Travel EU Visa Requirement for Thais Remains Unchanged, Ministry Confirms

[snoop1130]

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The Foreign Ministry has firmly dismissed circulating social media reports suggesting that the European Union intends to lift the Schengen visa requirement for Thai nationals. These claims have inaccurately stated that Thai travellers would need only to complete the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) registration, bypassing the usual visa application process.

 

ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is a recently introduced procedure aimed at enhancing security across EU borders. It requires visa-exempt travellers to submit a digital application before entering the 30 countries covered by the EU scheme. However, Thai citizens do not fall under the visa-exempt category, making the visa application indispensable for them.

 

The spurious reports claimed that this new process would be implemented in the final quarter of the year, causing significant chatter and speculation online. The Schengen Area, comprising 29 countries—four of which are non-EU members—maintains strict entry protocols to control and secure its borders effectively.

 

Currently, the EU permits citizens from 61 countries to travel without a visa, including Malaysia and Singapore, the only ASEAN nations with such privileges. This visa-free access is coveted by travellers worldwide for its convenience and ease.

 

A spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry emphasised that after consulting with the Thai embassy in Brussels, there is no change in the visa requirements for Thai travellers. Thais planning to visit Schengen countries must still obtain a visa, maintaining the status quo.

 

In related developments, the EU has announced plans to modernise its entry and exit procedures for visa-holding travellers. The current practice of stamping passports will be discontinued in favour of collecting personal biometric data, including facial and fingerprint scans. This change aims to streamline the process and bolster security measures across the region.

 

The ministry mentioned that a test run of the new biometric system is expected to commence in October, marking a significant step towards a more advanced border control setup. However, this technological shift does not alter the existing visa requirements for Thai nationals.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-30

 

 

[ikke1959]

The Government said they were negotiating with the EU several months ago about visa free travel. But as usual now the want to be blamed and it are rumours on social media

[ikke1959]

The Government said they were negotiating with the EU several months ago about visa free travel. But as usual now they don't  want to be blamed and it are rumours on social media... But the Government started the false information