(PHOTO: REUTERS)
Since July 15, 2024, tourists and business travelers from 93 countries can stay up to 60 days visa-free in Thailand. This period can be extended by a further 30 days on site.
Recently the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the timeline for implementation of the electronic travel authorization (ETA) system. Officials have now stated the ETA should be available by Dec. 1, 2024, for an initial pilot phase, with full implementation by June 2025.
Upon full implementation, e-Visa service will be integrated with the ETA system into a single on-line portal.
All visa-exempt travelers will be required to hold an approved ETA before arriving Thailand, whether they are arriving by air, land or sea.
The ETA is expected to be free of charge and only grant single-entry capabilities. Holders of diplomatic passports, official passports, U.N. Laissez-Passer and Border Pass users, as well as nationals of Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia, will be exempted from the ETA requirement.
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