Starting December 1, 2024, citizens from 93 visa-free countries, will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before visiting Thailand. This new requirement aims to streamline immigration processes and enhance border security.
Previously, visa-free travellers from these countries could enter Thailand without prior authorisation. However, the ETA will now be mandatory for all air, sea, and land arrivals, except for citizens of Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
Thailand introduces ETA for visa-free travellers from Hong Kong
While the pilot programme for the ETA will launch on December 1, 2024, the system will become fully operational by June 2025. The ETA application process will be entirely digital and accessible through the official Thai e-Visa website. It will be provided free of charge, aligning with Thailand’s existing visa-free policy.
The ETA grants a single entry into Thailand and will be valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, with a one-time extension of 30 days possible.
The ETA for visa-free travellers is meant to enhance border security and combat illegal immigration. Travellers will enjoy seamless movement through new automated immigration clearance gates using QR codes, reducing waiting time. Travellers who fail to comply with the ETA requirements or overstay their permitted time may face penalties.
Thailand’s ETA will apply to citizens and residents of the following countries: India, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, the Netherlands, South Korea, Italy, Japan, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Kuwait, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Slovak, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Peru, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Fiji, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Macau, Mongolia, Russia, Albania, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Morocco, Panama, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga and Uruguay.
All these nations were granted visa-free entry to Thailand from July 15, 2024.
(Feature image credit: Humphrey Muleba/Unsplash)
This story first appeared here.
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Priyaja took her love for reading to the next level by majoring in English and minoring in Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College For Women (DU). She is extremely curious about the world and wishes to visit all the countries once in her life. She identifies as a foodie and loves to spend her free time exploring different cuisine and curating new dishes. As a former Food Writer at NDTV, she can help you find the best places to eat in Delhi!
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