Thailand halves visa-free stays to 30 days, tightens foreign ownership rules

Thailand's government has cut visa-free stays to 30 days for most nationalities and accelerated deportation procedures as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal foreign activity, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced.

The measures follow a series of scandals involving unlawful foreign-owned businesses and land holdings, including a cemetery, that prompted Anutin to warn that transgressions have "gone too far" by violating both Thai law and the country's hospitality. The prime minister said foreigners "should not come here and take advantage of us".

Government closes legal loopholes

Authorities have launched operations targeting "nominee" businesses that use Thai citizens as paper owners of companies to circumvent ownership restrictions. Officials have also pledged to strengthen regulations that currently permit foreign nationals to purchase citizenship, thereby gaining access to land ownership rights reserved exclusively for Thai citizens.

The crackdown comes as Anutin's administration faces growing public anger over illegal foreign ownership of large tracts of Thai territory, a situation enabled by widespread corruption. The government's decision to halve the previous visa-free entry period marks one of the most significant policy shifts aimed at deterring further violations.

Source: South China Morning Post