Thai Foreign Ministry Denies Claims of Visa-Free Entry to EU
Reports suggesting the removal of Schengen visa requirements for Thai travelers are dismissed as untrue.
The Thai Foreign Ministry has refuted claims that the European Union will eliminate the Schengen visa requirement for Thai citizens.
The ministry issued a statement declaring that reports circulating on various social media platforms about the potential lifting of the visa requirement for travelers from Thailand are inaccurate.
According to these reports, Thai nationals would only need to complete a pre-entry registration process, known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), prior to traveling to Schengen Area countries.
ETIAS is mandatory for visa-exempt travelers, requiring them to submit their information through an online platform or mobile application before entering any of the 30 EU countries that comprise the Schengen zone.
Despite these claims, the Foreign Ministry clarified that Thai citizens still require a visa to enter Schengen Area nations.
It emphasized that the Thai embassy in Brussels confirmed this requirement following a thorough verification of the presented information.
Additionally, the ministry noted that while the EU is advancing towards a revised entry process—which includes the end of physical visa stamps in passports in favor of individualized biometric data collection, such as facial and fingerprint recognition—this change does not affect the visa status for Thai visitors at this time.
A preliminary trial of the new biometric system was anticipated to commence in October 2023.
Currently, only Malaysia and Singapore enjoy visa-free access to Schengen countries for their nationals, while over 60 countries, including Thailand, continue to face visa requirements for entry.
The ministry issued a statement declaring that reports circulating on various social media platforms about the potential lifting of the visa requirement for travelers from Thailand are inaccurate.
According to these reports, Thai nationals would only need to complete a pre-entry registration process, known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), prior to traveling to Schengen Area countries.
ETIAS is mandatory for visa-exempt travelers, requiring them to submit their information through an online platform or mobile application before entering any of the 30 EU countries that comprise the Schengen zone.
Despite these claims, the Foreign Ministry clarified that Thai citizens still require a visa to enter Schengen Area nations.
It emphasized that the Thai embassy in Brussels confirmed this requirement following a thorough verification of the presented information.
Additionally, the ministry noted that while the EU is advancing towards a revised entry process—which includes the end of physical visa stamps in passports in favor of individualized biometric data collection, such as facial and fingerprint recognition—this change does not affect the visa status for Thai visitors at this time.
A preliminary trial of the new biometric system was anticipated to commence in October 2023.
Currently, only Malaysia and Singapore enjoy visa-free access to Schengen countries for their nationals, while over 60 countries, including Thailand, continue to face visa requirements for entry.
