Thailand grants additional visa concessions to Maldivian travelers

The Thai Cabinet has approved a reduction in the visa-free stay period for tourists and the withdrawal of certain visa concessions previously extended to several countries and introduce new visa concessions for a limited number of nations, including the Maldives.

The decision by the Thai Cabinet on Tuesday will end the 60-day visa-free entry arrangement previously available to citizens of 93 countries. Cabinet ministers stated that the move was driven by concerns over the misuse of the visa-free system for illegal activities and potential national security risks.

Under the revised regulations, nationals from 59 countries will be allowed to enter Thailand without a visa for a maximum stay of 30 days.

Amid these wider restrictions, six countries will benefit from enhanced visa concessions. The Maldives, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, India, and Malta are among the countries included in this group. Additionally, the Cabinet has approved reciprocal visa concessions for citizens of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU).

The announcement comes two months after Thailand introduced a measure reducing the visa-free stay period for Maldivian nationals to a maximum of 15 days. The latest policy reverses those limitations and restores more favorable entry conditions for Maldivian travelers.

Under the Cabinet-approved changes, citizens of Seychelles and Mauritius will be granted visa-free entry for up to 15 days, while nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia will be eligible to obtain visas upon arrival.

The revised visa measures will come into force 15 days after being published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette. Foreign visitors who enter Thailand before the new regulations take effect will be allowed to remain in the country until the end of their previously authorized stay.