Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in Bangkok has warned citizens of technical problems with Thailand’s electronic visa system, Thai E-Visa. Meanwhile, amid complaints from travellers, Thai authorities are also considering introducing a new fee for leaving the country by air.
The consulate said the official Thai E-Visa website may display application statuses incorrectly and delay sending visa approval documents by email. The warning followed reports from Uzbek citizens who had experienced difficulties obtaining their documents.
Some tourists reported on social media this week that they had been forced to wait for visa approval until shortly before departure and ultimately could not travel. Other applicants said they had received confirmation notifications but had not received the visa file by email.
According to the consulate, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifies a maximum application processing period of 10 days. In practice, however, the diplomatic mission said confirmation typically arrives around 15 days after payment of the visa fee.
The fee is paid in cash at the Thai Embassy in Moscow. Applicants are also permitted to use third parties, including travel agents, to make the payment. Application processing begins only after the visa fee has been received.
Uzbek citizens have been advised to account for possible technical issues when planning trips and to submit their electronic visa applications well in advance.
On 15 September, Thailand ended the 60-day visa-free regime previously available to Uzbek citizens.
Earlier, Thailand’s Honorary Consulate in Tashkent said visa fees and additional services could be paid for through third parties. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was negotiating with the Thai side to establish more convenient arrangements for Uzbek citizens.
Thailand may introduce a departure fee
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Ministry of Finance is considering a draft law introducing a fee for leaving the country by air, The Nation newspaper reported, citing the proposed legislation.
The initial proposed fee is 1,000 baht, equivalent to around US$30. The rate could later be increased to 5,000 baht, or approximately US$150. At the initial stage, departures by land and sea would not be subject to the fee.
Travellers would be required to pay before leaving Thailand. In practice, airlines or ticket agents could include the charge in the price of an airline ticket.
Failure to pay would carry a fine amounting to twice the fee. The draft law also provides for an additional charge of 1.5% of the fee amount for each month that the fine remains unpaid.
The proposed exemptions cover members of Thailand’s royal family, foreign heads of state and members of official delegations, children under two, passengers travelling on state aircraft, crew members of all aircraft, and international transit passengers who do not leave designated transit areas.
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance said the proposed changes are intended to improve the efficiency of public resource use and give the government greater capacity to respond to potential emergencies.
Public consultation on the draft legislation began on 30 September and will continue until 29 October.
The proposed law is intended to replace the existing legislation dating from 1983, whose provisions were suspended in 1991.
The original law provided for the fee to apply to both Thai citizens and foreign nationals holding resident status in the country.
