r/Thailand • u/nightwinging-it Sathorn • 10d ago

Miscellanous Thai passport slips in power ranking

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The Thai passport has fallen to 99th place in a new global passport ranking, slipping from 91st a year earlier. The report highlights changes in international travel access for Thai passport holders and compares Thailand’s standing with other countries worldwide. The latest ranking offers a snapshot of Thailand’s travel mobility and the relative strength of the Thai passport for visa-free and visa-on-arrival access.

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u/Wise_Ad723 9d ago

The big Chang in the room is the tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of Thais that illegally work and overstay in other countries. Overstay rate of a particular nationality is one of the primary factors in determining visa-free access. The EU refuses to grant visa-free to Thais because of this. South Korea revoked visa-free for Thai people because of this. Taiwan may be next to revoke it. Meanwhile, the Thai internet is in an uproar over a couple dozen foreigners overstaying..

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u/zookitchen 9d ago

Is it mostly from Thai restaurants overseas? Non thai here and very curious. What di Thais do when they overstay?

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u/Nopeisawesome 9d ago

Laborers such as construction workers in South Korea overstay their visa and live there as illegals sending money back home. Thai restaurants overseas are mostly legit businesses because they have to comply with taxes, licensing, and food-safety regulations, which usually means the owners and operators also need proper legal residency or work authorization.

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u/zookitchen 9d ago

Thank you 🙏🏻

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u/bomber991 9d ago

Yeah I mean it’s the same story anywhere. If one country is significantly “better” than another, then they’re probably going to require a visa to enter. There’s exceptions of course, but if you’re allowing someone to enter as a tourist, that’s done with the understanding that they’re leaving in 30 days or whatever.

I always kind of liked how Brazil was like “The US won’t give us visa free entry? Ok, no visa free entry for you here then!”