PM Srettha seeks extension to visa-free countries list for Thai passport

[snoop1130]

 

Currently boasting entry to 34 nations without a visa, the Thai government is seeking to extend this list for Thai passport holders.

 

In a recent Cabinet meeting, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavasin announced his pursuit of a much more powerful Thai passport that will extend the list of visa-free countries. Applauding recent expansions, including visa-free access to China, Russia, and India, the premier expressed particular delight in the Thai-Chinese agreement, solidifying visa exemptions for tourists in both directions.

 

Vice-president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, Phumiphiphat Meesamran, urged the government to press for additional visa exemptions with European nations, the UK, the US, and Australia. Despite these countries enjoying 30-day visa-free entry to Thailand, Thais face hurdles when seeking reciprocal access.

 

Phumiphiphat highlighted the potential boost to tourism and economic growth with visa-free access in both directions. Currently, western nations cite concerns about Thais overstaying without proper paperwork, insisting on proof of property ownership, significant employment, or other forms of wealth.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Caption: Photo courtesy of Matichon

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-10

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[worgeordie]

19 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

urged the government to press for additional visa exemptions with European nations, the UK, the US, and Australia.

I cannot see that happening ,anytime soon 

 

regards worgeordie

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Currently boasting entry to 34 nations without a visa, the Thai government is seeking to extend this list for Thai passport holders.

How about Thailand giving 60 days visa free entry to Thailand... to everyone.

[steve187]

59 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

How about Thailand giving 60 days visa free entry to Thailand... to everyone.

yes why is it 30 days, some other countries in the area give more, ie

Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I cannot see that happening ,anytime soon 

 

regards worgeordie

I believe it possible... and justified too.  It is Western hubris to be so restrictive to Thais. We get so many complaining they want longer Visa Exempt permissions when they visit Thailand, yet their own countries will not let Thais in without some tiresome visa requirement. 

[khunjeff]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Currently, western nations cite concerns about Thais overstaying without proper paperwork

 

This is phrased to make it sound as though this is some silly excuse that these countries have invented, which it isn't. Unfortunately, the reality is that Thais have a long history of overstaying and working illegally in both western countries and wealthy Asian nations, and those countries are well aware of that history.

 

For the US in particular, one of the requirements for joining the Visa Waiver Program is a visitor visa refusal rate under 3%. The refusal rate for Thais is closer to 20%, which means there's a long, long way to go before a mutual visa exemption has any chance at all of being implemented.

 

17 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I believe it possible... and justified too.  It is Western hubris to be so restrictive to Thais. We get so many complaining they want longer Visa Exempt permissions when they visit Thailand, yet their own countries will not let Thais in without some tiresome visa requirement. 

 

As noted above, it's not "hubris", but reality. And yes, Thailand absolutely could decide to only exempt visas for nationalities whose own countries do the same for Thais, just as Brazil and Indonesia have periodically done in the name of third-world honor. That would be shooting themselves in the foot, though, and laying waste to a very lucrative tourism industry for no reason other than feeling a momentary glow of nationalistic pride.

[jacko45k]

10 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

As noted above, it's not "hubris", but reality. And yes, Thailand absolutely could decide to only exempt visas for nationalities whose own countries do the same for Thais, just as Brazil and Indonesia have periodically done in the name of third-world honor. That would be shooting themselves in the foot, though, and laying waste to a very lucrative tourism industry for no reason other than feeling a momentary glow of nationalistic pride.

I think times have changed ...... as a UK person I would ponder why on earth would a Thai want to be illegal in the UK.

These 1st world countries are unable to handle the illegals that cross their borders by land or from the sea.... the few that fly in and come through legitimate channels, and would remain, are relatively small in number, and presumable financially more sound. 

Is Thailand any more '3rd world' than UK for example? 

I still see Hubris...

You mentioned Brazil, I always recall a liberal attitude to entering there, I got 90 days no problems IIRC.

[mfd101]

Thai 'tourists' are their own worst enemy. They assume that flouting the law as they do at home is the norm also in 'Western' countries.

[hotchilli]

57 minutes ago, steve187 said:

yes why is it 30 days, some other countries in the area give more, ie

Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan

And they are getting the tourists.

[Peabody]

I think that the basis for visas in Thailand and the West are different. In Thailand, they are used to raise money. In the West, they are used to limit illegal immigration/overstay.

 

[mancub]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I think times have changed ...... as a UK person I would ponder why on earth would a Thai want to be illegal in the UK.

These 1st world countries are unable to handle the illegals that cross their borders by land or from the sea.... the few that fly in and come through legitimate channels, and would remain, are relatively small in number, and presumable financially more sound. 

Is Thailand any more '3rd world' than UK for example? 

I still see Hubris...

You mentioned Brazil, I always recall a liberal attitude to entering there, I got 90 days no problems IIRC.

Seriously ? Have a think about working and the work permit/visa situation. 

[mrmicbkktxl]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I believe it possible... and justified too.  It is Western hubris to be so restrictive to Thais. We get so many complaining they want longer Visa Exempt permissions when they visit Thailand, yet their own countries will not let Thais in without some tiresome visa requirement. 

Are you living on a different planet or are you just ignorant?There is a difference between 1st world countries and 3rd world countries!

[steve187]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I believe it possible... and justified too.  It is Western hubris to be so restrictive to Thais. We get so many complaining they want longer Visa Exempt permissions when they visit Thailand, yet their own countries will not let Thais in without some tiresome visa requirement. 

so it should be restrictive, Thailand need the income from the vast amount of arrivals. Europe as well as overs have problems keeping people out, therefore the UK and Europe need tough visa requirements for counties that will overstay and disappear.

[Olmate]

Nowhere to live in ozstrayla now, so no point overstaying there! 

[orchidfan]

4 hours ago, steve187 said:

yes why is it 30 days, some other countries in the area give more, ie

Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan

Hong Kong (and I hold permanent HKID) has an extensive and varied list of countries to whom they give a variety of "Visa free" periods of stay.

EG. UK 180 days

       OZ 90 days

     Thai up to 30 days (7 to 30 days)

Philippines up to 14 days.

  etc.

However the IO can vary this and even refuse entry at their discretion on arrival.

 

Source: HK Immigration website.

 

[charleskerins]

1 hour ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Are you living on a different planet or are you just ignorant?There is a difference between 1st world countries and 3rd world countries!

 Is Thailand  a third world country

[John Drake]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

urged the government to press for additional visa exemptions with European nations, the UK, the US,

 

The US ought to go ahead and do it. It's not like they're trying to keep out anybody anyway. At least if the Thais come in, they'll be doing so on their passport and US authorities will know who they. Unlike the millions pouring across the southern border who are unidentified and given money, housing, and travel to their destination of choice.

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I think times have changed ...... as a UK person I would ponder why on earth would a Thai want to be illegal in the UK.

These 1st world countries are unable to handle the illegals that cross their borders by land or from the sea.... the few that fly in and come through legitimate channels, and would remain, are relatively small in number, and presumable financially more sound. 

Is Thailand any more '3rd world' than UK for example? 

I still see Hubris...

You mentioned Brazil, I always recall a liberal attitude to entering there, I got 90 days no problems IIRC.

 

I agree. At least having a plane ticket, a passport, and their own luggage, Thai travelers would demonstrate more self sufficiency than the vast numbers coming illegally and be given free stay and support. Much more likely to see these Thais on a visa free entry go back home than the mobs crossing illegally.

[jacko45k]

18 hours ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Are you living on a different planet or are you just ignorant?There is a difference between 1st world countries and 3rd world countries!

Yes arrogance and a sense of entitlement!

[jacko45k]

18 hours ago, steve187 said:

so it should be restrictive, Thailand need the income from the vast amount of arrivals. Europe as well as overs have problems keeping people out, therefore the UK and Europe need tough visa requirements for counties that will overstay and disappear.

My point is Western countries should not expect special treatment, when they themselves are very restrictive. Times change and I wonder if That tourists, coming Visa free, to say the UK, would be an issue. I would prefer them to Romanians as an example!

[peter zwart]

It would be a blessing for both sides. As there is a hugh shortage of labour forces in the western world for certain jobs. Let the Thai come in, work for 3 or 6 months and then back home with their money. Everyone happy. 

[lordgrinz]

Never going to happen in the US, that's all we need, every Thai with a 350 baht daily wage would fly to the US and never return.

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Never going to happen in the US, that's all we need, every Thai with a 350 baht daily wage would fly to the US and never return.

Plenty of far richer ones that would be lucrative tourists. Better to worry about what comes over the Rio Grande. 

[lordgrinz]

5 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Plenty of far richer ones that would be lucrative tourists. Better to worry about what comes over the Rio Grande. 

 

That's delusional at best, its nothing more than a pipe dream that has no chance in Hell of ever happening.

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

That's delusional at best, its nothing more than a pipe dream that has no chance in Hell of ever happening.

Is it not also delusional to think that Thais on 350 baht/day , will have the means to fly so far?

[lordgrinz]

Just now, jacko45k said:

Is it not also delusional to think that Thais on 350 baht.day , will have the means to fly so far?

 

Poor people from South America are paying thousands of dollars to get to our Southern border, so no, it's reality.

[jacko45k]

8 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Poor people from South America are paying thousands of dollars to get to our Southern border, so no, it's reality.

I believe they are coming from far more dire situations......and the camineros (I think they call them), doesn't seem to include Thais, who can travel Visa free to say Panama. Anyhow, apologies, took topic off subject.

[bamnutsak]

I remember a story in The Nation from 2017 which said there were 100,000 undocumented Thais in the U.S.

 

There are some accomplished Thai "Dreamers" (DACA).

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-among-dreamers-celebrating-us-court-ruling-over-daca/

 

 

I think many are concerned about Human Trafficking as a result of relaxed or visa-free travel for Thais to the U.S.

 

 

Thai Woman Pleads Guilty to Her Role in International Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/thai-woman-pleads-guilty-her-role-international-sex-trafficking-conspiracy

 

 

 

Thirty-Six Defendants Sentenced For Their Roles In International Thai Sex Trafficking Organization

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/thirty-six-defendants-sentenced-their-roles-international-thai-sex-trafficking

 

 

 

I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should probably lead the charge in appealing to other countries to allow Thai citizens to travel visa-free. Having the PM popping off is probably not helpful.