Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  • Thailand NewsForeign Affairs Minister Maris to visit China for pivotal talks

    Foreign Affairs Minister Maris to visit China for pivotal talks

    Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is set to visit China next week at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The visit, scheduled from Monday, July 8 to Wednesday, July 10, will see Maris and Wang co-chair the second Thailand-China Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting, aiming to strengthen cooperation and support between the two nations. Nikorndej Balankura, a spokesperson for…

  • Thailand NewsThailand and China forge stronger ties ahead of anniversary

    Thailand and China forge stronger ties ahead of anniversary

    In a high-profile meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing the Thai prime minister, engaged in crucial talks with Shohrat Zakir, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. The discussions focused on reinforcing the robust relationship between Thailand and China as the two nations approach the 50th…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket gets new Australian Consul-General

    Phuket gets new Australian Consul-General

    Following an announcement made by Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kirsten Fletcher was named the new Australian Consul-General for Phuket and its nearby provinces. Fletcher’s appointment was confirmed yesterday. Fletcher, known for her active involvement in sustainability and tourism, was recently seen at an event in Phuket last month, where locals shared ideas on reducing plastic waste. Angela…

  • Thailand NewsThailand takes lead in Myanmar crisis: Calls for active role in finding peaceful solution

    Thailand takes lead in Myanmar crisis: Calls for active role in finding peaceful solution

    Thailand’s plan to provide humanitarian aid to displaced persons within Myanmar has earned praise from the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Noppadon Pattama. Speaking exclusively to Thai PBS World, Noppadon emphasised the urgency for the current Srettha Thavisin government to step up its efforts in resolving the conflict in Myanmar. Dubbing it a good starting point, Noppadon…

  • Thailand NewsThai Consular introduces electronic documents services including e-passports

    Thai Consular introduces electronic documents services including e-passports

    Thailand‘s Department of Consular Affairs has introduced biometric e-passports and AI-powered consular applications. Below is a list of the e-services that the Department of Consular Affairs have launched: E-passports. The star of the show is the e-passport, boasting biometrics galore – facial images, fingerprints, and iris scans, all in line with international standards. E-visa. With an online system already rocking…

  • Thailand NewsMiracle in Gaza: Woman believes boyfriend died in Israel attack, finds him alive and well

    Miracle in Gaza: Woman believes boyfriend died in Israel attack, finds him alive and well

    Love prevails as a woman, who mourned the loss of her boyfriend in the 7 October attack on Israel, now celebrates his imminent reunion. Two days after the 7 October attack, Kittiya Thuengsaeng received the devastating news that her boyfriend, Wichai Kalapat, was believed to be among the casualties. The social media posts mourning the man she planned to marry…

  • Thailand NewsSwedish embassy appoints Honorary Consul in Phuket to boost Thai-Swedish relations

    Swedish embassy appoints Honorary Consul in Phuket to boost Thai-Swedish relations

    An Honorary Consul has been appointed in Phuket by the Swedish embassy in Thailand, aiming to amplify Thai-Swedish relations on the popular tourist island. To date this year, there have been 110,000 Swedish tourists in Thailand. Anna Hammargren, the Swedish Ambassador to Thailand, was warmly received by Deputy Governor of Phuket, Amnuay Pinsuwan at the City Hall, during her official…

  • Thailand NewsSub-merging optimism: Thai’s submarine engine deal with Germany and China

    Sub-merging optimism: Thai’s submarine engine deal with Germany and China

    The Thai government is hopeful of a renewed agreement with Germany and China, centring around the engine for a new submarine under construction in China. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang conveyed his confidence in a mutually beneficial deal between the three nations. The discourse involves the potential installation of a German-made engine in the Chinese manufactured submarine, as initially stipulated by…

  • Thailand NewsTurkey earthquake death toll rises to over 4,000

    Turkey earthquake death toll rises to over 4,000

    As of 9am this morning, the death toll from the massive earthquakes in Turkey surpassed 4,300, with Turkish authorities reporting 2,921 fatalities and Syria reporting 1,444. Yesterday, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck near the Turkey-Syria border in the province of Karamanmaras. The number of deaths is expected to keep rising significantly as search and rescue teams continue to examine collapsed buildings…

  • Thailand NewsAustralia returns 9 ancient Buddha statues to Thailand after 112 years

    Australia returns 9 ancient Buddha statues to Thailand after 112 years

    Nine wooden Buddha statues have returned to Thailand after being in Australia for 112 years. Murray Upton, an Australian man from Canberra, contacted the Royal Thai Embassy that he was in possession of nine ancient Buddha statues from Thailand. The Australian said he received the Buddha statues from his father. He said they were in his father’s possession since 1911.…

  • Thailand NewsIsraeli girl in stable condition after jellyfish causes cardiac arrest

    Israeli girl in stable condition after jellyfish causes cardiac arrest

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday reported that the six year old Israeli girl who suffered a cardiac arrest after being stung by a dangerous jellyfish is in serious but stable condition. The Israeli child’s heart stopped after she was stung by a poisonous box jellyfish on a beach in Ko Pha Ngan on Sunday. She received first aid on…

  • Thailand NewsHigh rankings for Thailand in tourism, food, economy and health

    High rankings for Thailand in tourism, food, economy and health

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced a variety of awards and high rankings number bestowed upon Thailand over the past year. They proudly proclaimed the kingdom’s favourable ratings in over 14 different categories and surveys on Thursday. The country itself won nods over the past year in tourism, livability, happiness, Covid-19 response, safety, and more. Bangkok received accolades for…

  • South Thailand NewsForeign affairs ministry reminds tourists Thailand’s land borders mostly still closed

    Foreign affairs ministry reminds tourists Thailand’s land borders mostly still closed

    After the CCSA announced yesterday that Thailand will scrap requirements for pre-travel PCR tests for foreign flyers, the foreign affairs ministry reminds wannabe international travellers that most land border crossing points remain closed to them. The CCSA also says that only four land border posts are open to tourists and expats: Nongkhai and Udon Thani (near the Laos border) and…

  • Thailand NewsOfficials warn about various scam Thailand Pass emails, some with malicious links

    Officials warn about various scam Thailand Pass emails, some with malicious links

    Thailand Pass applicants are being warned about numerous scam emails from accounts posing as the Department of Consular Affairs or a team from the Thailand Pass system. Some emails are requesting personal information, such as passport numbers, and others include an encrypted link. Officials haven’t confirmed if any other information besides email addresses has been compromised from the Thailand Pass…

  • World NewsMinistry of Foreign Affairs donates 2 million baht for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs donates 2 million baht for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine

    Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs approved a budget of 2 million baht to provide humanitarian assistance in Ukraine in light of the ongoing conflict which continues to cause death, injuries and damage to infrastructure. So far, 230 out of 256 Thai people who wish to leave Ukraine have already been evacuated. MFA spokesperson Thani Saengrat told the press today that…

  • Tourism NewsThailand Pass scam: Authorities warn not to pay third party

    Thailand Pass scam: Authorities warn not to pay third party

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs put out a warning today via their spokesperson urging people not to be taken in by any scam attempting to charge you for registering for the Thailand Pass. The announcement came on the heels of the Covid-19 task force investigating reports of people claiming to have paid registration fees in order to apply for the…

  • Thailand NewsMinistry prepares to bring back Thais from eight African countries starting tomorrow

    Ministry prepares to bring back Thais from eight African countries starting tomorrow

    With Thai authorities issuing a travel ban on those from 8 African countries reporting the new Omicron variant, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to bring Thai citizens in the high risk countries back to Thailand. Citizens living in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe can apply for a COE (certificate of entry) to return…

  • Covid-19 NewsThammasat University vs. Foreign Affairs Ministry: 1.5 million vaccines lost

    Thammasat University vs. Foreign Affairs Ministry: 1.5 million vaccines lost

    It seems that the dust is still settling on the back and forth that pitted Thammasat University Hospital against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a struggle to import 1.5 million free Moderna vaccines donated by Poland. Each side argues that it was the other’s failure that prevented the vaccine from being received in Thailand. The university had coordinated a…

  • Tourism NewsSuccesses and failures in the Thailand Pass programme

    Successes and failures in the Thailand Pass programme

    Now that the Thailand Pass has been open for about a week, some successes and failures of the revised system replacing the Certificate of Entry are noticeable. The government has issued a warning against a fake registration site, Hotmail accounts not working, and why you might not receive your confirmation, while at the same time applauding more than 50,000 Thailand…

  • Thailand NewsDespite errors, over 65,000 have applied for Thailand Pass

    Despite errors, over 65,000 have applied for Thailand Pass

    Despite a rash of technical issues, in just 4 days since launching the Thailand Pass, over 65,000 people have applied for it in order to reenter Thailand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the figures yesterday and stated that 13,000 people have already been approved in the new scheme. From November 1 until yesterday morning, 65,338 applications for the Thailand…

  • Tourism NewsConsular Deparment FAQ on Thailand Pass entry November 1

    Consular Deparment FAQ on Thailand Pass entry November 1

    A thorough infographic of the Thailand Pass process was released by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for people planning their travel after November 1. The white text on photo backgrounds might not be the easiest way to digest this complex process, so below is the transcribed text of the announcement with some key new information detailed.…

  • Tourism NewsEntry requirements for international arrivals starting November 1

    Entry requirements for international arrivals starting November 1

    The Thailand Pass is set to launch in 5 days, aiming to ease the process to get approval to enter Thailand. The entry requirements for international travellers still require some hoops, but the government hopes this streamlining will help welcome back much-needed tourism to the country. The website for the Thailand Pass has been created at tp.consular.go.th but it is…

  • Covid-19 NewsForeign Ministry denies blocking Poland’s donation of vaccines

    Foreign Ministry denies blocking Poland’s donation of vaccines

    After Thammasat University was set to receive 3 million Moderna vaccines donated by Poland last Tuesday, the deal was suddenly stymied by the Thai government not completing the required paperwork. Then the university appealed to the Foreign Ministry for help, and was rejected, being told they should be going through official channels to import vaccines. Now the Foreign Ministry is…

  • Thailand video newsThailand Top Stories | Thailand Pass required in lieu of COE | October 25

    Thailand Top Stories | Thailand Pass required in lieu of COE | October 25

    Natty gives us a quick update on the national Covid-19 situation as well as the top headlines in Thailand and around the region: Thailand Pass website launching accepted from November 2, Tourism calls for Russia and India to be added to safe list, Curfew lifted October 31 for all or part of 17 Thai provinces, BOT plans real-world test of…

  • Thailand NewsThailand Pass website launching, accepted from November 2

    Thailand Pass website launching, accepted from November 2

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun the process of replacing the Certificate of Entry with the new Thailand Pass which will be accepted from November 2. The Ministry announced that tp.consular.go.th will be live for people arriving in Thailand after November 2 to register for the Thailand Pass. The information comes from the Ministry of Interior’s Phuket office who…

  • Tourism News46 countries permitted to travel to Thailand from November 1, and quarantine details

    46 countries permitted to travel to Thailand from November 1, and quarantine details

    … and everything you want to know, as of today, about re-entry into Thailand. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just released a list of 46 countries and/or territories that have been approved to take part in the planned reopening of the country from November 1. The list of countries is detailed below as per a .pdf file that was…

  • Tourism News46 countries permitted to enter Thailand from November 1

    46 countries permitted to enter Thailand from November 1

    … and everything you want to know, as of today, about re-entry into Thailand. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just released a list of 46 countries and/or territories that have been approved to take part in the planned reopening of the country from November 1. The list of countries is detailed below as per a .pdf file that was…

  • Tourism NewsCoE will be replaced by Thailand Pass, in development

    CoE will be replaced by Thailand Pass, in development

    The much-maligned certificate of entry is on its way out, with the digital Thailand Pass set to replace the CoE for most – but not all – people from November 1. The Digital Government Development Agency is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create an online system to replace the CoE process for international flight arrivals. The Thailand…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand to get Covid-19 foreign aid from China and Korea

    Thailand to get Covid-19 foreign aid from China and Korea

    While a government spokesperson announced that Thailand expects to have 140 million Covid-19 vaccines received in the country by the end of the year, many wondered with the slow rollout so far exactly where all these vaccines are coming from. Today we received a hint as foreign aid was offer by both China and South Korea who announced donations of…

  • Tourism News1,324 arrive in Phuket Sandbox, government denies COE delays

    1,324 arrive in Phuket Sandbox, government denies COE delays

    The Sandbox is underway with relatively few hitches on the ground in Phuket, though the same might not be true of the approval process before international travellers depart to the southern Thai island. This weekend saw over 1,300 international travellers arrive to the Phuket Sandbox, and even with complex processes and restrictions, many are just happy to be there. Today…