Tourists from Sri Lanka will receive visa-free entry to Thailand starting June 1, under a program approved by the country’s cabinet to boost the tourism sector, according to a media report.
Sri Lankans are among 36 countries added to a list of 57 countries eligible for 60-day stays under this scheme, The Bangkok Post reported.
The new countries eligible for the ‘Destination Thailand Visa’ include Albania, Cambodia, China, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Romania, and Uzbekistan.
Visitors who wish to work and visit tourist destinations can obtain five-year visas, valid for 180 days and extendable for another 180 days, according to government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.
The visa will also allow foreign students in higher education to stay for one year after graduation and work, instead of having to leave the country immediately after completing their courses.
“They can find work during the extended period, especially in the fields that we need,” the spokesman stated.
Visitors over 50 years old who want long-stay visas currently need to have health insurance coverage worth 3 million baht. This requirement has now been reduced to 440,000 baht (400,000 for inpatient treatment and 40,000 for outpatient cover).
The cabinet also approved expanding e-visa application services at Thai consulates and embassies from 47 to 94 locations, starting in September.