Thailand to launch e-visa for Bangladeshi travelers

The Thai government has announced plans to introduce an e-visa service for Bangladeshi nationals holding ordinary passports, expected to be available by early next year.

Ambassador Worawoot Pongprapapant, Director-General of Thailand’s Foreign Ministry Consular Department, shared the update during a Thursday meeting with Bangladesh's Ambassador to Thailand, according to a press release issued Sunday. This e-visa service will enable Bangladeshi citizens to apply for visas online from home, simplifying travel procedures to Thailand.

Thailand has already implemented the e-visa option at 69 embassies globally to improve accessibility for international travelers.

Additionally, Ambassador Pongprapapant mentioned that Bangladeshi passport holders traveling to Thailand for medical purposes may consider applying for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) via the Thai Embassy in Dhaka. The DTV, valid for five years with six-month stays per visit, also allows for caregivers to accompany patients, without requiring a recommendation letter from the Bangladeshi Embassy in Bangkok.

The Thai official also encouraged Bangladeshi applicants to ensure their documents’ authenticity when using agents to avoid penalties. Submitting falsified documents may result in blacklisting.

Further, Ambassador Pongprapapant confirmed that a visa exemption agreement between Bangladesh and Thailand, signed in April, will be effective from December 19. This agreement allows government passport holders to travel visa-free, while visa exemptions have been in place for diplomatic passport holders since 2018.