Thailand to introduce e-Visa from 2015

[mickjn]

Happy days for some, a disaster for others.

If they add a criminal record check to the visa application as they do in some countries ( and why wouldn't they ) then some of these "notorious" highly connected thugs wandering about the place playing the part of the Godfather will be barred entry.

I'm loving it already.

The document you fill in now for 30 days on arrival has no mention of criminal record.Will that change,I do not think it will the country would be broke in a month it they got rid on the crims

[sawati]

I suppose this will be great if you happen to be a Thai who has a dual passport, and you want to come and go without setting foot in an Embassy. I wonder if channel 3 knows of anyone in that position?

Why you have to set foot in an Embassy if you have dual passport??

[lopburi3]

Several nonsense posts removed.

[lopburi3]

And another.

[OJAS]

"Soon there will be an updated and more advanced system International criminal record database available to all law enforcement agencies and probably also accessible to the general public online for a price."

It would seem unlikely that the establishment of any such database need be dependent on the introduction of e-visas.

"Also expect the cost of visa applications to increase plus the imposed amounts required in a Thai bank account by Immigration for non immigrant visa applicants to rise considerally, as someone has to pay for this and that will be us."

If/when e-extensions of stay came about, I strongly suspect that the additional cost would more likely be recouped through an increase in the 1,900 THB fee rather than in financial requirements.

"It may involve the issuing of a coded plastic card for identification purposes. A policeman can place the card into a special scanner and all details of the person on record will be displayed, similar to mobile car registration checks that have been operating in the UK and the States for years."

At least that would presumably mean that we would no longer need to cart our passports around with us. But what seems more likely is that the relevant info would be stored in the chip on the front covers of our passports (or at least the new ones which are now issued).

[Arkady]

"Soon there will be an updated and more advanced system International criminal record database available to all law enforcement agencies and probably also accessible to the general public online for a price."

It would seem unlikely that the establishment of any such database need be dependent on the introduction of e-visas.

"Also expect the cost of visa applications to increase plus the imposed amounts required in a Thai bank account by Immigration for non immigrant visa applicants to rise considerally, as someone has to pay for this and that will be us."

If/when e-extensions of stay came about, I strongly suspect that the additional cost would more likely be recouped through an increase in the 1,900 THB fee rather than in financial requirements.

"It may involve the issuing of a coded plastic card for identification purposes. A policeman can place the card into a special scanner and all details of the person on record will be displayed, similar to mobile car registration checks that have been operating in the UK and the States for years."

At least that would presumably mean that we would no longer need to cart our passports around with us. But what seems more likely is that the relevant info would be stored in the chip on the front covers of our passports (or at least the new ones which are now issued).

I think extensions of stay are well over 10 years away because they are nowhere near getting their minds around the concept of accepting scanned copies of certified true and correct copies. Thailand doesn't yet have any legislation allowing electronic signatures. Anyway developed countries are still only at the point of e-visa applications from people who don't need to provide any documentary evidence, e.g. US ESTA and Oz visa for Western country citizens. The 2015 timing is significant, of course, due to AEC. So they can make a big song and a dance that the tiny handful of AEC tourists wanting to stay three months can now apply online. Remember the big fanfare about the joint Thai-Cambodian visas which are so restrictive and expensive that it is cheaper and easier to apply for the two visas separately. They knew that it was a completely useless thing but it was just something for Thai officials to spout when they go to international forums to make it sound like they are doing something useful, having failed to cut a bigger deal with other ASEAN countries due to Thai officials wanting to control visa fees.

They are not going to issue ID cards to temporary residents ever, or at least not for decades. Since 2008 permanent residents are supposed to have a pink ID card but getting one is like pulling teeth and many district offices will refuse to issue it because they either don't understand or don't agree with the law. Some of them also refuse to issue yellow tabien baan for foreigners, even though they have a very clear obligation to register all temporary residents under the 2008 Civil Registration Act. The mindset seems to be that any kind of card implies entitlement to stay forever and get some benefits from the government. So it ain't gonna happen.

Yes,. the visa extension fee of B1,900 is something of a bargain that might not last. Sooner or later they will increase, since it doesn't affect tourism.

[ubonjoe]

You forgot about 1900 baht for 30 day tourist visa extension.

[lostmebike]

I doubt they will include criminal record check as it may dramatically reduce number of "tourists".

Never has a truer word been spoken!

[wpcoe]

This is unlikely to be for anything other than tourist visas for nationalities that can get a transit visa on arrival. No documents or financial statements required for these. You just pay the fee and hopefully they can figure out how to accept credit cards, rather than asking people to transfer money and fax them the ATM slip. There would also be no need to link airlines to this data because the holders of the visas could travel to Thailand without a visa. The US and Australian systems will be the model and these are only for nationals of countries that don't need to supply any information except their passport details and basic personal information.

If I understand what your are saying, there is one fly in the ointment: If you acquired an e-visa and the airlines were not linked in to the system, and if you had no ticket out of the country within 30 days, how would the airline know whether to board you or not? If you show up in Thailand with no ticket out within 30 days, and with no visa, you have not qualified for the 30-day visa-exemption stamp, and become the airline's liability to be repatriated and pay Thai Immigrations a fine. The airline would need to know absolutely that you had a visa to board you, no?

[Patronus]

This is unlikely to be for anything other than tourist visas for nationalities that can get a transit visa on arrival. No documents or financial statements required for these. You just pay the fee and hopefully they can figure out how to accept credit cards, rather than asking people to transfer money and fax them the ATM slip. There would also be no need to link airlines to this data because the holders of the visas could travel to Thailand without a visa. The US and Australian systems will be the model and these are only for nationals of countries that don't need to supply any information except their passport details and basic personal information.

If I understand what your are saying, there is one fly in the ointment: If you acquired an e-visa and the airlines were not linked in to the system, and if you had no ticket out of the country within 30 days, how would the airline know whether to board you or not? If you show up in Thailand with no ticket out within 30 days, and with no visa, you have not qualified for the 30-day visa-exemption stamp, and become the airline's liability to be repatriated and pay Thai Immigrations a fine. The airline would need to know absolutely that you had a visa to board you, no?

With the Cambodian e-visa system YOU print off 2 copies and staple them in your passport. Very simple, very straight forward.

[wpcoe]

This is unlikely to be for anything other than tourist visas for nationalities that can get a transit visa on arrival. No documents or financial statements required for these. You just pay the fee and hopefully they can figure out how to accept credit cards, rather than asking people to transfer money and fax them the ATM slip. There would also be no need to link airlines to this data because the holders of the visas could travel to Thailand without a visa. The US and Australian systems will be the model and these are only for nationals of countries that don't need to supply any information except their passport details and basic personal information.

If I understand what your are saying, there is one fly in the ointment: If you acquired an e-visa and the airlines were not linked in to the system, and if you had no ticket out of the country within 30 days, how would the airline know whether to board you or not? If you show up in Thailand with no ticket out within 30 days, and with no visa, you have not qualified for the 30-day visa-exemption stamp, and become the airline's liability to be repatriated and pay Thai Immigrations a fine. The airline would need to know absolutely that you had a visa to board you, no?

Whoops. Just re-read the OP:

"Unlike ordinary visas, when electronic visas are issued, no stamp or other documentation is affixed inside the traveller's passport; the computer-based system links the passport number to the electronic visa and is accessible by immigration officials and airline carriers."

Apparently airlines *will* be linked to the system.