Major visa changes in Southeast Asia as tourism race heats up

Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines have relaxed visa policies to attract foreign tourists amid fierce regional competition.

Vietnam

Starting March 1 Vietnam waived visas for tourists from Poland, Czechia and Switzerland coming on package tours for up to 45 days.

In mid-March the government also decided to extend visa exemptions until 2028 for citizens of 12 countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the U.K.

The waiver had expired on March 15.

Travelers from 13 other countries - Belarus, Chile, Panama, Kyrgystan and 9 Southeast Asian neighbors - are enjoying visa exemptions for between 14 and 90 days.

Malaysia

Malaysia recently announced that its visa exemption for Chinese travelers would be extended for another five years, with the option to extend it for an additional five years, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

This means Chinese citizens can visit Malaysia visa-free until Dec. 31, 2036.

The policy was first introduced in December 2023 and has been extended to 2026.

In 2024 Malaysia received 3.29 million Chinese tourists, the third highest after Singapore and Indonesia.

In 2025 China has been the second largest source of visitors with nearly one million arrivals.

The Philippines

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently approved a digital nomad visa allowing foreign remote workers to stay in the country for up to a year with the option to renew for another year.

Applications will open within 60 days, according to the Philippines News Agency.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, prove sufficient income generated outside the Philippines, have no criminal record and possess health insurance.

Thailand

Starting May 1 Thai authorities require all foreign tourists to complete a Thailand digital arrival card at least three days before entering the country.

All foreign travelers must register online at http://tdac.immigration.go.th.

They need to fill in passport details, other personal data, travel plans, Thailand accommodation information, and health status.

Thailand is considering reducing the visa period for Chinese visitors from 90 days to 30 days to better align with their typical travel duration, Bangkok Post reported.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong said the average stay by Chinese tourists is less than 15 days, making the current 90-day period "excessive."

The 90-day waiver is part of a mutual agreement between Thailand and China starting in March 2024.