On February 10, a spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed that the Cabinet has acknowledged the measures and policies on visa issuance to promote tourism and stimulate the Thai economy, as proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These measures, many of which have already been implemented, cover the short, medium, and long term. The key details are as follows:
For the measures that have been completed, they include:
Short-term measures: The government has determined a list of countries and territories whose passport holders or holders of equivalent travel documents can temporarily enter the country for the purposes of tourism, work, or short-term business, without the need for a visa and allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days as a special case. This applies to a total of 93 countries and territories.
At the same time, a list of countries eligible to apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA) at designated immigration checkpoints has been determined for the first phase, totaling 31 countries and territories.
In addition, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) type has been introduced to support remote workers and an additional non-immigrant visa type code ED Plus has been made available for those entering Thailand for either purely education or work and study. This helps expand the base of tourists and skilled labor into the country.
Medium-term measures: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reclassified and reduced the codes for non-immigrant visas from 17 codes to 7 codes to enhance flexibility and reduce redundancy, effective from August 31, 2025. Related information in the electronic visa system (e-Visa) has been updated and relevant agencies have been informed.
Since January 1, 2025, the electronic visa system (e-Visa) has been expanded to cover all 94 Thai embassies and consulates worldwide, streamlining processes, providing greater convenience, and enhancing the capacity to accommodate international travelers.
Long-term measures: The government is developing a digital entry authorization system. The Immigration Bureau has developed the online Tor Mor 6 system, or Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), replacing the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, and has implemented it since May 1, 2025, to improve the efficiency of border management.
Measures underway:
For short-term measures, additional countries eligible for the second phase of VOA at designated immigration checkpoints, totaling 8 countries, are currently being finalized.
For medium-term measures, criteria and conditions for long-stay non-immigrant visas are currently being revised for elderly foreigners wishing to retire in Thailand, focusing on those with high purchasing power and the potential to support the real estate, health tourism, and long-term service sectors.
The government believes that the visa measures will facilitate travel, increase the number of tourists and long-term foreign residents, and produce positive effects on tourism, hotels, airlines, retail, and services, while supporting the continual recovery of the Thai economy and the overall investment climate.
