Thai visa shake-up: Southeast Asia consulates switch to e-visa only

[snoop1130]

 

Getting a Thai visa in Southeast Asia is about to become a high-tech affair. Starting next week, several Thai consulates across the region will be switching entirely to online e-visa applications, leaving traditional walk-ins a thing of the past.

 

In a surprise move, consulates in Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Bharu), and Cambodia (Phnom Penh) will close their doors to in-person visa applications. Some of these have already shut their consular services in anticipation of the e-visa launch, scheduled for Tuesday.

 

Meanwhile, for those preferring the personal touch, consulates in Laos (Vientiane, Savannakhet) and Myanmar (Yangon) will continue to accept walk-in visits, albeit with a twist—you’ll need to book an appointment online to gain entry.

 

However, it’s not all change, reported ASEAN Now. Consulates in Indonesia (Jakarta), Taiwan (Taipei), and the Philippines (Manila) will maintain their operations as usual with no appointment necessary, providing a glimmer of hope for those who prefer the classic approach.

But there’s a catch: aspiring visitors must physically be in the country of their chosen Thai consulate to use the e-visa system. Moreover, travellers hankering for the now-elusive year-long multi-entry Non-O visa—once popular in Ho Chi Minh City—will need to rethink their strategy. For this coveted visa based on marriage, Savannakhet and Yangon remain the go-to spots, according to recent reports.

 

The shift to digital is set to streamline the visa process, but it is clear applicants need to adjust their plans and embrace the online future of travel documentation.

 

In related news, Thailand has just introduced the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), an exciting new option that allows expats and travellers to stay for up to five years without the hassle of frequent renewals. Ideal for those wanting to dive deep into Thai culture, the DTV offers three main qualifying routes:

 

1. Workcation – Tailored for digital nomads, freelancers, and remote workers.
2. Soft Power – Focus on activities like Muay Thai training or cooking schools.
3. Spouse and Children – For those wishing to bring their family along.

 

By Bob Scott

Picture courtesy of Royal Thai Visa

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-10-07

 

RELATED TOPIC:

S/E Asian Thai Consulates going to eVisa online system effective

https://aseannow.com/topic/1339993-se-asian-thai-consulates-going-to-evisa-online-system-effective-tuesday-oct-8th/

 

 

[madone]

this is insane and defeats the entire purpose of an "e" visa

 

also what prevents people from using a VPN? do travelers need to pick up the "e" visa in person?

 

[mdr224]

Would be fine if any of their websites ever worked right

[JemJem]

Well, for many nationalities, the tourist visa has lost its relevance actually, now that visa exempt stay is 60 days (with a 30-day extension possible inside Thailand).

 

Of course, for other types of visa, it is a different case. 

[soi3eddie]

 

Last few years it seems "E-Visas" are the norm already so what's really new here? I have obtained two tourist E-Visas for Cambodia and one tourist visa for Myanmar in the last two years. I have also helped a British friend obtain a marriage E-Visa for Thailand twice (2023 & 2024). I have also helped my GF obtain two visit visas for the UK online in 2023 & 2024 (still have to go and submit passport and biometrics at an office in Bangkok). We had to file pre-entry permits for Singapore easily online when we went in 2023. I really don't see what the issues could be. Who wants to go to an embassy when it can all be done from the comfort of a hotel room or at home online?

 

[shdmn]

10 hours ago, madone said:

this is insane and defeats the entire purpose of an "e" visa

 

also what prevents people from using a VPN? do travelers need to pick up the "e" visa in person?

 

They can match it up with the stamps in your passport, so if you were to get a DTV from Cambodia your passport would need to have stamps showing you were there at the time it was issued.

[Johno57]

The reliability of internet sites & SECURITY of these sites has always been lacking & will remain the same so I will not see my document  privacy being sold on the dark Web or to any body else...

[hotchilli]

A step forward or a step backwards.. time will tell?

[Skeptic7]

No surprise at all. This "less work - less services" trend is chronic at all Embassies and Consulates worldwide. They don't want to deal with the people they are supposed to be assisting. Governments suck and are getting suckier with every passing year. 

[Gottfrid]

4 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Last few years it seems "E-Visas" are the norm already so what's really new here?

That you still have to travel to the country to use the e-visa system. 🤣

 

It´s like one of the most idiotic thing I´ve ever heard!

[MarkBR]

14 hours ago, madone said:

this is insane and defeats the entire purpose of an "e" visa

 

also what prevents people from using a VPN? do travelers need to pick up the "e" visa in person?

 

I assume you need to prove to the computer system that you are entering from the country you say you were in when applying for the eVisa.  Otherwise the system will flag you, and expect questions any time you visit immigration

[zackxx]

4 hours ago, shdmn said:

They can match it up with the stamps in your passport, so if you were to get a DTV from Cambodia your passport would need to have stamps showing you were there at the time it was issued.

Except that nowadays many countries, including Thailand, have automatic departure passport control lanes like at Suvarnabhumi where Immigration Inspections will be accessible to visitors with foreign passports and you don't actually meet with an immigration official who puts a stamp in your passport.

 

This has become an issue for countries like Lao and Cambodia who use to always check arriving passengers for the departure stamp in their passport of the country they just left.

[Denim]

1 hour ago, Skeptic7 said:

No surprise at all. This "less work - less services" trend is chronic at all Embassies and Consulates worldwide. They don't want to deal with the people they are supposed to be assisting. Governments suck and are getting suckier with every passing year. 

 

The most important thing from their point of view is that they will still keep their jobs and collect their salaries.  Means more time sitting in a corner playing with their phones . Great system for them. 

 

Meanwhile , their erstwhile customers will have to pound the pavement looking for an internet cafe to file their application. Great fun .

[Upnotover]

1 minute ago, Denim said:

looking for an internet cafe

Do such things still exist?

[Peterphuket]

15 hours ago, mdr224 said:

Would be fine if any of their websites ever worked right

That's a difficult question....sorry about that.

[Aussie999]

15 hours ago, madone said:

this is insane and defeats the entire purpose of an "e" visa

 

also what prevents people from using a VPN? do travelers need to pick up the "e" visa in person?

 

I do not fully understand your comment... But you still need to leave Thailand then be stamped back in.

[Peterphuket]

Get used to more control.

That's what it's all about.

If you want to go to Spain they already ask 14 private things, including your bank account which are actually none of their business.

[john donson]

in what decade can we expect   E-immigration visa extension, lol

[ChaiyaTH]

15 hours ago, madone said:

this is insane and defeats the entire purpose of an "e" visa

 

also what prevents people from using a VPN? do travelers need to pick up the "e" visa in person?

 

Use the brains just a tiny tiny bit and you would know that could mean showing proof e.g. visa stamps, hotel booking etc etc.

[ChaiyaTH]

3 minutes ago, john donson said:

in what decade can we expect   E-immigration visa extension, lol

They already do that in Chiang Mai for tourist extensions, I had 2 of them so far. Only still need to show up to take the webcam photo and give them the pre-filled paperwork (even they are the ones who filled that out digitally for you, so god only knows why that is needed). Anyway 10 mins in and out, 500 baht extra though. They are small shiny stickers with a QR code in it, 1/4 of a page.

[ChaiyaTH]

I'm personally already tired now knowing it will be unclear again what they need, to then end up waiting days with emails back and forward, to upload and deliver new proof that might satisfy them. I mean imagine that the same slow Thais now suddenly will need to deal with hunderds of emails per day, rather than checking papers quick and turning you down.

 

Will let it play out same as the overseas taxes and just keep doing 60 on arrival + 30 days for a while. Unless it becomes easy and clear to get this DTV visa, I do have the 500K baht.

[Thingamabob]

1 hour ago, Skeptic7 said:

No surprise at all. This "less work - less services" trend is chronic at all Embassies and Consulates worldwide. They don't want to deal with the people they are supposed to be assisting. Governments suck and are getting suckier with every passing year. 

Well said.

[recom273]

14 minutes ago, john donson said:

in what decade can we expect   E-immigration visa extension, lol

this makes perfect sense, it should be priority. My marriage extension has become a joke, the same paperwork with the exception of the kr2, every year. Digital photos that serve no purpose, printed and stuck to an A4 sheet. They have assistants in my local office that check everything, I then proceeed to the officer who then rechecks them in silence, stamps, signature and consideration after 20 mins. I don’t begrudge it, it’s pretty easy but what country  wouldn’t have an online form and a place to submit scanned or photo documents? They are just obsessed with stamps and signatures here. 

[Denim]

48 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Do such things still exist?

 

Who knows.  but It all adds to the excitement .

 

Meanwhile , all the consulates are getting some signs professionaly made up :

 

 

                                                            We regret to inform applicants that our

                                                            computers are currently down and we will

                                                            not be processing online applications for

                                                           evisas until next Friday. Our apologies 

                                                            for any inconvenience.

                                                        

[sungod]

48 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Do such things still exist?

 

Only people over 50 would remember what an internet cafe was

[Serhii]

Those of you who have VPN apps, can you please check if they have Vietnam in it? Can you please share the name of those apps that have it? I’ve checked two and they don’t.

[baansgr]

5 hours ago, shdmn said:

They can match it up with the stamps in your passport, so if you were to get a DTV from Cambodia your passport would need to have stamps showing you were there at the time it was issued.

And 90 day reports...you are reporting the address you are living at but it allows you to report an address in Chiang Mai whilst you are are koh Samui..fickle

[Upnotover]

41 minutes ago, Serhii said:

Those of you who have VPN apps, can you please check if they have Vietnam in it? Can you please share the name of those apps that have it? I’ve checked two and they don’t.

I use NordVPN.  Certainly has Vietnam.

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, john donson said:

in what decade can we expect   E-immigration visa extension, lol

I agree, or even just scanning your documents, photos, etc. No must have up to 30 copies on A4, and then after, I have seen them scan them on their computer.  Mucking Fental...

[mokwit]

Fortress Thailand. Can't rely on an IO or consular staff being 'lenient'. VE and now TR pre approved/rejected centrally. Some games played are going to end.