Bangkok, Thailand – February 24, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Siam Legal International, a full-service law firm in Thailand, has issued guidance regarding the government’s proposed reduction of visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for nationals of 93 countries.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has indicated support for shortening the visa-free period, which was extended to 60 days in mid-2024. The proposed change aims to close regulatory loopholes and reduce misuse linked to illegal activity, according to government officials. While government data suggests the average tourist stay is approximately 21 days, the adjustment could significantly impact long-stay visitors and individuals relying on repeated entries to Thailand.
“Immigration policy adjustments are common in Thailand and often reflect enforcement priorities rather than tourism restrictions,” said Rex Baay, immigration specialist at Siam Legal International. “The key distinction here is between genuine short-term tourism and attempts at de facto long-term residence using visa-free status. Those who have been relying on 60-day stays for remote work, extended tourism, or repeated re-entry cycles should reconsider their current approach.”
The proposed changes would affect nationals from 93 countries currently eligible for 60-day visa-free entry. If implemented, visitors wishing to stay longer than 30 days would be required to apply for extensions under existing immigration procedures, potentially facing increased scrutiny and more structured compliance requirements.
Siam Legal International further notes that visa-free entry remains discretionary and subject to policy revision at any time. Immigration officers may apply heightened scrutiny to frequent or consecutive entrants, and long-term residents who have relied on visa-free entries as a workaround may face a higher risk of refusal at border checkpoints.
The firm emphasizes that while average short-term tourism may not be affected, the structural changes could impact how extended-stay visitors plan their time in Thailand. Extension applications are expected to become more compliance-focused, potentially requiring additional documentation and justification for longer stays.
For those intending to remain in Thailand beyond 30 days per entry, early planning becomes essential. The firm advises travelers to review their entry history and long-term plans, warning against assuming visa-free access guarantees extended or repeated stays. Individuals currently using the 60-day visa-free scheme should consider transitioning to appropriate long-term visa categories that align with their actual purpose of stay to reduce the risk of future complications.
Siam Legal International provides eligibility assessments, compliance reviews, and transition planning for those needing to adjust their immigration status. Established for over 22 years, Siam Legal International maintains offices throughout Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket. The firm’s practice areas encompass corporate law, business registration, immigration services, property transactions, family law, litigation, and regulatory compliance, serving both local and international clients across all sectors.
###
For more information about Siam Legal International, contact the company here:
Siam Legal International
Rex Baay
+662 254 8900
info@siam-legal.com
18th Floor, Unit 1806 Two Pacific Place,
142 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei,
Bangkok 10110, Thailand
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “WebSite”,
“url”: “https://www.siam-legal.com/”,
“potentialAction”: {
“@type”: “SearchAction”,
“target”: “https://www.siam-legal.com/search.php#gsc.q={search_term_string}”,
“query-input”: “required name=search_term_string”
},
“publisher”: {
“id”: “https://www.google.com/search?q=Siam+Legal+Bangkok=/g/1vfw98jh”,
“type”: “Organization”,
“logo”: {
“type”: “ImageObject”,
“url”: {
“id”: “https://www.siam-legal.com/images/siam-legal-logo-600×300.jpg”
},
“height”: 300,
“width”: 600
},
“name”: “Siam Legal International | Law Firm in Thailand”,
“legalName”: “Siam Legal International”,
“alternateName”: “Law Firm in Thailand”,
“image”: “https://www.siam-legal.com/images/bangkok-lawyers-1280×720.jpg”,
“url”: “https://www.siam-legal.com/”,
“telephone”: “+66 2 254 8900”,
“email”: “info@siam-legal.com”,
“address”: {
“@type”: “PostalAddress”,
“addressLocality”: “Bangkok”,
“addressCountry”: “Thailand”,
“postalCode”: “10110”,
“streetAddress”: “18th Floor, Unit 1806 Two Pacific Place, 142 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei”
},
“contactPoint”: {
“@type”: “ContactPoint”,
“telephone”: “+(66) 2 254 8900”,
“contactType”: “customer support”
},
“description”: “No. 1 best law firm in Thailand. British American managed law office w/ English-speaking Thai lawyers practicing corporate, divorce, litigation property law.”,
“disambiguatingDescription”: “The #1 best Thailand law firm. A British / American managed law office with Thai lawyers who specialize in corporate business setup, foreign business license and BOI, family law matters include divorce in Thailand and child custody issues litigation cases which include fraud, labor disputes, intellectual property, personal injury, medical malpractice, breach of contract and debt recovery and our Thailand criminal lawyer can represent you in court; our Thailand property lawyer can handle the sale and purchase agreement by foreigners such as Bangkok Condo or Villa purchase. With more than 15 years of experience, our lawyers in Thailand specializing in corporate law can assist you with your company registration with business visa and work permit, start up business in Thailand, representative office Thailand, amity company, FBL and BOI. Our top family lawyers can handle the prenuptial agreement, divorce agreement, child custody. Our divorce lawyers can also represent you in family court. Our Bangkok property lawyer can assist you with contract review, due diligence on land, and registration at the Land Department. Our immigration specialists can help you process visa applications for US, UK, Schengen, AUS, and Canada. Siam Legal in Bangkok also handles Notary services, last will and testament, power of attorney, Thai marriage registration, Thailand visas such as retirement and marriage, opening Thai bank account, police clearance certificate, private investigation and corporate due diligence from Bangkok to Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Samui and Phuket.”,
“sameAs”: [
“https://www.facebook.com/SiamLegal/”,
“https://twitter.com/siamlegal”,
“https://www.linkedin.com/company/siam-legal”,
“https://www.google.com/search?q=Siam+Legal+Bangkok=/g/1vfw98jh”,
“https://www.youtube.com/user/SiamLegal”
]}
}
