Guess what? Thailand’s got a new game plan to handle tourists – they want folks to visit but not overstay the welcome. As spilled by Vietnam Express on Sunday (January 28), Thailand’s Immigration Bureau just dropped a fresh online reporting system. Now, tourists can give the heads-up if they’re planning to chill for more than 90 days.
Here’s the deal: Thailand’s cool with tourists hanging around for 90 days max. But if you’re planning an extended vacay without giving the immigration peeps a heads-up, get ready for a 2,000 baht fine.
This whole online reporting gig just kicked off, thanks to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s plan to amp up the foreign tourist scene. Thailand’s dreaming big, aiming for 35-36 million tourists in 2024.
So, how does it work? Tourists need to sign up on the immigration website at least 15 days before their stay hits the 90-day mark. They’ll score a password via email, and that’s their ticket to log in and shoot a notice about their next 90-day stretch.
Once the immigration crew gives the green light, tourists get the golden ticket for another 90 days via email. Easy peasy!
Before this nifty online service, tourists looking to extend their stay past 90 days had to hit up the immigration office in person. And if that wasn’t on the cards, they had to call in favors to get the job done. Talk about an upgrade in the tourist game in Thailand!