Single-Entry Visa For Thailand, Cambodia

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IMMIGRATION

Single-entry visa for Thailand, Cambodia

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Citizens from 35 nations qualify; seen paving the way for single Asean visa

BANGKOK: -- From today, tourists from 35 countries need only apply for one visa to visit both Thailand and Cambodia. This is part of Acmecs Single Visa - the first step toward an Asean version of the European Union's Schengen Visa scheme.

Visitors who want to visit both countries can apply for a visa at either country's embassy.

The Acmecs Single Visa should boost tourism in both countries as well as fulfil Thailand's objective to become a regional hub for tourism, said Foreign Minister Surapong Towichuk-chaikul, who jointly chaired a joint commission on bilateral cooperation with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong yesterday.

Acmecs stands for the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, which groups Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. All Acmecs members are part of Asean, and the Acmecs Single Visa is expected to pave the way for an Asean Common Visa.

The original idea to have a Schengen-style tourist visa was introduced at a meeting in Bagan, Myanmar in 2003 between leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. At the meeting they launched the "four countries-one destination" scheme, which Vietnam joined later. Foreign ministers of Acmecs then agreed at a 2005 meeting in Siem Reap that Thailand and Cambodia would try to implement the single-visa strategy first. "If the initial project is successful, then the remaining Acmecs members will join the scheme," Surapong told the press.

Hor Namhong said the two nations would most certainly benefit from the single-visa scheme as it would make travel between the two countries more convenient.

As for concern that traffickers might exploit the scheme, both countries have a "pre-clearance" system.

For instance, if a visitor applies for a visa at a Thai embassy, the documents will be forwarded to its Cambodian counterpart for approval, which will have the authority to reject the application, and vice versa. Also, visa fees for both countries will have to be paid. For instance, the Thai embassy will charge Bt1,000 for entry into Thailand and the tourist will have to pay the Cambodian visa fee upon arrival in that country and vice versa.

As per details provided by the Thai Foreign Ministry, neither country will issue a "multiple-entry" visa.

Up to 21 million people have visited Thailand this year, while Cambodia has had 2.3 million visitors in the first eight months of 2012.

Piyamarn Tejapaiboon, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the scheme will be slightly more beneficial for Cambodia, as tourists visiting Thailand will be able to extend their stay.

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, added that the scheme should help boost tourism in Thailand because travel agents will now be able to offer Cambodia as an additional destination.

Apart from the single visa, the two ministers also discussed several cooperation strategies at the meeting yesterday, including joint efforts in the security, economic, social and cultural spheres. They also agreed to set up a permanent border checkpoint between Ban Nong Aian in Sa Kaew province and Stung Bot in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, as well as a temporary checkpoint at Sa Kaew's Ban Non Mak Moon and Banteay Meanchey's Ban Pray Chan.

Thailand will also do a feasibility study on upgrading a road linking the Stung Bot checkpoint to Cambodia's Highway No 5 to Phnom Penh. The State Railway of Thailand will also provide assistance in building a railway bridge connecting Sa Kaew's Kongluek village with Poi Pet in Cambodia to facilitate trade and tourism.

So far, the two countries' annual bilateral trade is worth about US$2 billion (Bt61 billion), Hor Namhong said. "Both countries have agreed to increase some 30 per cent of trade annually, but I expect more," he said.

Surapong also spoke to Hor Namhong about allowing jailed Thai activists Veera Somkwamkid and RatreePipattanapaiboon to return home. The two were imprisoned for trespassing and espionage two years ago. Ratree, who has served a third of her term, is qualified to return to Thailand as per a bilateral agreement, he said, adding that officials were working on the case.

-- The Nation 2012-12-27

related topic:

Thai-Cambodian single visa to commence Thursday

http://www.thaivisa....mence-thursday/

[jsrit]

What if I work in Thailand and have a non-b visa here?

Does it mean I can go to Cambodia with applying for a visa as well?

Does my non-b still get invalidated if I leave without buying a re-entry permit?

[Mario2008]

What if I work in Thailand and have a non-b visa here?

Does it mean I can go to Cambodia with applying for a visa as well?

Does my non-b still get invalidated if I leave without buying a re-entry permit?

I believe the single visa is for tourists only.

With a non-B (extension) you still need a visa for Cambodia and re-entry permit.

[Mario2008]

Press release of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry here: http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/mofa/Products/3503-press-release-27122012.aspx

- Visa is single entry only

- Must use within 90 day of issue

- cost will be 20 USD.

Much remains uncluear, but I suspect you can make 1 entry into Thailand and 1 entry into Cambodia. Duration of the time allowed in one country is according to the Bangkok Post 60 days in Thailand and 60 days in Cambodia.

[oneday]

"As per details provided by the Thai Foreign Ministry, neither country will issue a "multiple-entry" visa."

Doesn't sound very flexible. The details make it sound like it is only for a tourist visa which is fine, but you still have to pay fees in both countries. Sounds as if it only slightly resembles a "Schengen-style tourist visa". Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Schengen visa allow you to go back and forth between countries for the valid period of the visa and not have to pay fees each time you enter a country.

[Arkady]

The whole thing is a PR stunt to conceal the fact that seven years of negotiations over common ASEAN visas have yielded nothing except for petty squabbles and internal fighting in Thailand about who gets to syphon off visa fees.

Virtually all of the nationalities listed can get a visa on arrival free in Thailand and a visa on arrival in Cambodia at a price without the hassle of going to an embassy beforehand. The visa is only of some slight use to Chinese tourists who need visas but then they still have to queue up and pay again at the second country they visit. China is anyway negotiating hard to get visa free travel to ASEAN countries. I think they already have in Singapore, as Singaporeans can go to China visa free for two weeks. Even for the bulk of Chinese who enter via Bkk the visa is useless because it is only single entry. So they fly into Bkk, fly to Siem Riep and the visa is used up already. They now need another visa to go back to Bkk to catch the flight home.

For farangs who want a 90 day tourist visa, rather than 30 days free on arrival, it is also going to be useless for the same reason that it is only single entry. Most will be better off with two 90 day visas or a 90 day multiple entry Thai visa and Cambodian visa on arrivel.

[PoorSucker]

Here's a good one.

Go to the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok to apply for a new visa to Thailand?

[chooka]

Here's a good one.

Go to the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok to apply for a new visa to Thailand?

Be great if you could do that.

[Sophon]

>snipped<

Much remains uncluear, but I suspect you can make 1 entry into Thailand and 1 entry into Cambodia.

>snipped<

That wouldn't seem to make much sense. Most people will arrive and leave from the same airport, so with only 1 entry into each country you would end up in the wrong country for your return flight.

Sophon

[DickFarang]

For a Schengen visa visitors pay only once and get unlimited access to 26 countries.

[DickFarang]

"As per details provided by the Thai Foreign Ministry, neither country will issue a "multiple-entry" visa."

Doesn't sound very flexible. The details make it sound like it is only for a tourist visa which is fine, but you still have to pay fees in both countries. Sounds as if it only slightly resembles a "Schengen-style tourist visa". Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Schengen visa allow you to go back and forth between countries for the valid period of the visa and not have to pay fees each time you enter a country.

Indeed, a Schengen visa allows a tourist to travel in a borderless area of 26 countries during 3 months and can be issued every 6 months.

In principle a Schengen visa can be “single entry”, “two entries” or “multiple entries”, although “single entry” seems to be the rule.

[DickFarang]

>snipped<

Much remains uncluear, but I suspect you can make 1 entry into Thailand and 1 entry into Cambodia.

>snipped<

That wouldn't seem to make much sense. Most people will arrive and leave from the same airport, so with only 1 entry into each country you would end up in the wrong country for your return flight.

Sophon

You could get a “re-entry permit” at Thai Immigration before travelling to Cambodia.

Or you could get a visa exception when coming back to Thailand.

As mentioned by other posters, the whole story does not seem to make much sense.

[phuketrichard]

Press release of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry here: http://www.mfaic.gov...e-27122012.aspx

- Visa is single entry only

- Must use within 90 day of issue

- cost will be 20 USD.

Much remains uncluear, but I suspect you can make 1 entry into Thailand and 1 entry into Cambodia. Duration of the time allowed in one country is according to the Bangkok Post 60 days in Thailand and 60 days in Cambodia.

60 days in Cambodia???? are u sure as a tourist visa is ONLY good for 30 days an extendible at a crazy high price for another 30

[Mario2008]

Press release of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry here: http://www.mfaic.gov...e-27122012.aspx

- Visa is single entry only

- Must use within 90 day of issue

- cost will be 20 USD.

Much remains uncluear, but I suspect you can make 1 entry into Thailand and 1 entry into Cambodia. Duration of the time allowed in one country is according to the Bangkok Post 60 days in Thailand and 60 days in Cambodia.

60 days in Cambodia???? are u sure as a tourist visa is ONLY good for 30 days an extendible at a crazy high price for another 30

That information is now indeed proven wrong, as is the price.

The visa allows entry for 60 days in Thailand and up to 30 days in Cambodia.

You enter either country and than travel to the other country. Upon entering the other coutnry you pay again for the visa to that country. if you travel to Cambodia first, you have the visa already. When you leave Cambodia for Thailand, you need to buy a visa for Thailand for 1,0000 baht.

In essence, with the "single visa" you can now buy the regular tourist visa for the other coutnry at the border.

[phuketrichard]

BUT they are charging u $25 for the Cambodian visa at a thai embassy ( same price as an evisa done easily from ur home) while u can get the visa on arrival for ONLY $20 so u lose money an don't need travel to an embassy

Plus as stated it takes long to obtain, say ur in Europe an want both visas u need wait longer for Both.

[Sophon]

>snipped<

Much remains uncluear, but I suspect you can make 1 entry into Thailand and 1 entry into Cambodia.

>snipped<

That wouldn't seem to make much sense. Most people will arrive and leave from the same airport, so with only 1 entry into each country you would end up in the wrong country for your return flight.

Sophon

You could get a “re-entry permit” at Thai Immigration before travelling to Cambodia.

Or you could get a visa exception when coming back to Thailand.

As mentioned by other posters, the whole story does not seem to make much sense.

This is probably not aimed primarily at people from countries that can enter visa exempt and even those people would only get two weeks coming back so would loose the flexibility the new visa is aimed at providing. And if you need to get a re-entry permit you might as well have applied for separate visas for the two countries before coming, it certainly isn't convenient which is the stated aim of the visa. And when/if more countries are added as planned, then it would be very confusing for travellers what they would have to do.

If really inspired by the Schengen visa it should allow people to travel freely between Thailand and Cambodia as many times as they wish, and your permission to stay would only end when you left the "two country area". But as the visa only allows 60 days in each country, that would require counting of days for people moving back and forth between the two countries.

Sophon

[Mario2008]

Much remains unclear, is all I can say.

Some more info given here:

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-12/27/content_16059106.htm

and

http://www.canadaupdates.com/content/single-visa-foreigners-thailand-cambodia-18882.html

[Arkady]

Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I am naturally flattered by Carl Carthy who lifted my post #6 above in toto and got it published as a letter in today's Bangkok Post. No need to worry about copyright infringement of the Post on this occasion, mods, since this is the reverse scenario. I am not Carl Cathy but no worries, if he wants to get a wider readership for my posts. It was quite funny reading a letter as the penny gradually dropped I had written it myself.

Postbag

New visas worthless

• Published: 31/12/2012 at 12:00 AM
  
• Newspaper section: News
  

The new Cambodian and Thai visa arrangement is a PR stunt to conceal the fact that seven years of negotiations over common Asean visas have yielded nothing except petty squabbles and internal fighting in Thailand about who gets to syphon off visa fees.

Virtually all of the nationalities listed can get a visa on arrival, free in Thailand and at a price in Cambodia, without the hassle of going to an embassy beforehand.

The visa is only of slight use to Chinese tourists who will still have to queue up and pay again at the second country they visit.

In any case, China is negotiating hard to get visa-free travel to Asean countries.

Even for the bulk of Chinese who enter via Bangkok, the visa is useless because it is only single entry. So they fly into Bangkok, fly to Siem Reap, and the visa is used up already. They now need another visa to go back to Bangkok to catch the flight home.

For western visitors who want a 90-day tourist visa, rather than 30 days free on arrival, it is also going to be useless for the same reason that it is only single entry. Most will be better off with two 90-day visas (or a 90-day multiple entry Thai visa).

CARL CARTHY

[Mario2008]

Some more information on the single visa for Thailand and Cambodia can be found here:

download the file and go to the end. the first few pages is in Thai, followed by the English version.

The document confirms:

- only for nationals of 34 countries

- you pay for the Cambodia visa at a Cambodian consulate and can enter Cambodia, when entering Thailand you pay for the Thai visa and vica versa.

- the visa is valid for 30 days in cambodia and 60 days in Thailand

- the passport must have a validity of at least 6 months

acmecs01.pdf