The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara, has expressed his desire to engage in discussions with additional Schengen Area member states to establish a visa-free travel agreement for Thais.
Minister Parnpree emphasized the importance of allowing citizens of Thailand to enter the Schengen countries without the need for a visa. The current government is eager to commence negotiations with the EU on visa-free travel, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.
In addition to pursuing discussions on visa-free travel, Minister Parnpree also stated that Thailand is prepared to engage in talks regarding mutual visa exemptions for a longer duration. Currently, Thailand allows all citizens of the Schengen countries to enter its territory for up to 30 days without a visa.
However, before negotiations can begin, the country aims to obtain approval for a Thai passport empowerment project, as explained by The Nation. Upon approval by the Cabinet, the talks on visa-free travel to Schengen can proceed.
Thailand has sought the assistance of Germany in this matter, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin appealing to Germany for support in reaching a visa-free travel agreement with the EU during German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s official visit to Thailand.
Prime Minister Thavisin highlighted that dropping the visa requirement for Thais would lead to an increase in foreign visitors to the Schengen countries. He also noted that citizens of Germany and all other Schengen countries are currently permitted to visit Thailand visa-free.
As the current rules dictate, the decision to waive the visa requirement for certain countries requires approval from all Schengen member states. The visa exemption process entails specific conditions that third countries must fulfill to reach a visa-free travel agreement.
Thailand’s passport is currently ranked 109th on the VisaGuide Passport Index. According to the index, Thai passport holders are authorized to enter 42 countries worldwide without a visa, while they require a visa for a total of 119 countries, including the Schengen countries.
Thais applying for a Schengen visa are required to submit various documents, including proof of accommodation, evidence of sufficient funds, and a roundtrip itinerary.
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