Thailand, China to share permanent visa-free scheme

Passengers of AirAsia X flight XJ761 from Shanghai, China, were greeted on arrival by officials at Suvarnabhumi airport on Sept 25, 2023. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Passengers of AirAsia X flight XJ761 from Shanghai, China, were greeted on arrival by officials at Suvarnabhumi airport on Sept 25, 2023. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

Thailand and China will implement a reciprocal visa-free scheme for their citizens, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Tuesday.

The prime minister said that the permanent visa-free scheme between the two countries would start on March 1.

Travellers from both Thailand and China will no longer need to submit visa applications in advance for visits to each other's countries.

The development was a progression from Thailand's previous visa-free program for Chinese visitors, which was due to end on Feb 29.

Last year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand reported that Chinese tourists formed the second largest group of visitors to Thailand.

About 3.42 million Chinese people visited Thailand last year, while Malaysians were the largest group, with around 4.4 million visitors to the kingdom during the same period.

Vocabulary

  • citizen: someone who has the right to live permanently in a particular country - พลเมือง 
  • implement: to make something such as an idea, plan, system or law start to work and be used - นำแผนหรือนโยบายมาปฏิบัติ, นำมาใช้
  • in advance: before the time that is expected; before something happens - ล่วงหน้า
  • permanent: happening or existing for a long time or for all time in the future - ถาวร  
  • progression: advancement, moving forwards - การเคลื่อนที่ไปข้างหน้า, การก้าวหน้าขึ้น, การพัฒนาขึ้น
  • reciprocal: involving two people or groups of people who behave in the same way - ซึ่งกันและกัน
  • submit: to formally give something to someone so that can make a decision about it - ยื่น (เอกสาร) เพื่อการพิจารณา
  • visa: an official document or mark in your passport that allows you to enter or leave a country for a specific purpose or period of time - วีซ่า, เอกสารอนุมัติที่ประทับตราบนหนังสือเดินทาง
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