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

[0ffshore360]

🤣 amazing ignorance

[claffey]

9 hours ago, thecyclist said:

You are absolutely right. In addition, I would assume /hope, that the evisa doesn't require a full page sticker, therefore increase the longevity of your passport. Previously, as a frequent visa runner I ha to get a new passport every 2 years. 

The evisa is a PDF which you print. It therefore saves pages in your passport. 

[sungod]

4 hours ago, johng said:

They looked a bit like this in Pattaya.

 

 

ADSL 512K, that's rocking!!!!

[geisha]

15 hours ago, Denim said:

 

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.

                                                        

Exactly that happened when borders opened again after Covid. It was a technical disaster with people applying with all the docs and the visa coming after your plane had flown . 

[croftrobin]

18 hours 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.

Nord VPN has 2 in vietnam

[gk10012001]

On 10/7/2024 at 3:56 PM, 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.

yes.  Assuming they can tell the e visa details

[gk10012001]

10 hours ago, johng said:

They looked a bit like this in Pattaya.

 

I am 67.  First visit to Pattaya was in 2004.  I loved the internet cafes.  Very convenient.  I don't do much online and it was all and still would be all I need.  I almost bought an internet cafe.  Boy that would have been sunk money.  So hard to keep up with Windows software, would have had to replace computers with each windows or mac OS versions.  I still think they have a place. Yes my MOTO smart phone has internet access and I can do much with it, the screen is still pretty small.  Can't open multiple windows and view them easily.  Got to connect to printers as necessary and if even possible depending on the local printer setup.  A computer in a shop would already be setup with a printer.  Security and private information going out on the cafe computer would probably be the bigger concern. 

[johng]

10 hours ago, sungod said:

 

ADSL 512K, that's rocking!!!!

Yes it was compared to the previous 56k (analogue) modem speed...well ISDN was available but very expensive.

[NaaKap]

On 10/8/2024 at 12:50 PM, 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.

Proton VPN. Basic free has Japan, USA, Holland, Couple of others. The paid plan has Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, 

[Colabamumbai]

On 10/7/2024 at 4:32 PM, snoop1130 said:

 

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/

 

 

Visa Solutions pm me. 

[marquess]

On 10/8/2024 at 11:33 AM, Dexxter said:

 

NordVPN does not show a server in Vietnam according to their map but they do include Vietnam in the list of countries and a connection can be made.

They have two servers in Vietnam.

[stoutfella]

Presumably you need a "smartphone" and an internet connection to get an "e-visa". That's buggered me then.

[zmisha]

On 10/8/2024 at 2:56 AM, 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.

As far as I know Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia(travel by air, MDAC done) don't stamp your passport. The entire world is transitioning to automatic immigration gates.
I think It is only a matter of months before Cambodia and even Thailand switch to fully automatic immigration gates.