Thailand is tightening its visa rules, cutting visa-free stays in half—so if you’re planning an extended trip, you’ll need a backup plan.

Meanwhile, currency fluctuations are shaking up travel costs worldwide, with the U.S. dollar gaining in some places and slipping in others. Stay ahead of the curve with our breakdown of the latest visa updates and exchange rate trends!

This Week in Nomad Deals

🛂Thailand Visa Changes: The Thai government has introduced new visa restrictions for tourists.

📈Currency Trends Report: Here’s where the U.S. dollar has gained and lost value so far in 2025.

Visas

Thailand’s New Visa Changes: What to Know

Thailand’s brief fling with longer tourist visas appears to have fizzled out.

Last week, the Land of Smiles announced a reduction in the visa-free stay duration for tourists from 60 days to 30 days.

Although Thailand only just introduced the 60-day visa in 2024, mounting concern over foreigners engaging in unauthorized work activities led the government to reverse course.

Alternatives for Nomads

Although the implementation date for this change remains unknown, digital nomads and expats can prepare by pursuing other avenues for long-term stays in Thailand.

The recently-introduced Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a five-year, multiple-entry visa designed for digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers. Each entry allows a stay of up to 180 days, with the possibility of a 180-day extension. After reaching the maximum stay of 360 days, DTV holders must depart and re-enter Thailand to continue their stay, provided the visa remains valid.

Looking Ahead

Beginning in June 2025, all visa-free travelers entering Thailand will be required to register for Electronic Travel Authorization.

💡Tip: Be sure to bookmark the handy new website for Thailand visas, which the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs just launched in January.

Foreign Exchange Rates

Currency Trends Report: Spring 2025

Currency exchange rates might not be the most exciting travel topic, but they directly affect your budget—impacting everything from daily expenses to long-term financial planning abroad.

Lately, the U.S. dollar has been on a rollercoaster ride, influenced by shifting economic policies, inflation, and global events. While it has gained value against some currencies, it has mostly weakened in key destinations for digital nomads, making certain hotspots more expensive than before.

Here’s where the U.S. dollar has gained (and lost) the most ground so far this year.

Key Trends

• Turkey Tumbles: The dollar surged 4% against the Turkish lira last week amid political turbulence. Total gains for 2025 top 7%, and 18% overall since March 2024.

•  Latam Strengthens: The U.S. dollar has given back some of its gains from late-2024 against the currencies of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. However, the dollar remains near a multi-decade high against the Brazilian real.

• Europe Strengthens: The dollar briefly rocketed nearly 10% vs. euro between August 2024 and January 2025. Those short-lived gains have mostly evaporated.

• Yen Stabilizes: Exchange rates between the dollar and the Japanese yen remain at about the same level as last year. The yen remains weak overall, with the dollar sitting just 7% below its all-time high against the currency.

➡️Read more about avoiding ATM fees when withdrawing foreign currency.