Could Thailand Really Introduce a Schengen Style Visa for Parts of Southeast Asia?

[snoop1130]

 

Over the last few days the Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has made it clear that he intends to pursue plans for a groundbreaking Schengen style (but with some major differences, read on) visa for Thailand and parts of Southeast Asia.

 

The idea for a Schengen style visa is not a new one and has been previously discussed but there are obviously many potential obstacles to overcome to move forward with such a proposal. Srettha, however, has shown a willingness to do so. He recently had discussions with Lao authorities around this subject and with the leader of Cambodia visiting this week Srettha stated to the media that the shared visa program would be a top discussion item, along with air pollution.

 

The proposal, and we want to make it clear that it is just a proposal and not a guarantee or anything set in stone, would see visitors to Thailand also be allowed to visit Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia on one visa and one stamp. Unlike the Schengen, the tourist would have to go through Thailand first as a sort of HUB, and could not get the same shared visa by initially entering one of the other countries. This would also put the lion’s share of the work on Thailand for security screening of visitors but would also avoid people potentially choosing the country with the lightest entry restrictions to then visit the others, a common prior issue with the Schengen Visa.

 

By Adam Judd

 

Full story: The Pattaya News 2024-02-06

 

- 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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[Korat Kiwi]

I like the idea... if it saves us some of the 'fees' which we currently pay to visit those other countries. 

 

I've only been to Europe once, landing in Frankfurter.  It was so easy and a real dream to visit a lot of other countries while there. 

 

No hassles with immigration and exorbitant visa fees. 

 

👍👍👍

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

see visitors to Thailand also be allowed to visit Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia on one visa and one stamp. Unlike the Schengen, the tourist would have to go through Thailand first as a sort of HUB, and could not get the same shared visa by initially entering one of the other countries.

 

Sure, it's possible.

 

But only if Thailand is willing to share those juicy visa fees with the associatede countries.  That would include fees collected from embassies, as well as for extensions and fines.

 

Hub of that's not gonna happen.

[tomazbodner]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Unlike the Schengen, the tourist would have to go through Thailand first as a sort of HUB, and could not get the same shared visa by initially entering one of the other countries.

I can see Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos.. Maybe Vietnam accepting that. Initially. But I can't see Malaysia, which already has a HUB of arrivals in KL, to accept anything like that.

[hotchilli]

A nice idea, but I can still envisage Thai immigration at the borders doing what they do now....

I wonder if you will still have to pay the "tip" as you go across the border to the nice Thai officer?

[Tequila makes me happy]

Visit Thailand LOH, the land of Hubs.

[The Old Bull]

It would be nice to drive to Vientiane for supper, it's only thirty miles away without standing in line pay for a visa that eats up a page of your passport. It will never happen, too many government drones protecting their empires.

[bokningar]

Is this the way they will try to get the "Airport HUB" idea to happen?

[brianthainess]

13 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I like the idea... if it saves us some of the 'fees' which we currently pay to visit those other countries. 

 

I've only been to Europe once, landing in Frankfurter.  It was so easy and a real dream to visit a lot of other countries while there. 

 

No hassles with immigration and exorbitant visa fees. 

 

👍👍👍

You can bet your bottom dollar, you'd still have to pay the entry fees for those countries.

[klauskunkel]

It works in Europe because the member states are all stable democracies since decades

 

Whereas:

Cambodia, an autocratic dynastic regime

Myanmar, a military dictatorship in a civil war

Laos, communist regime

Vietnam, communist regime

Malaysia, constitutional religious monarchy

Thailand, something that changes every few years

 

 

 

 

[Wrwest]

Hopefully, including the medical insurance requirement ending the debate on tourists ducking paying bills and need for medical "go fund me" needs. But, as already noted, how to dive up the premiums versus the country services rendered. Hmmm, could look, again at how this works under the Schegen Visa.

[KhunLA]

Nothing 'groundbreaking' about that, as been talked and kicked about for at least the last 10 years.

[Puccini]

7 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

It would be nice to drive to Vientiane for supper, it's only thirty miles away without standing in line pay for a visa that eats up a page of your passport. It will never happen, too many government drones protecting their empires.

 

Hold it right there.

 

The proposal, as I understand it, suggests that I would be able to travel from Thailand to Vietnam, for example, without a visa, but I have seen nothing to indicate that

1. Vietnam would not put a stamp, of any size, in my passport saying something like "Entry permitted without visa;

2. I would be allowed to travel back to Thailand without a visa for Thailand.

 

Never underestimate the ingenuity of officialdom of any county.

[NoDisplayName]

2 hours ago, Wrwest said:

Hopefully, including the medical insurance requirement ending the debate on tourists ducking paying bills and need for medical "go fund me" needs. But, as already noted, how to dive up the premiums versus the country services rendered. Hmmm, could look, again at how this works under the Schegen Visa.

 

Consider Cambodia.  On the border to Laos, the immigration officials demand a $5 stamp fee for each tourist, in addition to the official visa fee.  Multiply that by thousands of tourists daily, and you understand how so many low-ranking officers are cruising around in Lexus SUV's.  This is standard practice, and I'm Shirley the higher-ups know about it and are getting their cut.

 

There will be resistance.

[Ben Zioner]

Obviously they gave thought only to the entry part of the process. They'll look into the exit part in a couple of years.

[realfunster]

 

No.

 

Any more questions ?