9 African countries to benefit as Thailand launches e-visa application system

Thailand offers various visa options based on the purpose of travel, including Tourist Visas, Special Tourist Visas (STV), Transit Visas, Non-Immigrant Visas, and Diplomatic and Official Visas.

These visas are available for both single and multiple entries, depending on specific conditions.

The Privilege Entry Visa, available exclusively to Thailand Elite members, is excluded from these categories.

The Tourist Visa is for leisure travelers, while the STV caters to long-term tourists. The Transit Visa is for travelers passing through Thailand, and Non-Immigrant Visas are for business, work, or education.

Diplomatic and Official Visas are for government or diplomatic personnel on official duty.

Thailand’s e-Visa system simplifies the application process, helping travelers determine the right visa type for their stay.

The Thai e-Visa initiative is designed to simplify the visa application process, making it more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly.

According to a statement by the Royal Thai Embassy, physical applications will not be accepted, instead, all applications from the eligible countries must be completed online via the embassy’s official website.

The approved African countries include:

“The Royal Thai Embassy has the right to cancel the visa applications should the applicants fail to provide the evidence of their presence within the aforementioned countries while applying for the visa.” the statement added

The embassy advised that all travel booking confirmations must be provided upon submission of the visa application.

“This includes return flight details showing applicant’s name, departure and return date, all flights en route from the aforementioned countries to Thailand.” the statement added.

The embassy mentioned that visa applications are usually processed within five working days upon receipt, although processing times may be longer in certain cases.

Applicants were also encouraged to submit their visa applications 4 – 6 weeks before their planned travel date, but not more than three months in advance.

In the early 2010s, Thailand launched the “Look West Policy” to strengthen ties with Africa, with the 2013 Thai-Africa Initiative broadening engagement.

For instance, in 2023, trade between Thailand and Kenya reached $256.16 million, with Thai exports like cars, sugar, and rice totaling $226.82 million, while imports from Kenya, including chemicals and jewelry, were valued at $29.34 million.

Sudan is also a key partner, particularly in education and trade.

Sudan offers 80-100 annual scholarships to Thai-Muslim students, with over 500 currently studying Islam there.

In 2023, Thailand-Sudan trade totaled $23.05 million, covering exports like cars and chemicals and imports such as plants and medical instruments.

This highlights Thailand’s efforts to deepen economic relations with Africa.