Thailand is tightening its controls on tourists who repeatedly enter without a visa to indefinitely extend their stay.
Since the introduction of the 60-day visa-free entry for 93 countries in July 2024, many travelers have wondered if there would be a limit on the number of entries.
Thailand has tolerated these repeated entries to support tourism, but the system has been abused by some travelers to work without a permit or engage in illegal business activities.
The immigration police are now working to prevent foreigners, especially fraudsters, from making trips to renew their visas in order to extend their stay in Thailand by abusing the government's visa-free entry program.
This is what is known as a “visa run”, a practice involving leaving the country and then immediately returning to obtain a new visa-free entry.
Why immigration is cracking down on repeated visa-free entries
Immigration police officer in Thailand.
Major General Choengron Rimpadee, Deputy Director of the Immigration Bureau, stated on Tuesday, November 25, 2025:
"Immigration police will thoroughly interrogate foreigners making a third consecutive visit and repeatedly requesting free visas to stay in the country for 90 days each time.
Officers will examine the cases of individuals who have stayed for at least 45 days during their previous visits.
These foreigners are not visiting Thailand for tourism purposes.
Many of them work or engage in business activities using Thai nominees as a front.
They use the visa exemption program to avoid applying for an official visa before traveling, and their data is not included in the Thai systems for profession and tax control.
Some of these visitors have made up to seven consecutive trips to renew their visas, and their cumulative stay exceeded 200 days.
Immigration police will refuse repeated entry to these visitors.
This will prevent scammers who have fled crackdowns in neighboring countries from relocating their illicit activities to Thailand."
Major General Choengron added that the crackdown efforts had affected those who profit from visa renewal services.
They had begun to spread false information, claiming that immigration services had targeted visitors from countries such as China.
The Deputy Immigration Commissioner stated that these measures are applied fairly to all visitors, regardless of their nationality, and that they do not affect genuine tourists.
“Genuine tourists stay in Thailand for an average of 15 days per visit and provide clear information about their accommodation, travel in Thailand, and departure dates.
The border police welcome genuine tourists,” concluded General Choengron.
- Thailand is tightening its controls to combat repeated visa-free entries.
- Some travelers were doing up to seven “visa runs” and accumulating more than 200 days of stay.
- Genuine tourists are not affected: immigration is only targeting abuses and disguised activities.
See also:
Thailand cracks down on tourists who chain 'visa runs'
Thailand: visa exemption criticized for influx of bad tourists
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Thailand: Student visas swept away, 10,000 cancelled
The terrible floods in southern Thailand are hitting tourism
Source: Bangkok Post
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