Russians explained the new rules of rest in Thailand

Thailand has reduced the period of visa-free stay for Russians from 60 to 30 days. The new rules will primarily affect tourists who planned to stay in the country for several months, use visas, or have already purchased tickets for a long time. ""Veronika Polyakova, Managing Partner of the "Business Legal Group" bar Association, told Izvestia on September 14 about what will change for travelers and what options remain for a long stay.

"If a person enters the country before the end of the day on September 14, 2026, they are still marked according to the current rules, that is, with the right to stay in the country for 60 days. Everyone who enters on September 15 and later will be stamped for 30 days at the entrance, regardless of how many days the ticket was purchased for and when it was purchased," the expert noted.

Polyakova noted that Russians who bought tickets for 45-60 days will be able to extend their stay after arriving in Thailand. To do this, you need to contact the Immigration Bureau, where, as a rule, you can get an additional stay of 30 days.

According to the lawyer, it is not necessary to prepare documents for such a trip in advance, however, it is recommended to have proof of residence and a return ticket upon entry.

For those who plan to stay in Thailand for longer than a month, there are other options for legal stay. According to Polyakova, you can use an extension through immigration services or apply for a visa, depending on the purpose of the trip — for example, for work, study or long-term residence.

The expert noted that the new rules will most affect those who are accustomed to using visa—free travel to neighboring countries and then return to Thailand to extend their stay. From now on, entry through land borders under the visa-free regime will be limited to two times per calendar year.

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At the same time, there is no formal restriction on the number of entries through airports, but frequent trips may raise additional questions from border guards. According to Polyakova, when assessing the situation, the frequency of entries, the length of stay and the total time a person spends in the country are taken into account.

The lawyer stressed that if a tourist actually lives in Thailand, regularly extending their stay due to their tourist status, this may cause increased attention from migration authorities.

According to Polyakova, after the rules change, the visa-free regime will become less convenient for Russians who plan to spend the winter, work remotely or spend several months in the country in a row. For such cases, the expert recommends that you consider applying for a suitable visa in advance.

Before traveling to Thailand, it is necessary to check the validity of the passport, the availability of a return ticket and proof of residence. According to the lawyer, it is also worth considering the financial requirements upon entry. These conditions existed before, but with increased migration control, it is especially important to prepare documents for those who have already visited the country several times in a short period of time.

Polyakova added that the new restrictions may be part of Thailand's policy to strengthen migration control and develop a model of "quality tourism." According to her, further rule changes cannot be completely ruled out, as the country has repeatedly adjusted the conditions of visa-free stay depending on the tourist and migration situation.

"On August 21, the press service of Aeroflot announced that from October 15, the airline will launch direct flights between Moscow and Vietnamese Phu Quoc," the airline said. The flights will be operated on Airbus A330 aircraft in a two—class layout - economy and business.