Phuket Immigration yesterday (Nov 12) shared the Bureau’s directive, issued after an urgent meeting chaired by Pol Lt Gen Panumas Boonyalak, Commissioner-General of the Immigration Bureau, following policy orders from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittirat Panpetch.
Pol Maj Gen Cherngron Rimphidi, Deputy Commissioner-General and Bureau spokesperson, said the meeting was held at 8:30am to instruct all provincial immigration commanders to step up enforcement against foreigners entering and exiting Thailand repeatedly under the visa-exemption scheme.
“The Immigration Bureau has been assigned to prevent foreigners from disguising themselves as tourists to conduct transactions linked to crime, particularly cybercrime, money laundering, or human exploitation,” Pol Maj Gen Cherngron said.
Four key measures were announced:
Stricter checks on visa-free entries: Immigration officers will intensify screening of travellers who repeatedly use visa-free entry without returning to their home countries. Any foreigner found entering visa-free more than twice without a valid reason will be denied entry.
“These cases are not typical of tourists,” said Pol Maj Gen Cherngron. “We have already refused entry to about 2,900 foreigners since the beginning of 2025.”
Targeting border-area offenders: Officers will tighten surveillance on foreigners previously deported or blacklisted in border areas such as Mae Sot in Tak Province, often linked to scam networks. Anyone deported through the Mae Sot–Myawaddy border will be refused re-entry into Thailand.
Closer scrutiny of visa extensions: Provincial immigration offices have been ordered to review and, where necessary, revoke visa extensions granted to foreigners with a pattern of repeated visa runs. Those found abusing the system will face prosecution and deportation.
Overstay enforcement: All immigration offices nationwide have been instructed to ramp up operations against foreigners overstaying their visas, with results to be publicly reported.
Pol Maj Gen Cherngron acknowledged that stricter checks could slightly slow passport control at airports, particularly during peak hours, but said the impact would be minimal.
“Screening each person will take no more than 45 seconds, while waiting times may exceed 40 minutes at peak times,” he said. “We will deploy officers to every passport control lane. Thai nationals can use the automated channels, which take about 20 seconds.”
He stressed that the new measures would not harm tourism but would instead “help select high-quality tourists” who contribute more to Thailand’s economy.
“These steps will strengthen confidence in Thailand as a safe destination,” he added.