BANGKOK: Thai nationals are still required to obtain a Schengen visa when travelling to Europe, as Thailand is not currently part of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the Foreign Ministry has clarified.
The clarification followed the circulation of claims on travel pages suggesting that visa requirements for Schengen entry would be lifted by the end of 2025, to be replaced with an online ETIAS application process.
According to information received from the Thai Embassy in Brussels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided the following key points:
Thai passport holders must continue applying for Schengen visas through the usual process.
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation system for nationals of countries that have visa-free access to the Schengen area. Thailand is not currently on that list and therefore not eligible to use ETIAS.
In addition to ETIAS, the European Union is developing an Entry/Exit System (EES), which will record biometric data such as facial images, fingerprints, and details of border crossings. This will replace passport stamping for non-EU nationals visiting the Schengen zone for short stays.
The EU expects to begin testing the EES system from October 2025. ETIAS will be launched subsequently, once EES is fully operational.
Travellers are advised to contact the embassy or consulate of the EU country they intend to enter first, to ensure they have the most accurate and up-to-date information before travelling. - The Nation/ANN
