Thailand's passport has been ranked 99th worldwide by Passport Reports, with a mobility score of 93. The assessment, published on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, places Thailand fifth among the 11 ASEAN countries and 21st among 50 Asian countries assessed. The score should not be read as visa-free access to 93 countries. It combines 40 fully visa-free destinations, 48 where a visa on arrival or another facilitated entry process is available, and five destinations requiring an electronic travel authorisation (eTA). A conventional visa or other advance approval is still needed for 105 destinations, representing 53% of those covered in the report. Only 40 destinations are fully visa-free The 40 visa-free destinations account for 20.2% of those assessed and include Japan, China, Russia, Turkiye, Taiwan and several Southeast Asian neighbours. A further 48 destinations, or 24.2%, fall into the report's facilitated-entry category. This includes visas on arrival and other simplified procedures; some also have eVisa systems, but Passport Reports does not count them as fully visa-free. The five eTA destinations are Cote d'Ivoire, South Korea, Kenya, Seychelles and Sri Lanka. Cote d'Ivoire requires registration in advance, while Seychelles operates a traveller-registration system. Maximum stays vary widely. The report cites stays of up to 360 days in Georgia, 180 days in Peru, 150 days in Nepal, and 120 days in Fiji, Vanuatu and Armenia. eTA destinations allow stays of up to 90 days in Cote d'Ivoire, South Korea, Kenya and Seychelles, and 30 days in Sri Lanka. Asia offers more options than Europe Thai nationals can enter 34 of the other 49 Asian destinations without arranging a conventional visa before departure: 22 visa-free, 10 facilitated-entry and two eTA destinations. The remaining 15 require a visa or advance approval. Europe is more restrictive, with only Russia and Turkiye classified as visa-free and Ukraine listed as facilitated entry among 47 destinations. The other 44 require advance approval. None of the six Gulf states offers fully visa-free entry under the report's definitions. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman offer facilitated procedures, while the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait require advance approval. Easier entry is available in four of five Central Asian countries, 10 of 14 in Oceania, eight of 12 in South America, nine of 16 Caribbean destinations and 30 of 54 African destinations. Nine of 23 North American destinations offer easier entry; Europe has the lowest proportion, with three of 47. Passport Reports separately ranks Thailand 73rd among 199 countries for how easily foreign passport holders can enter the country. That welcoming ranking measures access to Thailand, not the overseas mobility of Thai citizens. Thailand also ranks 17th among 21 APEC economies, 51st among 132 G77 countries, 95th among 159 World Trade Organisation members, and 19th among 25 parliamentary constitutional monarchies. Pictures courtesy of The Nation Join the discussion? 27 August 2026
View full article