Visa On Arrival Fee Rise Likely

[grantbkk]

The Nation reports today (27 May 2008) that the Airports of Thailand is considering an additional fee for issuing visas on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport to reduce congestion at the counters. The measure is aimed at persuading travelers to apply for normal visas from their own countries before traveling. At present, a visa on arrival costs Bt1,000 (I guess it is factored into the cost of the ticket). This is expected to be raised to Bt2,800 which is about the cost of a visa obtained abroad.

I may be too critical of Thai logic but this seems counter to plans to ease the process for tourists touted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

[Prakanong]

I do not think its factored into the ticket for these type - Indians, Chinese etc get them like this

My colleagues however just get them back in their home country before travelling so they do not have to queue up in Thailand - its less hassly for them as we have agents who handle this even if it does cost us more.

As a complete aside I always thought the Thai's could raise extra cash by charging all nationalities who arrive without a ticket withing 30 days who want the visa free entrance a similar cost

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The Nation reports today (27 May 2008) that the Airports of Thailand is considering an additional fee for issuing visas on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport to reduce congestion at the counters. The measure is aimed at persuading travelers to apply for normal visas from their own countries before traveling. At present, a visa on arrival costs Bt1,000 (I guess it is factored into the cost of the ticket). This is expected to be raised to Bt2,800 which is about the cost of a visa obtained abroad.

I may be too critical of Thai logic but this seems counter to plans to ease the process for tourists touted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

There's no logic at all. Most people eligible to apply for the 15 day visa on arrival can only get a tourist visa in the country where they have permanent residence. Many have business visa's and temporary residence only where they normally reside.

[Prakanong]

The Nation reports today (27 May 2008) that the Airports of Thailand is considering an additional fee for issuing visas on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport to reduce congestion at the counters. The measure is aimed at persuading travelers to apply for normal visas from their own countries before traveling. At present, a visa on arrival costs Bt1,000 (I guess it is factored into the cost of the ticket). This is expected to be raised to Bt2,800 which is about the cost of a visa obtained abroad.

I may be too critical of Thai logic but this seems counter to plans to ease the process for tourists touted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

There's no logic at all. Most people eligible to apply for the 15 day visa on arrival can only get a tourist visa in the country where they have permanent residence. Many have business visa's and temporary residence only where they normally reside.

You had me thinking there but the Chinese I work with have PR in Singapore so there no problem with the Visa here but I am sure the Indian girl only has EP but maybe that counts too - I would have to check with her as I would be interested to know just out of curiosity.

My Indian pal from Bombay always get a visa upfront from there when we have meetings in Bangkok and for his GF too if he is bringing her shopping.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The Nation reports today (27 May 2008) that the Airports of Thailand is considering an additional fee for issuing visas on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport to reduce congestion at the counters. The measure is aimed at persuading travelers to apply for normal visas from their own countries before traveling. At present, a visa on arrival costs Bt1,000 (I guess it is factored into the cost of the ticket). This is expected to be raised to Bt2,800 which is about the cost of a visa obtained abroad.

I may be too critical of Thai logic but this seems counter to plans to ease the process for tourists touted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

There's no logic at all. Most people eligible to apply for the 15 day visa on arrival can only get a tourist visa in the country where they have permanent residence. Many have business visa's and temporary residence only where they normally reside.

You had me thinking there but the Chinese I work with have PR in Singapore so there no problem with the Visa here but I am sure the Indian girl only has EP but maybe that counts too - I would have to check with her as I would be interested to know just out of curiosity.

My Indian pal from Bombay always get a visa upfront from there when we have meetings in Bangkok and for his GF too if he is bringing her shopping.

The official rules say place of permanent residency. Can't see how the Indian girl could get a Thai visa. The Indians in Bombay are after all, Indians, living in India.

[Prakanong]

The Nation reports today (27 May 2008) that the Airports of Thailand is considering an additional fee for issuing visas on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport to reduce congestion at the counters. The measure is aimed at persuading travelers to apply for normal visas from their own countries before traveling. At present, a visa on arrival costs Bt1,000 (I guess it is factored into the cost of the ticket). This is expected to be raised to Bt2,800 which is about the cost of a visa obtained abroad.

I may be too critical of Thai logic but this seems counter to plans to ease the process for tourists touted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

There's no logic at all. Most people eligible to apply for the 15 day visa on arrival can only get a tourist visa in the country where they have permanent residence. Many have business visa's and temporary residence only where they normally reside.

You had me thinking there but the Chinese I work with have PR in Singapore so there no problem with the Visa here but I am sure the Indian girl only has EP but maybe that counts too - I would have to check with her as I would be interested to know just out of curiosity.

My Indian pal from Bombay always get a visa upfront from there when we have meetings in Bangkok and for his GF too if he is bringing her shopping.

The official rules say place of permanent residency. Can't see how the Indian girl could get a Thai visa. The Indians in Bombay are after all, Indians, living in India.

What I am wondering is if she can get it with a Singapore EP - I am pretty sure she has obtained one through work previously but I would have to ask when I am back in the office to be 100%.

I have definately been in Thailand with her on business on more than 2 occasions in the last year or so and can not remember her leaving us at the airport to get VoA but I would have to check to be certain.

The Chinese girl definately gets a visa beforhand to avoid the queue but no-one else bothers among the Singaporeans or farangs or others as it would be page per visa as they will not issue multiple entry even though we are a major MNC with millions invested in Thailand, billions in Singapore and other countries in the region

[IMA_FARANG]

The Nation reports today (27 May 2008) that the Airports of Thailand is considering an additional fee for issuing visas on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport to reduce congestion at the counters. The measure is aimed at persuading travelers to apply for normal visas from their own countries before traveling. At present, a visa on arrival costs Bt1,000 (I guess it is factored into the cost of the ticket). This is expected to be raised to Bt2,800 which is about the cost of a visa obtained abroad.

I may be too critical of Thai logic but this seems counter to plans to ease the process for tourists touted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Not to be picky or anything...but are you sure your not confusing the Visa On Arrival with the stamp that vistors from certain countries (i.e. U.S., U.K., etc. can get in their passport when they arrive without a visa) which is often mistakenly called Visa On Arrival? The stamp in their passport has no fee (at least last October when I arrived there last) but the Visa On Arrival does have a fee. The stamp gives you 30 days as a tourist only. not sure how long the Visa On Arrival is for. Last time I came into BKK, there were quite a few Indians, Pakistanis, etc lined up at the Visa On Arrival queue.

Anyhow the tourist "stamp" on arrival is a different thing entirely from the Visa On arrival.

[ovenman]

Not to be picky or anything...but are you sure your not confusing the Visa On Arrival with the stamp that vistors from certain countries (i.e. U.S., U.K., etc. can get in their passport when they arrive without a visa) which is often mistakenly called Visa On Arrival?

The news story appears to be talking about Visa on Arrival. Apparently, there are too many people applying at the Visa on Arrival counter at Suvarnabhumi.

[TAWP]

I think however the reason why grantbkk is so 'flabbergasted' above is [since he even mentions he thought the fee was built into the flight ticket] he thinks that VOA is the same thing as 'Visa Exempt'-stamps us from western++ countries get.

[grantbkk]

I just passed on the news and did confuse the tourist stamp with the VOA. There must be a number of people who use the VOA service at the airport because the stated reason for the price increase is to reduce those lines by encouraging people to get the required visa in their home country. The VOA seems a bit more convenient than making the trip to an embassy or councilate.

[Prakanong]

I just passed on the news and did confuse the tourist stamp with the VOA. There must be a number of people who use the VOA service at the airport because the stated reason for the price increase is to reduce those lines by encouraging people to get the required visa in their home country. The VOA seems a bit more convenient than making the trip to an embassy or councilate.

Yes there are a lot that use the VoA at the airport and I suppose it is much easier for most to use that than contact an Embassy or Consulate in their home county.

As I said my colleagues get it all done for them so they do bother back in their home countries as it does save them hassle of the airport particularly if they are on flights from say India which will mean a long queue at VoA

[TAWP]

Yes, a lot of people get VOA, but all the ones I know are from 'around', for example Indians...

[Prakanong]

Yes, a lot of people get VOA, but all the ones I know are from 'around', for example Indians...

"Around"???

There is a list of who can get VoA somewhere - Indians certainly and Chinese I beleive but plenty more

A Brit, Aussie or USA person can not for example and would get the 30 day visa free entry - if we want more we get it from an Embassy or consulate

[ovenman]

There is a list of who can get VoA somewhere - Indians certainly and Chinese I beleive but plenty more

MFA list of countries eligible for Visa on Arrival

[Prakanong]

There is a list of who can get VoA somewhere - Indians certainly and Chinese I beleive but plenty more

MFA list of countries eligible for Visa on Arrival

Thanks - I was rushing so did not look it up.

[TAWP]

Yes, a lot of people get VOA, but all the ones I know are from 'around', for example Indians...

"Around"???

There is a list of who can get VoA somewhere - Indians certainly and Chinese I beleive but plenty more

A Brit, Aussie or USA person can not for example and would get the 30 day visa free entry - if we want more we get it from an Embassy or consulate

Read: 'around' = countries close to Thailand economical (and often geographical).

For example: Indians.

As oppose to us from western Europe for instance, that don't have to. (Told one Indian at work about it and she didn't believe there was such a thing as 'VISA Exempt' until I produced the real list of countries on an official site, since they had always had to use VOA.)

[astral]

I am surprised to see Cyprus on the list as it is part of Europe,

and all other European countries have Visa Exemption status.

[Prakanong]

I am surprised to see Cyprus on the list as it is part of Europe,

and all other European countries have Visa Exemption status.

Could it be due to the turkish and Greek bit?

[lopburi3]

Most of Eastern Europe do not have visa exempt entry and many are on the Visa on Arrival list

1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan

2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Chinese Taipei)

3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus

4. Czech : Czech Republic

5. Estonia : Republic of Estonia

6. Hungary : Republic of Hungary

7. India : Republic of India

8. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan

9. Latvia : Republic of Latvia

10. Liechtenstein : Principality of Liechtenstein

11. Lithuania : Republic of Lithuania

12. Maldives : Republic of Maldives

13. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius

14. Oman : Sultanate of Oman

15. Poland : Republic of Poland

16. Russian Federation

17. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

18. Slovakia : Slovak Republic

19. Slovenia : Republic of Slovenia

20. Ukraine