Visa applications from Thailand rebound to 82% pre-pandemic levels in 2023

•    Visa application volume is expected to surpass the 2019 pre-pandemic levels in 2024.

•    Visa application volume from Thailand in 2023 grew by 35% against 2022.

•    Restoration of travellers’ confidence and easing of travel restrictions are major catalysts.

•    Acceptance of personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) saw over five-fold rise in 2019. 

•    Popular destinations for Thai travellers include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK (in alphabetical order)

According to VFS Global, the visa application volume across all visa categories from Thailand reached 82% of the 2019 pre-pandemic levels in 2023. When compared with 2022, visa application volume from Thailand grew by 35% in 2023. 

Popular destinations preferred by travellers from Thailand in 2023 were Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK (in alphabetical order).

Kaushik Ghosh, Head - Australasia, VFS Global, said, “This healthy rise in visa applications from Thailand last year indicates that travellers' confidence has been restored and people are ready to explore their favourite global destinations again. We are confident that this positive travel momentum will be sustained in 2024 as well and we will surpass the pre-pandemic visa application volumes this year. We urge applicants planning to travel overseas from Thailand to apply for their visas in advance to avoid the last-minute rush.” 

Strong demand for personalised services continued to be a defining trend in the 2023 visa application patterns. VFS Global recorded a strong uptick in customised services such as the Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) service that empowers applicants to complete their entire visa application submission process from the comfort of their homes or any other location of their choice.

Through this premium service, customers can submit their applications, enrol for biometrics, and get their passports couriered back to their location of choice. VAYD bookings in 2023 registered over a five-fold increase when compared to 2019. VFS Global offers VAYD services for 11 countries in Thailand – Australia, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Switzerland, and the UK. 

VFS Global also offers its highly flexible Mobile Visa Application Centre (MVAC) facility to UK visa applicants from four locations in Thailand (Crystal Design Centre (CDC), Thanya Park, Siam Paragon, and Icon Siam), providing enhanced customer convenience, security features, and expanded network reach.

Similarly, the demand for Premium Lounge, an optional service which provides end-to-end personalised assistance with visa application submission from the comfort of a lounge, is rising with the rise in application volumes. Another service named Prime Time, which allows visa application submission outside of working hours and even on weekends, has seen a healthy adoption since the pandemic. 

Please note that all these premium services are optional and have no bearing in expediting the applicant’s visa process or favourable decision-making.

“We continue to see a healthy adoption of contactless and personalised services such as VAYD and Premium Lounge by discerning travellers during the pandemic due to health considerations. These services enhance the overall visa application experience for applicants by avoiding the need for them to stand in a queue. We foresee higher demand for such premium services prioritising safe travel this year as well,” added Ghosh. 
 
VFS Global caters to 23 sovereign governments in Thailand namely Australia, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine, and Thailand (Thai eVisa on Arrival and Thai eExtension).

VFS Global’s role in the visa application process is limited to front-end administrative tasks only, which include collecting visa application forms, required documentation as per the checklist, and enrol biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa.

For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com

Peak Season Travel Guide

#ApplyinAdvance

It is recommended to apply for visas as early as booking flights and stay. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) before your date of travel. According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective 09th February 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel. Particularly this year with higher demand and limited appointment slots available, we urge applicants to apply for their visa as early as possible.

#DoNotFallForFraud

Visa applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities who charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments or providing any other services using VFS Global’s name or independently. VFS Global does not charge any fee for booking appointments on www.vfsglobal.com which is the official website catering to visa applications. However, some governments require pre-payment of the service fee at the time of booking the appointment. This payment will be reimbursed or deducted during the application process. This step is only to ensure genuine travellers use appointment booking and the system is kept safe from misuse by fraudulent entities. For any assistance, feel free to reach out to one of our staff and to report any instances of fraud, visit https://secure.ethicspoint.eu/domain/media/en/gui/108559/index.html.  

Enjoy our optional value-added services for a seamless visa experience such as:

•    Visa At Your Doorstep: Apply for your visa and enrol biometrics from the location of your choice.

•    Mobile Visa Application Centre: Highly flexible mobile visa application facility that offers enhanced customer convenience, security features and enhanced network reach.

•    Premium Lounge: Get an end-to-end personalised visa submission experience from the comfort of a lounge.

•    Prime Time: Apply for your visa beyond normal working hours or even on weekends.

•    Form-filling assistance: Allow our expert staff to assist you in completing your visa application on the phone or at a visa application centre

•    Courier Service: We deliver your passport and documents. It’s quick, safe, and convenient. 

•    Travel Medical Insurance: Get your mandatory Travel Medical Insurance including Covid-19 coverage from global insurers.

•    SMS Alerts: Stay updated on the progress of your visa application.