M’sian tourists can now enter Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 60 days

Move is part of Thai government’s relaxation of visa requirements for 93 countries in order to boost tourism

Effective June 1, visitors from 93 countries can enter Thailand without visa requirements for stays of up to 60 days. The list of countries eligible for visa on arrival will also increase to 31 from 19. – Sairien Nafis/Scoop file pic, June 1, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian tourists entering Thailand without a visa or obtaining a visa on arrival can stay for up to 60 days, effective today.

Thailand government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said this is part of the government’s efforts to boost tourism, which includes visa exemptions, expanding the visa-on-arrival lists, and introducing a new visa category.

Effective June 1, visitors from 93 countries, up from the previous 57, can enter Thailand without visa requirements for stays of up to 60 days. Additionally, the list of countries eligible for visa on arrival will increase to 31 from 19, reported Bernama.

For digital nomads seeking long-term stays and remote work in Thailand, visa validity will be extended from 60 days to five years, with each stay up to 180 days.

Other measures include allowing foreign university students to stay for one year after graduation and relaxing insurance requirements for long-stay foreign retirees.

Malaysia is among the 93 countries listed by the Thai Foreign Ministry, along with Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines.

According to Thailand’s Tourism and Sports ministry, the country has welcomed more than 14.32 million tourists as of last week and aims to attract at least 35 million foreign arrivals in 2024. – June 1, 2024