Thailand Proposes Visa-Free Entry for Colombia, Mexico, Uzbekistan

Thailand's Ministry of Tourism is seeking government approval to implement a 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Colombia, Mexico, and Uzbekistan. This initiative aims to alleviate prolonged visa processing backlogs and attract more long-haul visitors.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul confirmed that a formal proposal has been submitted to the Visa Policy Committee, which is scheduled to meet on November 9, 2026. The proposal follows a complaint from Emirates airline regarding frequent passenger no-shows on its Mexico routes, attributed to delays in Thai visa processing.

Chiravadee Khunsub, Deputy Governor for International Marketing for Europe, America, the Middle East, stated that Latin American markets, particularly Mexico and Colombia, have faced significant delays in visa approvals, preventing tourists from boarding flights on their intended travel dates.