Visa Fee Waiver Craze: Thousands Apply Daily, Overwhelming Thai Trade Office

Reporter Chen Ziying / Taipei Reporting

The Thai government has implemented a visa fee waiver for travelers from central Taiwan for half a month, aiming to quickly revive the Thai tourism market, which has been sluggish for some time. Indeed, the visa fee waiver policy has sparked a surge in Thai visa applications, with nearly a thousand people applying daily since August 9, overwhelming the Taipei Thai Trade Office responsible for processing visas.

To boost tourism, the Thai government is offering a three-month visa fee waiver for travelers from Taiwan and mainland China, from August 9 to November 8. During this period, Taiwanese citizens can save NT$1,200 in visa fees, equivalent to a significant reduction in travel expenses. A Thai Trade Office official stated that since the visa fee waiver was implemented, nearly a thousand people have been coming in person to apply daily, with the first week showing the most noticeable increase compared to previous numbers. Exact application statistics will only be available after a month of official data collection.

Although applying for a Thai visa is now free, applicants still need to prepare the necessary documents. Here are the key points to note for visa processing:

1. Required Items:
1. Original passport (valid for at least six months)
2. One copy of both sides of the ID card (for those under 18, please provide a copy of the household registration)
3. One color photo with a white background, head size between 3.6 cm and 3.2 cm (taken within six months)

2. Visa application pick-up times are from 9 AM to 11 AM on weekdays. Applicants must arrive during these hours to fill out the visa application form, then collect a number and wait for processing. Once processed successfully, staff will issue a receipt, which can be used to collect the visa between 4 PM and 5 PM the same day. If not collected that day, it must be picked up within seven days during the same time slot, otherwise the receipt will become invalid.


▲ The Thai government has waived visa fees for Taiwan to stimulate a recovery in the tourism market. (Photo / Provided by the Tourism Authority of Thailand)