Thailand weighs 15-day visa-free entry for four countries amid visa delays

Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports is set to propose 15-day visa-free entry for travellers from Mexico, Colombia, Uzbekistan and Belarus, following slow visa processing that has disrupted journeys for visitors from countries that recently lost visa-free privileges. The measure has not been approved, and travellers from these four countries still need a visa before flying to Thailand.

Key facts

• Proposal: 15-day visa-free entry for travellers from Mexico, Colombia, Uzbekistan and Belarus
• Status: not approved — current visa requirements remain in place
• Decision body: Thailand's visa policy committee, at an upcoming meeting
• Who is affected now: travellers from countries that lost visa-free privileges and must obtain a visa before departure
• Also in progress: officials are working on faster e-Visa processing

What is being proposed?

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will put forward visa-free stays of 15 days for visitors from Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan, with Belarus later added to the list under consideration. The ministry has said it wants exemptions for countries it regards as low security risk.

The visa policy committee will weigh both security and economic factors before deciding. The source gives no date for the committee meeting, no start date for the proposed exemptions and no detail on how the 15-day stay would work in practice.

Who needs a visa to enter Thailand now?

When Thailand withdrew visa-free privileges for certain countries, travellers from those countries became required to obtain a visa before flying. Visa processing has been slow, and many travellers have not received their visas in time for their departure dates.

Travellers whose countries still have visa-free entry are not affected by these delays. For those who now require a visa, the right category depends on nationality and the purpose of the trip.

Why is this happening?

Delays have been visible on individual routes: Emirates reported 30 to 40 passengers failing to show up on each flight on its Mexico to Thailand route as a result of visa delays. Travel industry sources said many Latin American tourists are now choosing destinations with faster visa procedures, particularly Vietnam.

Thailand's tourism picture is also being shaped by other factors. Arrivals from Europe and the United States are holding steady, while arrivals from Saudi Arabia are down by almost 40 percent following the closure of Riyadh's airport.

What this means for travellers

Until the proposal is approved, travellers from Mexico, Colombia, Uzbekistan and Belarus must continue to secure a visa before flying to Thailand. A visa that arrives late can mean losing money on non-refundable flights and hotels, or missing business meetings and events.

Applying well ahead of the travel date reduces the risk that a slow process puts the trip in doubt, and the visa application is best treated as the first step of trip planning.

The next step is the visa policy committee's decision on the proposal. Tourism officials also expect more airlines to launch direct long-haul routes to Thailand that bypass Middle Eastern hubs.