Ministry ends visa fee waiver

BANGKOK, 4 March 2011 – Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced, Wednesday, the end of a visa fee waiver and a travel insurance scheme for foreign tourists.

The visa fee waiver for travellers who needed a visa to enter Thailand will expire 31 March. The waiver was applicable for all nationalities and all kinds of tourist visas including visa-on-arrival.

Ministry of Tourism and Sports permanent secretary, Sombat Kuruphan, said the facility was a response to political disturbances in the country in 2009 and 2010 and was no longer needed as tourism had fully recovered.

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Re-entry visa introduced at BKK airport

BANGKOK, 17 December 2010 – Effective 16 December, foreigners can submit an application for a re-entry permit when departing from Suvarnabumi Airport.

Immigration Division 2 allows foreigners, who have to leave the Kingdom before their visa expires, to submit a request for a re-entry permit on their departure. The application must be filed at the Immigration Bureau east zone in the departure hall.

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Japan extends visa service to Thai provinces

BANGKOK, 27 September 2010 – The   Japanese embassy in Thailand has extended its visa service to provincial towns through its outsourced partner VFS Global.

Visa application services will be fully online this week in six provinces available through VFS centres. The satellite services are located at Thailand Post offices in Phuket, Chon Buri (Sri Racha), Ayutthaya, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima and Phitsanulok.

However it is still requires VFS to forward passports to the Japanese embassy in Bangkok using either the Thailand Post or other courier services.

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VISA card backs recovery

BANGKOK 15 June, 2010 – Visa and the Tourism Authority of Thailand announced details of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2010, designed to entice shoppers and tourists back to Thailand.

The collaboration marks Visa’s 12th year as the preferred partner for the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale and demonstrates Visa’s commitment to helping retailers and businesses get back on track. The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2010 runs from 15 June until 15 August 2010.

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Visa on arrival at Yangon

Myanmar introduced a visa on arrival for all nationalities effective 1 May.

The visa on arrival is applicable only for airline travellers arriving at Yangon International Airport and costs US$30 for a 28-day visit. Travellers complete a visa form at the airport, attach two passport photographs and pay US$30.

During the Mekong Tourism Forum, last week, a member of the Myanmar government delegation confirmed the visa on arrival applied to all nationalities with no additional requirements such as a letter of guarantee by a tour operator that was required in the past.

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Visa fee waived

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the extension of the tourist visa fee exemption scheme for foreign visitors who qualify for a tourist visa.

The scheme expired last month but has now been extended from 11 May  to 21 March 2011. The fee exemption is only applicable to tourist visas.

A tourist visa is valid for 60 days and can be extended 30 days at the nearest Immigration office. The fee is Bt1,000 per entry.

Overstay fee waiver

Thai Immigration Bureau will waive the overstay fee for foreigners who were stranded in Thailand due to the airspace closure in Europe.

Initially, the exemption is valid until 22 April, but it could be extended depending on the passenger’s situation.

According to Suvarnabhumi’s Immigration office, visitors whose visa expired before they could leave the country are eligible for assistance but on a case-by-case basis.

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PG and VISA giveaway tickets

Bangkok Airways partners with VISA to give Thai cardholders discounts on fares when buying two economy class tickets.

VISA Premium Privilege is valid for VISA Platinum, VISA Signature and VISA Infinite cardholders and for bookings made via www.bangkokair.com only.

The deals are:

Cardholders buy two economy class tickets for the price of one.

They buy two business class tickets to Samui and Maldives, which gives them complimentary roundtrip economy class tickets on domestic routes between Bangkok and Samui, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Sukhothai or Trat.

Visa outsourcing vexes agents

The embassies of Japan and France are outsourcing visa authorisation following the lead of Australia, India and the UK that gives VFS Thailand a virtual monopoly of a  lucrative revenue stream.

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