Thailand Tightens Entry Rules, Cracks Down on 'Visa Runs'

BANGKOK – Russian Ambassador to Thailand, Evgeny Tomikhin, has clarified significant changes to Thailand's tourist entry enforcement, warning that Russian travelers, among others, could be turned away at the border for two specific reasons. The rules themselves are not new, but Thai authorities are now applying them with much stricter precision.

In an interview, Tomikhin outlined the tightened policies. First, the popular 60-day visa-exempt entry, which can be extended once for another 30 days, is now explicitly limited to two uses per calendar year. Travelers whose passports show more than two visa-exempt entries and exits within a year risk being denied entry.

Second, immigration officers are now rigorously checking that each tourist possesses proof of sufficient funds—a minimum of 20,000 Thai baht (approximately $640) per person. Failure to show this amount in cash or equivalent can result in immediate refusal.

"If you have used the entire time limit or made more than two visa-exempt entries and exits, you may be denied entry," Tomikhin stated. "If you do not have the minimum amount for a tourist entry... you may also be denied."

The ambassador attributed the shift to a broader effort by Thai officials to impose stricter order and ensure compliance with long-standing regulations that were previously overlooked. For frequent visitors and digital nomads accustomed to 'visa runs,' this marks the end of an informal era, requiring more careful travel planning to avoid disruptions.