DRMumbai: The new eVisa On Arrival (eVOA) service that will enable a faster, more convenient arrival into Thailand for travellers from 21 countries (countries where eVOA service is available), has become open from February 14, 2019.
The eVOA service offers travellers a whole new experience when entering the country at the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueng airports in Bangkok, as well as at Phuket and Chiang Mai airports. The service is part of the Government of Thailand’s initiative to promote tourism, and has been developed by the Immigration Bureau of Royal Thai Police and VFS Global.
Commenting on the new eVOA service, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, Commissioner of Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police, said, “With the eVOA service, we are proud to offer a new age digital solution which will enhance the overall experience for the modern day traveller who seeks to visit Thailand from 21 countries across the globe. In our cooperation with the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions VFS Global, we aim to effectively meet the objective of increasing tourism to the country through this solution especially taking into consideration the all-important security aspect that allows pre-check of travellers prior the arrival, as it offers time to the Immigration Bureau for effective assessment.”
In 2017, Thailand welcomed a record 35 million tourists, with tourism-generated income in Thailand amounting to around 2.6 trillion Baht, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand. In 2018, over 4 million visitors used the conventional, time consuming Visa On Arrival service at Thailand airports.
Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS Global Group, said, “I am delighted that the eVOA service is now available for travellers to Thailand. It is an honour to work with the Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police, to develop this service that is not only more convenient for travellers, but also maintains the security and integrity of the visa process. With our experience and reliability in providing seamless visa application services across the world, I am confident that the Thailand eVOA service will further enhance ease of travel to Thailand, and thereby facilitate increase in travel and tourism to the country.”
The new eVOA service offers travellers the conveniences of avoiding long queues, and elimininates the need to fill up application forms on arrival and arrange for paper documentation or local currency which travellers find challenging after a long flight.
If there is an urgent visa requirement to travel to Thailand, travellers can also avail online the Express eVOA service for quicker processing. By paying an additional service fee, eligible travellers can get their eVOA decision within 24 hours for any short notice travel requirements.
