Thai visa processing is running behind travel dates for several markets that need a visa, and it is costing bookings. The Bangkok Post reported on 27 October that Emirates recorded 30 to 40 no-show passengers per flight on its Mexico route because travellers could not get visas in time, and that some travellers are choosing Vietnam instead. Explera DMC Thailand explains what is confirmed, what is still anecdotal, and how agents can protect group and FIT files.
Explera handles ground arrangements as a Thailand DMC for travel agents. Its Thai company, Explera DMC Co., Ltd., holds TAT licence 14/05119, the Tourism Business Licence issued by the Department of Tourism, and the group is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and a member of ASTA (900408341). Write to b2b@explera.co.th.
What is confirmed about the visa delays?
Since 15 September 2026, travellers from a number of markets that used to enter visa-free need a Thai visa before they fly, and most apply through the e-Visa system. Three things are now on the record. First, the government accepts there is a problem: Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul acknowledged it, and the Bangkok Post reported that he asked the Foreign Minister to speed up e-Visa processing. Second, the cause described is timing, not refusals. A source quoted by Khaosod English said the system is simply too slow to keep pace with travellers' departure dates. Third, it is not only Latin America. In Nepal, the travel agents' association NATTA threatened in October to stop selling Thailand packages, and the Thai Embassy in Kathmandu replied that a complete application takes 7 to 10 working days and should be made at least one month before travel.
What is still anecdotal?
The no-show numbers come from one airline's complaint, passed on through the ministry, and the reports do not agree: the Bangkok Post gives 30 to 40 passengers per flight, while other outlets quote 20 to 30. The move to Vietnam comes from industry sources, not from a count of bookings. Treat both as a warning sign, not as data to quote to clients. There is also no single processing time for the whole e-Visa system: each Thai embassy publishes its own guidance, and the time depends on where the client applies. Uzbek travellers, for example, apply through the Thai embassy in Moscow.
How much lead time should agents plan for?
Plan on at least a month between application and departure, and more for travel in the December to February high season, when embassies are busiest. The Kathmandu embassy listed the usual causes of delay and refusal: incomplete or unclear documents, bank statements that do not meet the standard, applications made too close to travel, and applicants who are not in the country where they apply. Check the documents yourself before the client submits, because a resubmission starts the wait again. Visa fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.
How can agents protect group and FIT files?
Do not issue non-refundable tickets until the visa is granted. Some embassies ask for confirmed flights and hotels in the applicant's name, so choose fares and room terms that can be changed or cancelled, and agree in writing what happens to them if a visa is late or refused. For groups, set a names deadline early enough for every passenger's visa, track each visa separately, and agree with your Thailand DMC how many places can be released if one or two travellers are not approved. Our group travel team and our FIT packages team can build those release dates into the file. For short trips, a Bangkok stay with flexible add-ons is easier to rearrange than a fixed multi-city tour. The rest of what we do is on our Thailand DMC services page.
Could the rules change?
Possibly. The Tourism Ministry has proposed visa-free entry for Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan, and our post on the visa-free proposal sets out where that stands. Any change still needs a decision and a published notification before it applies, so sell to today's rules. Our Nepal market page explains how we work with agencies there.
Next steps
Send us your travel dates, group sizes and the nationalities on the file through our contact page. The trade desk replies within 24 hours and will tell you which deadlines to build in.
Sources
- Bangkok Post: Slow visa processing disrupts travel to Thailand
- Khaosod English: Visa delays cut Latin American arrivals by up to 30%, minister eyes visa-free entry
- The Kathmandu Post: Thai embassy defends visa process amid NATTA threat to halt tour sales
Frequently asked questions
Why are Thai visas taking longer?
More travellers need a visa since the 15 September 2026 changes, and reports say the system cannot keep pace with departure dates. The Thai side describes the problem as timing, not a rise in refusals.
How long does a Thai e-Visa take?
It depends on the embassy. The Thai Embassy in Kathmandu says 7 to 10 working days for a complete application and advises applying at least a month before travel. Check the guidance of the embassy your client applies through.
Is the Emirates no-show figure official?
No. It comes from the airline's complaint as reported in the press, and reports differ between 20 to 30 and 30 to 40 passengers per flight. Use it as a sign of the problem, not as a statistic.
Should we book flights before the visa is granted?
Book only what can be changed or cancelled. Some embassies want confirmed flights and hotels in the applicant's name, so use flexible terms and issue non-refundable tickets only after the visa is granted.
