Effective immediately, nationals of 93 countries (up from 57 countries previously) are entitled to visa exempt entry for tourism, short-term business and urgent/ad-hoc work for a period of up to 60 days. This can be extended for a further 30 days. Nationals of Argentina and Chile (90 days) and Myanmar (14 days, via international airport only) are entitled to a visa exemption under existing bilateral agreements.
Under the visa exemption, those needing to perform urgent /ad-hoc work are required to notify the registrar in person at any international airport or labour office in Thailand after arrival. The process takes one working day and the urgent or ad-hoc work must be completed within 15 days.
Urgent /ad-hoc work can include the following activities:
- Organizing/ setting up conferences, trainings, seminars, exhibitions, or trade fairs
- Machinery maintenance and installation
- Electric train technician
- Conducting special academic lecture
- Aircraft or aircraft equipment system technician
- Aviation superintendent
- Consulting work on machinery maintenance or machinery control system
- Occasional internet audit
- Technical skill testing for overseas job placement
- Follow-up/ resolve technical issues
- Machinery demonstration and testing
- Quality control of products/ goods or products/ goods quality inspection
- Movie filming and slide photographing
- Recruitment of job seeker for overseas job placement
- Inspection or improvement of production process
- Machinery and electric generator equipment system inspection or maintenance/
Moreover, Ordinary Passport holders from 31 countries are permitted to apply for visa on arrival at Thailand’s immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism, for a period not exceeding 15 days, for a fee of THB 2000. Eligible nationalities are listed here.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.