Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are posing the question do I need an -E-Visa or can I utilize Thailand's Visa Exemption program? For those who are unaware, Thailand does have a Visa Exemption program; I believe now it's for nearly 100 countries. What it means is people that come to Thailand with certain passports or who are of a certain nationality, can come in and just be stamped in without a Visa. Some people call this a visa-on-arrival, that is not strictly speaking true. It is a Visa Exemption; you have lawful status in Thailand but you don't have a visa. Lawful status notwithstanding lack of a Visa is basically what Exemption Status means. 

That being said, I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: E-Visas from all Thai Embassies, Consulates from January 1. I've done another video contemporaneously with this one, where we talked about the fact that it looks like as of 2025 all Visa processing, or I should say all Consular processing at Thai Embassies and Consulates abroad are going to utilize this E-Visa system. So those looking to come to Thailand in the future to do like a Visa Run as we discussed in another video, you're going to be doing it through their online portal possibly in the country you're in. Again, we don't exactly know how this is going to effectively look in terms of exactly how it's going to play out but that being said, we're going to keep people updated as we go along. 

That said, quoting directly: "Intending visitors to Thailand will be able to apply online for an E-Visa at Thai Embassies and Consulates worldwide from Jan 1. Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, said that from Jan 1, 2025, the Thai E-Visa system would be operative at all 94 Thai Embassies and Consulates. Worawoot Pongprapant, director-general of Consular Affairs, said travellers will no longer have to queue up and file many documents at Embassies. However, travellers from some countries will still have to show payment slips at Embassies and Consulates." - and this is key, - "Tourists from 93 countries don't have to apply for visas in advance and can stay in Thailand for up to 60 days, he said " So that is what they are talking about. They are talking about the exemption stamp. 

So the question is, do you need to even go through the E-Visa system or can you just utilize an exemption? In a lot of cases where it is somebody who is just looking to come over here truly as a tourist to spend a relatively short period of time, leisure, recreation and then leave, the Visa Exemption is probably going to cover you. Meanwhile, it's also notable that the Visa Exemption, 60 days, you can request another 30 days of lawful status from Thai Immigration here in country, so you can effectively get 90 days lawful status off of one entry.

The other thing to bear in mind is again this is different when we are talking about types of visas. Those looking to get a Business Visa and work in Thailand, that's going to be a different process. You're probably going to have to utilize the E-Visa system. Meanwhile, those who are coming here for retirement, again you may have to get a Retirement Visa depending on your circumstances. It's all going to be circumstantially dependent but what we do know is starting in 2025, the Visa process, especially through Embassies and Consulates is going to become much more digitized. But again, for those who are looking to come here and have never needed a visa in the past and they are just looking to be here for less than 60 days, the Thai Visa exemption program maybe optimal.