From October 2024 onwards, visitors from all around the world will now most likely have to get their Thai visas online, as the majority of Thai embassies and consulates in foreign countries have largely switched to accepting online Thailand E-Visa applications. Walk-ins are no longer accepted at many Thai consulates, so if you are hoping to apply for Thai visas from a foreign country, you should familiarize yourself with the new E-Visa procedures.
Why Do These Embassies and Consulates Now Require E-Visa Applications?
In an effort to increase tourism to Thailand, the Thai government has ordered several Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates around the world to use the Thailand E-Visa system, in place of walk-in visa applications and appointments.
The Thailand E-Visa system is an online system that offers a more streamlined process when applying for and receiving a Thai visa, as the entire process can be done at Thailand’s official E-Visa website. By eliminating the paperwork of the application process and doing everything online, Thai Immigration can process and register visa applications faster, hopefully leading to shorter wait times and decreased congestion at both consulates and immigration checkpoints.
By implementing the Thailand E-Visa system, the government hopes to streamline the application process for Thai visas for applicants like you as well. You are no longer required to visit the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in person to hand in the necessary documents and can apply from the comfort of your accommodation. It will also save you the hassle of having to deal with officials, should you not speak the local language of the foreign country you are in fluently.
Which Thai Embassies and Consulates Are Affected?
As the Department of Consular Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand has shared, a total of 59 Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates have now turned to using the Thailand E-Visa system. Frequent travelers to and from Thailand and neighboring Southeast Asia countries should take note of these changes, as many nearby consulates were affected and most now mandate the use of the E-Visa system.
Below is a table detailing the countries and the locations of each of their Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates:
| Country | Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate located in: |
| Australia | Canberra, Sydney |
| Austria | Vienna |
| Bahrain | Manama |
| Belgium | Brussels |
| Brazil | Brasilia |
| Cambodia | Phnom Penh |
| Canada | Ottawa, Vancouver |
| Chile | Santiago |
| China | Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kunming, Nanning, Qingdao, Shanghai, Xiamen, Xian |
| Czech | Prague |
| Denmark | Copenhagen |
| Egypt | Cairo |
| Finland | Helsinki |
| France | Paris |
| Germany | Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich |
| Greece | Athens |
| Hungary | Budapest |
| Italy | Rome |
| Kazakhstan | Astana |
| Malaysia | Kota Bharu, Kuala Lumpur, Penang |
| Netherlands | The Hague |
| New Zealand | Wellington |
| Norway | Oslo |
| Poland | Warsaw |
| Portugal | Lisbon |
| Qatar | Doha |
| Romania | Bucharest |
| Saudi Arabia | Jeddah, Riyadh |
| South Africa | Pretoria |
| South Korea | Seoul |
| Spain | Madrid |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo |
| Sweden | Stockholm |
| Switzerland | Bern |
| Timor-Leste | Dill |
| Turkey | Ankara |
| United Kingdom | London |
| United States of America | Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. |
| Vietnam | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City |
What Visitors to Thailand Need to Know about the E-Visa
Though the Thailand E-Visa system allows for online Thai visa applications, there are a few restrictions to take into consideration.
For one, you must be physically present in the country of the chosen Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate to use the Thailand E-Visa system. Applying for an E-Visa in Thailand is illegal, as you will have to declare under penalty of prosecution that you are in the country when applying through its consulate. If you are caught applying for an E-Visa in Thailand, you could face severe consequences including fines, deportation, and blacklisting.
Also, once you’ve been approved for a Thai visa through the Thailand E-Visa system, you will receive a confirmation email, which you will need to print out and present a physical copy to airlines and Thai immigration officials when traveling to Thailand.
Alternatives to Thai E-Visas
If you would rather avoid applying for a visa online every time you come to Thailand, there are several long-term visas that allow easy, unlimited entry to the Kingdom.
Entering Thailand For Tourism
If you intend to travel to Thailand for tourism purposes, you may be able to enter the country without needing to apply for a visa through the Thailand Visa Exemption Scheme, which will allow you to remain in the country for up to 60 days. It grants you a stay that’s just as long as the standard Thailand Tourist Visa. Entering this way will soon require registration with an ETA system in Thailand, but it is much easier to complete and can be done from anywhere.
But if you’re not eligible for visa-free entry, then the Thailand Visa on Arrival may just be perfect for you, so long as you hold a passport from one of the eligible countries.
Entering Thailand as a Digital Nomad
If you plan to work in Thailand as a digital nomad, consider getting your hands on the newly introduced Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)!
It’s a 5-year multiple-entry visa that allows you to stay in Thailand for up to 180 days with each entry into the country. And since it’s a multiple-entry visa, you can travel in and out of the country as often as you please without needing to apply for a re-entry permit each time. This opens many opportunities for you to travel to neighboring countries and other foreign countries and return to Thailand as if it were your second home.
Alternatively, you can apply for the Thailand Elite Visa, which is a type of long-term multiple-entry tourist visa that allows you to continue your freelancing and work remotely. It comes in membership packages that range from 5 to 20 years, along with access to a long and diverse list of free perks and benefits.
This includes expedited immigration processing at international airports, free spa and medical treatments, special gifts and discounts, and many more. This visa is the easiest and most rewarding way to live in Thailand, even if you are not a digital nomad.
Entering Thailand For Other Reasons
If you’re traveling to Thailand for reasons other than tourism such as starting a business or retiring in Thailand, you can visit our page on the different Thai visa types you can apply for. And if you need help picking the right visa, whether it be a Thailand Elite Visa or a DTV as well, and want to simplify and streamline the entire visa application process, get in touch with Siam Legal International now to start your consultation!
