Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on 25 April that the government is preparing to withdraw the blanket 60-day visa-exemption introduced last year and revert to differentiated rules by nationality. The proposal—to be submitted to Cabinet “in the coming weeks”—would shorten visa-free stays and introduce a THB 300 (≈US$8) tourism levy for all foreign arrivals. Officials argue that less than 10 percent of visitors currently use the full 60 days and that extended stays have been abused for undeclared work. The ministry wants to channel resources toward “quality tourists” who spend more per day and opt for long-stay visas such as the Thailand Elite card or the 10-year Long-Term Residence scheme.
Why it matters for China: Mainland travellers—Thailand’s largest inbound market pre-pandemic—have only started to recover, with 4.8 million arrivals recorded in 2025 versus 11 million in 2019. Many rely on the 60-day stamp to combine tourism with short business meetings or property inspections. A return to the older 30-day exemption (or shorter) would compel those travellers to apply for tourist visas or multiple-entry business visas in advance, adding cost and lead time.
![Thailand considers scrapping 60-day visa-free stay, raising stakes for Chinese tourists]()
For travellers suddenly facing new paperwork, VisaHQ can streamline the entire process. The company’s platform lets Chinese passport holders (and other nationals) verify Thai visa requirements, submit documents online, track application status, and receive expert support—all from a single dashboard. Visit https://www.visahq.com/china/ to see how VisaHQ can help minimise delays and keep travel plans on schedule even if visa rules tighten.
Tour operators fear that shortening permitted stays just as charter flights from second-tier Chinese cities are resuming could dampen demand. Industry associations are lobbying for a compromise—maintaining 60 days for key markets like China and Russia while tightening screening for high-risk origins. If approved, the policy shift would take effect after the peak summer season. Companies organising incentive trips or MICE events in Thailand should lock in fall-season programmes now and monitor Cabinet deliberations for effective dates and grandfathering rules.
Why it matters for China: Mainland travellers—Thailand’s largest inbound market pre-pandemic—have only started to recover, with 4.8 million arrivals recorded in 2025 versus 11 million in 2019. Many rely on the 60-day stamp to combine tourism with short business meetings or property inspections. A return to the older 30-day exemption (or shorter) would compel those travellers to apply for tourist visas or multiple-entry business visas in advance, adding cost and lead time.
For travellers suddenly facing new paperwork, VisaHQ can streamline the entire process. The company’s platform lets Chinese passport holders (and other nationals) verify Thai visa requirements, submit documents online, track application status, and receive expert support—all from a single dashboard. Visit https://www.visahq.com/china/ to see how VisaHQ can help minimise delays and keep travel plans on schedule even if visa rules tighten.
Tour operators fear that shortening permitted stays just as charter flights from second-tier Chinese cities are resuming could dampen demand. Industry associations are lobbying for a compromise—maintaining 60 days for key markets like China and Russia while tightening screening for high-risk origins. If approved, the policy shift would take effect after the peak summer season. Companies organising incentive trips or MICE events in Thailand should lock in fall-season programmes now and monitor Cabinet deliberations for effective dates and grandfathering rules.
