Visa-on arrival fee doubles

Foreign tourist walk on a road next a tuk-tuk at a popular tourist area of Khaosan road on Aug 14, 2016. (EPA photo)

Foreign visitors from 19 countries and territories will be required to pay an increased fee for visas on arrival from next month onward.

The fee is raised to 2,000 baht, up from 1,000 baht.

The new requirement will come to effect on Sept 27, the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Consular Affairs announced yesterday.

The 19 countries and territories are Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The cabinet approved the increase in the visa-on-arrival fee in January.

Foreigners from the 19 countries and territories are allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 15 days.

The hike in the fee is aimed at reducing the long queues at immigration checkpoints.

There are 42 immigration checkpoints including Suvarnabhumi airport and Don Muang international airport where foreigners can apply for visas on arrival.