The decision by Thailand’s government to continue granting visa-free entry to passport holders from Taiwan was sincerely welcomed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs July 12.
Announced in late May and taking effect July 15, the new measure allows Taiwan nationals to visit the Southeast Asian nation for up to 60 days without applying for a visa, the MOFA said. It supersedes the previous visa waiver that offered a maximum stay of 30 days, and the program does not currently have an expiration date.
According to the MOFA, Thailand is a key partner of the Taiwan government’s New Southbound Policy, as well as being one of local travelers’ favorite destinations. The updated policy will pave the way for further bilateral exchanges going forward, it added.
Taiwan and Thailand have long enjoyed robust exchanges in areas spanning agriculture, education and tourism, as well as investment and trade. Official statistics shows that trade between the countries totaled US$21.4 billion in 2023, with Taiwan being the fifth largest source of imports and foreign investment to Thailand.
Nearly 68,000 Thais are presently working in Taiwan, mostly in the manufacturing sector. More than 390,000 Thai travelers came to visit in 2023, while 770,000 Taiwan nationals took trips to Thailand the same year. The combined tourist total has reached 94 percent of pre-pandemic numbers.
As of July 5, Taiwan passport holders can travel to more than 170 countries and territories without a visa, or with a landing or electronic visa. These cover most of the popular destinations for locals, including Canada, Japan, the U.S., U.K. and EU member states. (SFC-E)
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