Following months of anticipation and speculation, Thai authorities have finally revealed more details about the global rollout of the country’s electronic visa (e-visa) system.
Starting January 1, 2025, the e-visa platform (www.thaievisa.go.th) will be available across 94 Thai embassies and consulates, with the aim of streamlining Thailand’s visa application process for travellers through technology.
During the announcement at the Foreign Ministry on 17 December, Worawoot Pongprapapant, Director-General of Consular Affairs, clarified a key point: the new e-visa process does not apply to tourists from 93 visa-exempt countries, who can continue entering Thailand for stays of up to 60 days without a visa.
The e-visa system primarily targets other visa categories, such as work and student visas, while maintaining visa-free entry for ASEAN nationals and travellers from countries like China, India, Australia, the UK, and the US.
The new system is designed to be user-friendly: applicants will receive their e-visa confirmation via email, which they can print and present to airlines and Thai immigration authorities upon arrival.
The 93 visa-exempt countries to Thailand include:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Korea (ROK)
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- UAE
- UK
- USA
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam