Weekend visa waits of 4 hours expected at Bangkok airport

Join the queue.

7 years ago

By Kankanok Wichiantanon | Dec 30, 2017

Join the queue.

By Kankanok Wichiantanon
| Dec 30, 2017

Visitors to Bangkok this New Year long weekend could face lengthy waits for visas on arrival at Suvarnabhumi, the city's main international airport.

According to Bangkok Post, tourists could face wait times of four hours or more due to ramped-up screening measures aimed at preventing "undesirables" from entering the kingdom.

Pol. Col. Cherngron Rimpadee called for cooperation in the queues, pointing out that criminals often take advantage of holiday weekends to slip through immigration.

In potentially postive news, however, the Immigration Bureau says there might be more lanes opening, plus more staff to help with processing.

Visas on arrival allow up to 15 days traveling in the country for tourism purposes only, and are available to only 18 nationalities which includes China, India, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.

Due to the high volume of visitors, it's likely that citizens from other nations who can visit Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days will also encounter delays in entering the country this weekend.

Traveling to Bangkok this New Year period? Get familiar with the people you are guaranteed to meet at Suvarnabhumi Airport.