The Thai government has reduced the 90-day visa-free stay for Russian citizens to 60 days starting from 1 May, effective from November 2023
Thai Prime Minister Settha Thavisin said following a cabinet meeting that the Thai government has unilaterally adopted a 60-day visa-free regime for Russian citizens, effective 1 May.
‘The Cabinet approved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s proposal on visa exemption for Russian passport holders visiting Thailand for tourism purposes for a period not exceeding 60 days,’ the prime minister wrote on social networking site X.
Since 1 November last year, Russians have been able to come to Thailand with a visa-free stay of up to 90 days. Adopted unilaterally by the Thai government, the rule is valid until 30 April inclusive.
As noted by the Thai Prime Minister, the new measure is indeed exceptional and temporary. It provides reassurance that visa regulations will return to normal in the future, although the exact validity period has not yet been determined.
According to the intergovernmental agreement on the conditions for waiving visa formalities for mutual trips of Russian and Thai citizens, visa-free stay is limited to 30 days. However, due to the influx of Russian tourists to the kingdom, the authorities have relaxed visas, allowing Russians to stay in the country longer without a visa.
Thailand continues to be a popular destination for Russian tourists. According to the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, more than 700,000 Russian citizens have visited Thailand since the beginning of this year, ranking third in the number of visits to the kingdom among all national groups of foreign tourists.
In 2023, Thailand welcomed 1.48 million Russians, and the tourist flow from Russia to the kingdom reached pre-pandemic levels. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that Thailand expects to receive 1.6 million Russian citizens this year.
More Articles Here
More Articles Here
