On 8 May 2026, the European Commission approved the application of the European Union’s Visa Cascade regime to Thai nationals residing in Thailand who apply for short-stay Schengen visas at the embassies or consulates of Schengen States in Thailand. This measure will facilitate the issuance of longer-validity short-stay visas to Thai passport holders who have previously obtained Schengen visas and maintained a good travel record, thereby reducing the need for frequent visa applications and saving both time and costs.

Under the Visa Cascade scheme, applicants who have previously obtained and lawfully used a Schengen visa may be eligible for multiple-entry visas with progressively longer validity accordingly:
• For a validity period of 1 year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used one visa within the previous 2 years.
• For a validity period of 2 years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year within the previous 3 years.
• For a validity period of 5 years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for 2 years within the previous 4 years.

The Visa Cascade is not a Schengen visa exemption. Thai passport holders will continue to be required to apply for Schengen visas through the normal process, and the applicable requirements remain unchanged. To be eligible for longer-validity visas, applicants must maintain a good travel record, including full compliance with the laws and regulations of destination countries.

This achievement is the result of sustained efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thorough close cooperation between the Department of European Affairs, the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels, Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General across Europe, the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand, and the Embassies of EU and Schengen States in Thailand. Through an evidence-based approach, the Ministry demonstrated that Thai passport holders present low migration and security risks and contribute significant economic benefits to the EU and Schengen countries. Thailand is currently one of seven countries to have been granted the Visa Cascade regime, following India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman in 2024, and Turkey and Indonesia in 2025. Thailand is the second ASEAN country to benefit from this arrangement.

The Ministry would like to express appreciation to Thai travelers for their responsible travel conduct. Their responsible travel conduct has helped the Government successfully advocate this initiative. The Visa Cascade reflects the EU’s confidence in Thailand and marks another important milestone in Thailand - EU relations, which have continued to expand across political, security, and economic dimensions, particularly following the provisional application of the Thailand - EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) on 20 October 2024. The measure will further facilitate travel and strengthen people-to-people ties, representing a tangible outcome of Thailand’s people-centric diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue working toward Thailand’s long-term objective of securing Schengen visa exemption, with a view to promoting travel, trade, investment, education and skilled mobility for the benefit of the Thai people.