BANGKOK, Jan 30 (TNA) – Thailand launches an Electronic-Visa
on Arrival (E-VOA) for passengers from 21 economies, allowing them to speedily
and conveniently obtain visas.
In a joint press conference at Suvarnabhumi Airport presided
by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, officials announced the E-VOA
service commencement which will be operated by VFS Global in cooperation with
the Airports Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International and Thai Smile
Airways.
E-VOA was designed to facilitate rising number of tourists,
with over 7 million of them entering the kingdom with visas on arrival, said
Pol Lt General Surachaet Hakparn, Chief of the Immigration Bureau.
In order to reduce congestion and inconvenience, travelers
are enabled to receive their travel authorization online pre-departure within
24 to 72 hours after submitting their applications.
The E-VOA will be available for travelers from China, India,
Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Latvia,
Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Marino, Saudi
Arabia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Taiwan.
VFS Global has also developed the fast-track service with
ePayment for visa through the website thailandevoa.vfsvisa.com.
Passengers of Thai Airways and Thai Smile Airline will also
be offered the service on their on-line ticketing to shorten travel time and
procedure.
The E-VOA is aimed at increasing safety and speed for
tourists who travel to Thailand, while keeping their information confidential
with global expertise in visa requests. (TNA)
