Siam Legal International, a full-service law firm with more than 22 years of experience assisting Thai and foreign clients, is reporting that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will propose 15-day visa-free entry for travelers from Mexico, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. The proposal follows slow visa processing that has disrupted travel to Thailand for visitors from countries that recently lost their visa-free privileges.

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

The effect has 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. According to travel industry sources, many tourists from Latin America are now choosing destinations with faster visa procedures, particularly Vietnam, which offers a similar travel experience.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has acknowledged the problem and put forward a solution. At an upcoming meeting of Thailand's visa policy committee, the ministry will propose 15-day visa-free entry for travelers from Mexico, Colombia, and Uzbekistan, and Belarus has since been added to the list under consideration.

The ministry has said it wants exemptions for countries it considers a low security risk. The committee will still weigh both security and economic factors before reaching a decision, and officials are also working on faster e-visa processing.

Until the proposal is approved, travelers from these countries still need a visa before they fly. A visa that arrives late can mean losing money on non-refundable flights and hotels, or missing business meetings and events.

"The proposal is a positive sign that the government has recognized how visa delays are affecting travelers, but it has not yet been approved, and the current requirements remain in place until it is," said Rex Baay, Senior Immigration Consultant and Operations Manager at Siam Legal International. "Travelers from the affected countries should treat the visa application as the first step of trip planning, since the timing of approval is the one part of the journey that cannot be rearranged at the last minute."

Travelers 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, and applying well ahead of the travel date reduces the risk of a slow process putting the trip in doubt.

Visa delays are only one of the factors currently shaping travel to Thailand. Arrivals from Europe and the United States are holding steady, while the conflict in the Middle East has affected Gulf markets, with arrivals from Saudi Arabia down by almost 40 percent following the closure of Riyadh's airport.

Tourism officials expect more airlines to launch direct long-haul routes that bypass Middle Eastern hubs, giving travelers more ways to reach Thailand. Further detail on the proposal and the current entry requirements is available in Siam Legal's Thailand visa delays update, which covers what travelers from the affected countries need while the proposal awaits approval.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmhUfpL-4Ao

Siam Legal International is a full-service law firm with more than 22 years of experience assisting Thai and foreign clients, with offices in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. The firm provides comprehensive legal and immigration support across property transactions, business law, family law, and litigation.

###

For more information about Siam Legal International, contact the company here:

Siam Legal International
Rex Baay
+662 254 8900
info@siam-legal.com
18th Floor, Unit 1806 Two Pacific Place,
142 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei,
Bangkok 10110, Thailand