BANGKOK, 20 October 2013 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has played down the rumor that claims Japanese government is set to discontinue granting visa exemption to Thai passport holders.
Following the rumor about the discontinuation of visa exemption after a number of Thais have traveled to Japan and failed to come back, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he had checked the matter with the Japanese government and found that the rumor was false.
He urged those who want to go work in Japan to get the right visa and not to abuse the granted visa exemption by seeking work or staying there illegally, adding that if they need any additional information, they can contact the Foreign Ministry, the Labor Ministry, and the Department of Employment.
However, he admitted that if Thai people continue to violate the visa requirements, Japan might revoke its visa waiver, which will cause other Thais to lose the benefit.
In July, Japan exempted short-stay tourists from Thailand from having to obtain a visa. The move prompted a sharp increase in tourist arrivals from Thailand, with at least 200 of whom intending to illegally stay in Japan to find work.
