Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Visa Exemption and Visa on arrival stamps here in Thailand; two different things incidentally. There are certain nationalities that their passports allow them to just get on a plane, come to Thailand and present their passport at an Immigration checkpoint and they'll just be stamped in in Visa Exempt status. Other nationalities when they come in they have to go through, it is a pretty truncated process but they have to fill out some paperwork and get a proper Visa but it is a Visa on arrival; they get it upon arrival.

There have been some updates on this. I got to thinking about making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Visas extended to boost tourism. Quoting directly: "The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved longer visas for foreign visitors to the country from October 1 until March 31 as part of efforts to revitalize the economy as the pandemic eases, the Agency said on Friday. Those with regular visas will be able to stay for 45 days, up from 30 at present, while the Visa on arrival scheme will be extended from 15 to 30 days, said CCSA Spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin."

Yeah, pretty big deal. As far back as I recall, there has always been for example on American passports, there has always been a 30-day stamp associated with Visa exemption. If you go back into the opening sort of couple of lockdowns going from 2020 through 2021, they did bring out a 45-day stamp but that was primarily to deal with the quarantine period which was roughly 15 days to tack that on, on top of the 30. It looks to me like policy makers have reassessed the overall policy. They saw it kind of experimented with during the COVID situation and they have come to the opinion that "hey, might as well just give people 45 days; it is easier; hopefully it will boost some tourism.” I think it is a good idea frankly. People that come in on a 30-day stamp, oftentimes they are going to want to hang out a little longer and these really aren't people who are looking to stay here generally, they are just folks who are looking to spend some time in Thailand with as little hassle as possible usually. 

So overall, I think it is a good thing. Interestingly enough, it looks like also there will be sort of a concomitant extension. So if you come in on a 45-day exemption stamp, you can get 45 more days tacked on to that in country for a total of 90 days and it looks like with the Visa on arrival, it is the same so instead of getting a total of 30 you get 60. Again this is yet to fully play out. We have to kind of see how the regulations actually evolve in practice but we will certainly keep people updated on this channel as the situation evolves.