners living in Thailand for pension visas will be reduced from 83 thousand dollars to 12 thousand dollars per year.
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Tourism, along with the production and export of automobiles, electronics and agricultural products, remains a key driver of Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy and an important source of employment. Thailand welcomed 14.3 million tourists between January and May, and the country is expected to see a record 40 million arrivals for the full year, generating 3.5 trillion baht ($95.73 billion) in inbound tourism revenue. In 2019, before the pandemic struck, Thailand welcomed a record 39.9 million people.
