The Immigration Bureau (IB) has ramped up its visa-screening efforts as part of a nationwide crackdown on cybercrime, with officials now taking a tougher stance on foreign nationals suspected of exploiting Thailand’s entry rules, spokesman Pol Maj Cheongron Rimpadee said.
According to the bureau, the move follows directives from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch, both of whom have called for more decisive action to stop criminals entering the country under the guise of tourism.
An emergency meeting chaired on Wednesday by IB Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Panumas Boonyalug brought together senior officers to outline a new policy designed to prevent foreign visitors from misusing visa exemptions for illegal activities.
Under the tightened rules, authorities will place greater scrutiny on travellers who repeatedly enter and leave Thailand on short stays while claiming to be tourists.
Police records indicate that many individuals have been taking advantage of the visa-free scheme, allowing stays of up to 90 days per entry, to conduct multiple “visa runs”, Pol Maj Cheongron said.
These repeated entries have created loopholes that some have used to carry out illicit operations, including online scams, money laundering, and running unlicensed businesses.
To close these gaps, immigration checkpoints at airports and border crossings will now deny entry to travellers making more than two visa runs without a justifiable reason.
Those refused entry will be required to obtain the correct visa before returning. Since the start of this year, officers have already denied entry to an estimated 2,900 people found abusing visa privileges.
Foreigners flagged on national or international watchlists will also be blocked from entering border areas known for scam activity, particularly Mae Sot in Tak province.
Anyone previously deported from Thai-Myanmar border zones will face a permanent ban on re-entry.
Immigration offices nationwide have been instructed to carefully assess all applications for extended stays. Travellers showing patterns consistent with visa runs will have their applications denied or revoked, followed by deportation.
The bureau is also stepping up its nationwide crackdown on overstayers, promising to provide regular updates to the public.
Pol Maj Cheongron acknowledged that the tougher measures may slightly slow passport processing during peak periods.
However, he insisted that checks will remain efficient, with screening taking no longer than 45 seconds per traveller and queues capped at about 40 minutes.
Additional staff will be deployed at busy checkpoints to help ease congestion, he added.
The bureau stressed that the new approach is not intended to discourage tourism, but to ensure Thailand welcomes “quality visitors” who contribute positively to the country’s economy.
