ETA or e-Visa: What are the differences when travelling to Thailand?

Thailand, the country of a thousand smiles, never ceases to surprise us. Having long juggled with paper visas and interminable airport queues, the kingdom is now giving itself a digital facelift. E-Visa here, ETA there... It almost looks like the menu of a trendy Bangkok restaurant. But make no mistake about it, these new features will revolutionize your next trip to elephant country.

e-Visa, for nationalities requiring a visa

Let's start with thee-VisaThis little technological gem is already making people happy. Just imagine: no more running to the embassy, begging your boss for a day off, or worse, entrusting your precious passport to a courier. No, now you can apply for your visa in your pyjamas, with a cup of coffee in hand. A click here, a scan there, and presto! Your application is on its way. It's like ordering a pizza, only more exciting.

But be warned, it's not total anarchy either. Thailand has decided to extend this service to 59 embassies and consulates worldwide.. From Canada to Australia, via France and even East Timor (yes, yes), the e-Visa is being democratized. It's as if Thailand had decided to travel around the world, but in reverse, by inviting everyone into its home.

And for those who wonder whether it's really worth it, this system not only saves time, it saves money. No need to take a day off work or pay for a courier service.

The future ETA for visa-exempt nationals

Now let's talk aboutETA, Electronic Travel Authorization. If the e-Visa is the main course, the ETA is more like the dessert. Scheduled for 2025 (yes, you have to be patient), this system will be aimed at travelers from visa-exempt countries. It's a bit like Thailand saying: "You're already our best friends, but we'd still like to know when you're coming for dinner.

The ETA promises an even smoother entry into the country. Imagine arriving at Bangkok airport, tired after a 12-hour flight, and instead of queuing for hours, you'll pass through like a letter in the post.

But don't confuse e-Visa with ETA. The e-Visa is for those who need a visa. ETA is for those lucky enough not to need one.

And for those wondering whether all this will kill the charm of the adventure, rest assured. Thailand is still Thailand. The floating markets won't suddenly turn into sanitized shopping malls, and the elephants won't start tweeting. No, that's just to get you to the heart of the action faster.

But also DTV for Destination Thailand Visa

Let's talk about the action. Did you know that Thailand recently extended its visa waiver program to 93 countries ? It's as if the country had decided to throw the world's biggest party and invited half the planet. And to top it all off, these travelers can stay for up to 14, 30, 60 or 90 days.

Citizens of the following countries can stay for up to 90 days: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Korea, Peru. For a 60-day period, this includes the countries of theASEAN (except Burma) and the member states of theEuropean Union, Albania, Andorra, Australia, Bahrain, Bhutan, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominique, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Hong Kong (30 days), Iceland, India, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Macau (30 days), Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia (30 days), Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russia (30 days), San Marino, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swiss, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, UNITED STATES, Uruguay, Uzbekistan. Finally, the Burma has a 14-day exemption in Thailand.

But that's not all. Thailand, in its great generosity, has even thought of digital nomads, those modern workers who juggle between their laptop and their cocktail on the beach. The new "Destination Thailand"This will allow them to stay for up to 180 days.

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As CEO of Visamundi, I am dedicated to facilitating international travel by helping our customers obtain visas worldwide. By staying at the forefront of ever-changing regulations, I ensure that our agency is a trusted pillar in the field of visa services.

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