Thailand and the European Union formally established diplomatic ties in 1972. Since then, Thailand and the EU have become trusted partners based on shared values, common goals and global commitments for human rights, peace, and sustainable development. Both sides have recently reaffirmed the partnership through the first-ever Joint Committee Meeting on 2 July 2025 in Brussels under the Thai – EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Both sides have resumed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations since 2023 and have accelerated the negotiations, with 6 rounds being concluded and 2 more rounds being expected within 2025, signifying the mutual will to expedite the negotiations.
Thailand has put forward its request for the exemption of Schengen visa for holders of Thai ordinary passport. Thai travellers to Europe are high spenders. Before Covid-19, almost 1.6 million Thais traveled to Europe with the total expenditure of 2.3 billion EUR. The EU is now Thailand’s third-largest source of visitors. Travel has rebounded strongly since the pandemic, with 667,706 Thai tourists spending €1.6 billion in Europe in 2023 — a figure set to rise further with new and resumed direct flights between Thailand and Europe.
The EU is now Thailand’s third-largest source of visitors.
Thailand has also hosted millions of European tourists, entrepreneurs and residents and granted visa exemptions and visas on arrival to all EU Member States and Schengen Area countries. Thailand hopes that the EU’s reciprocal support for Thailand would complement this people-to-people connectivity.
Securing visa free access to the Schengen areas for holders of ordinary Thai passports would not only ease border procedures but would benefit our trade, investment, and people-to-people ties between Thailand, the EU and Schengen countries, enhancing mobility for businesses, investors, and tourists.
Meeting the Criteria
Thailand has met all the criteria for Schengen visa exemption as listed in Article 1 of the EU Regulation 2018/1806.
On security and migration, Thai citizens pose no risk to the Schengen zone. According to Eurostat, the number of Thais illegally present in Schengen countries for over a decade amount for only 0.1 percent of the total cases of illegal stays. Less than 100 were refused entry during 2015-2023. The number of asylum applications to the EU during 2015-2024 filed by Thai citizens was approximately 51 applications including both first-time and subsequent applicants per year.
It is also noteworthy that Thai travel documents are machine-readable and highly secured produced using French technology (THALES) and are in full compliance with and beyond standards required by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
At the regional level, Thailand has been one of the EU’s most trusted partners in the Asia Pacific and has long served as a key regional post for the EU Delegation and related bodies, including as a strategic base for the EU’s diplomatic, humanitarian, and development works across Asia Pacific.
On shared universal values and human rights, Thailand continues to promote human rights on all fronts, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the term of 2025 - 2027.
Thailand has also been a key advocate for closer cooperation between ASEAN and the EU. As the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations from 2016 to 2018, Thailand played a pivotal role in laying groundworks for the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership, subsequently formalised in 2020. Thailand has continued to play our part in enhancing the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership and remains actively engaged in advancing cooperation between the two regions. Thailand is also pursuing OECD accession, reflecting our commitments to the highest international standards.
On shared universal values and human rights, Thailand continues to promote human rights on all fronts, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the term of 2025 - 2027. The Specialized Working Group on Human Rights and Governance has been established under the Thai – EU Joint Committee mechanism to further strengthen dialogue in this area.
While awaiting the EU’s internal process on security and cross border travels, Thailand remains committed to engaging actively and closely with its EU counterparts. Thailand has met the criteria for Schengen visa exemption. Granting Thailand such exemption would enhance the dynamism of partnership, unlocking new opportunities for trade, investment, security cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
The case is clear.
This article is a joint contribution from Mr. Assarof Sasanakul, Counsellor at Mission of Thailand to the European Union, and Mr. Peerapas Ratanapaskorn, Third Secretary, Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
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