The Thai Cabinet has decided to reduce the visa-free stay period for Maldivian travelers to 15 days, down from the 60-day on-arrival visa introduced in 2024.

According to reports from the Bangkok Post, Thailand’s Cabinet yesterday approved changes to visa exemption and on-arrival visa rules affecting 93 countries as part of a wider review of its visa concession system.

Under the revised policy, citizens of the Maldives, along with Seychelles and Mauritius, will now be placed in a 15-day visa category. Most other countries previously granted 60-day stays will see their visa-free period reduced to 30 days.

The changes are expected to come into force 15 days after official publication in the Royal Gazette of Thailand.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Affairs Department said the adjustments are aimed at tightening oversight of visa use. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul stated that the extended 60-day concession introduced in 2024 had been misused in some cases, including for illegal work, smuggling, and call centre-related scams.

He added that the policy shift is intended to strengthen national security and prioritize “quality” tourism rather than focusing solely on visitor numbers.

The revised rules also limit border run; frequent exits and re-entries used to extend stays to a maximum of two times per year.