Taking a great initiative under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) framework, Thailand and Cambodia are the first countries to issue a single visa for tourists, who wish to visit both the countries. ACMECS was set up in 2003 and involving three other countries Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, who are trying to implement a single visa system just like Schengen Visa in Europe to promote the tourism in South East Asia Region. In fact, foreign ministers of these five countries discussed this issue many times, but Thailand and Cambodia are the first countries to sign on this. Now, visitors from some 35 countries are eligible to apply for a single visa to visit Thailand as well as Cambodia from Dec 27, 2012 onwards.
This is a great news for the backpackers who wish to explore the South East Asian Countries. This development in ACMECS will open a new door for single visa for ASEAN countries on the pattern of Schengen Visa in Europe.
How this Single Visa System Works?
Both the countries have a pre-clearance system. Suppose you apply for an ACMECS Single Visa at Thai Embassy, it will forward these documents to its Cambodian counterpart also for the approval. Cambodian counterpart has an authority to reject the application and vice-versa. Same process in reverse order will work, if you apply at Cambodian Embassy.
Applicability Date: This system is applicable from Dec. 27, 2012 onwards.
Where to Apply? At the embassies of either country.
Visa Fee: You have to pay Visa Fee for both countries. If you apply for an ACMECS Visa at Thai Embassy, you have to 1000 THB as visa fee for Thailand. After your arrival in Cambodia, they will also charge their visa fee, which is usually 20 USD. Similarly, if you apply at Cambodian Embassy, they will charge their visa fee and when you will enter in Thailand, you have to pay their visa fee also.
Visa Type: This visa is applicable for single entry in each country. Neither country will issue a multiple entry visa.
Period of Stay: This visa allows visitors to stay up to 60 days in Thailand and 60 days in Cambodia on a single entry.
List of Eligible Countries (Proposed, but not yet confirmed): Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, India, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Existing Visa System: Existing visa system will also work in parallel till the further development. Except single entry Tourist Visa, all other type of visas, multiple entries visas and visa for the citizens of countries which are not in this list, can be obtained by existing visa system only.
Effect of ACMECS Visa: Thailand is already a well known tourist destination worldwide, but other four countries are just emerging on the tourist map. With implementation of this single visa scheme, the whole region of five countries will be projected as a single tourist destination. In this way, tourists will get more choices to visit the various destinations. Ultimately, it will promote the tourism sector in other countries like Cambodia and Laos also.
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Myself and friends three off us planned to visit Thailand & Combodia in May 1st week. ( For a week period)
Our flight tickets are booked from India to Bangkok & Bangkok to India.
Combodia’s visit would be through land transportation from Thailand.
We would like to get the visa in india itself for both countries to avoid time consumption.
Request you to suggest which type of VISA would be preferred for our visit.
Hi, You should get Double Entry Transit Visa for Thailand and Single Entry Tourist Visa for Cambodia.
I planning for trip to Thailand and Cambodia in april-2015,can I able get this Dual Country Visa in Thailand Airport after I arrived there, my nationality is (Indian)
No, You can not get it from the airport. But, you are eligible for a Visa-on-Arrival in Thailand and again a Visa-on-Arrival in Cambodia.
Dear Solo Backpacker,
I have single entry visa for Thailand and Cambodia.
I wish to go to Cambodia from Thailand and on return to Bangkok (from sein reap)
I have a connecting flight to India. So I will not go out of Air Port in Bangkok.
My question is, since my airlines are different for Sein Reap to Bangkok and Bangkok to Mumbai,
I will have to go and collect the checked-in baggage at Don Mueng Airport in Bangkok., when I arrive from Cambodia.
Do I need multiple entry visa in Thailand for this ? Do i need to go through immigration check in Bangkok
to collect my checked-in baggage ?
Thank you very much.
Raghu
Hi, Yes, you need a double entry visa for Thailand. But, since you are always flying in and out from Thailand by Air, you are always eligible for Visa-on-Arrival.
Hi. My husband and I will be travelling to Chiang Mail on 6 th April 2015 to 27th June 2015. We are planning a trip to Cambodia for a few weeks during that time then returning to Thailand for a few more weeks before heading back to Australia. What visas do we require.
Hi, You did not mention your nationality. I consider you as a citizen of Australia. Being an Australian citizen, you are eligible for 30-days visa free entry in Thailand and Visa-on-arrival with 30-days validity for Cambodia. Don’t get any visa. Just land an airport at Thailand with your passport and you will get 30-days authorization at each entry. Similarly, at the border post in Cambodia, you will get 30-days visa-on-arrival.
I am having Vietnam Visa,is it possible to use the same for Thailand As well
No, You can’t. Get a separate visa for Thailand.
Thank you for the reply, is it possible to get though online;
Otherwise Visa on arrival can take at any time as i am arriving at Thailand on 5:45 am ;
Kindly help by reply
Hi, It is not possible to get Thai Visa online. You can get Visa-On-Arrival anytime. It is available 24 hours round the clock.
HI, I will be travelling to Bangkok in January 2015. My itinerary is as follows:- India-Bangkok-Bali-Bangkok-Cambodia-Bangkok-India.
The first two times i will be transiting through Bangkok but the the third time i will stay for a day in Bangkok. What type of visa should i apply for?
Hi, you can apply a transit visa for triple entry in Thailand. It is valid for 30 days on each entry. If triple entry transit visa is not available, then go for double entry transit visa (its available) and avail visa-on-arrival, one time. And if you are flying in every time, then you can also get Visa-on-Arrival at each entry, that is valid for the 15 days on each entry.
Thankyou for your help.
Hi,
I will be traveling to Thailand in Jan,2015. I will be applying for a double entry transit visa.I have few question here:-
1) I haven’t being maintaining a min balance of 20k in my account for the last few months but i have credit cards with credit limit greater than 20k. Can I apply with the credit card statements only & will i be eligible for the visa process?
2) How is transit visa different from tourist visa.I will be re-entering Thailand from Siem Reap through poipet land crossing.
Hi, you can apply with the credit card statement. Additionally, you can also provide the bank statement if current balance is good. Last three months continuous balance does not matter. You need to apply for transit visa, because you are transiting through Thailand to the third country and again returning back through Thailand to your country.
Thanks for the quick reply………..much appreciated………….
I just have another question to add here……….
Do I need to produce the detail itinerary for Visa application include hotel bookings during the entire trip.I’m thinking of staying in Phuket for a week but I’m also thinking of island hopping which is really not yet decided.In this case how can i make hotel bookings for each and every night of my trip.
Try to give a rough itinerary for your duration of stay. Its better to produce the hotel reservations. You can leave 2-3 nights, but not many. The best way is to book a hotel on any website, that you can cancel after booking without any cancellation charges. After getting the visa, cancel all those nights, that you don’t wish to pre-book. 🙂
I’m thinking of The following itinerary India-Thailand-Cambodia(by road)-Thailand-India………..What will be the cost of visa in this case?
Can I travel to Malaysia from Cambodia(by road) instead of returning to Thailand………Which 1 of the above is feasible?
Hi, In first case, you need a double entry transit visa for Thailand, that costs around Rs.3200 and a cambodia visa, around 27 USD (online).
In second case, you can’t travel directly from Cambodia to Malaysia. They don’t share the land borders. You can plan this route via Thailand.
Hi. I’m doing a Thailand backpack trip in October. I fly into Don Mueang on 17th Oct & my return flight out of Don Mueang is on 30th Oct.Will I be eligible for Visa on Arrival at Don Mueang as my return ticket in 14 days from arrival date ? I read through a few sites & got conflicting answers. Some say VOA is for stay upto 14 days/15 days. I have written to Thai VFS , but no response yet. TIA.
Hi, Visa-on-Arrival is valid for 15 days including the date of arrival. So, you are eligible for VOA as per your tickets.
Hi.. Just came across your blog.. and found it really helpful.. keep up the good work! I plan to visit Cambodia and Thailand.. from India.. Can I use this single entry visa..? Also, I may be taking road from Cambodia to Thailand and I have heard that the bus drivers / people at the border really harass you if you dont have a visa along.. do let me know your views.
Yes, you can use ACMECS visa facility. But, since you are planning to enter in Thailand again by road, you need a double entry visa, while ACMECS is a single entry visa. Its true that if you don’t have the visa, tourist touts and scammers really try to harass and ask for the huge amount to arrange the visa. You are eligible for visa-on-arrival in Cambodia, but while returning back by road to Thailand, the popular Poipet-Aranyaprathet border crossing does not has the visa-on-arrival facility for Thailand.
Thanks for the quick revert.. I will be entering Thailand just once.. so guess i can use ACMECS facility.. dont want to take the risk of visa-on-arrival
Hello,
Please clarify if I have single ACMECS visa , is it for single entry only?
If I plan to travel India-Thailand- Combodia- Thailand – India, is it possible?
How to re- enter Thailand after visiting Combodia ?
Thanks
Prasad
Hi, ACMECS visa is only for single entry in each country. Better to Apply double entry visa for Thailand and avail Visa-on-Arrival facility in Cambodia.
very useful and handy information
Nice informative post dear. some useful stuff about US Immigration Visa for Thai Girl Friend to share