The Interior, Foreign Affairs and Tourism and Sports ministries have been ordered, by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to review pre-travel visa exemptions for foreign visitors, to prevent them from taking advantage of the measure to work illegally or to engage in illegal activities.
Government Spokesman Jirayu Huangsap said yesterday that the prime minister issued the instruction to the three ministries during the Cabinet meeting yesterday.
People’s party MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn recently claimed that some Thai universities in northern provinces have issued student visas for Chinese nationals so they could work illegally in Thailand, such as working as engineers.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, however, dismissed Wiroj’s the claim as unlikely, noting that foreigners who come to work as engineers will are required to obtain a license from the Thai Council of Engineers, adding that foreign students can attend training courses in engineering, but are not allowed to supervise engineering or construction work.
Thailand grants pre-travel visa exemptions to nationals of 93 countries and territories, allowing them to enter and stay in Thailand for up to 60 days for tourism, business, urgent or ad-hoc work.
