The United Kingdom will expand its fast-track 24-hour visa service to include Thailand, the Philippines, and five other countries, Prime Minister David Cameron announced.
The expansion of the service, which is already available in China and India, will help to boost investment and tourism to Britain, Mr Cameron said in a statement as he travelled to Australia for the Group of 20 summit in Brisbane.
"We are determined to do everything we can to back business, support investment and create jobs," Mr Cameron said. "This new 24-hour service is another way we can help - it will persuade more business travellers, investors and tourists to visit Britain, to trade with Britain and to expand in Britain."
The program - which will also include New York, Paris, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and South Africa - will give people an answer on their visa application in 24 hours on payment of a 600 pound sterling (31,000 baht) fee, Mr Cameron's office said.
Companies have warned the government that lengthy bureaucracy around visa applications is deterring investors, business travellers and wealthy tourists. About 40% of visa applications in New York already use the priority visa service, which turns applications around in three to five days, indicating there will be demand for the new service, Mr Cameron's office said.