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What challenges do Thai women face when applying for a Schengen visa for travel in Europe?

Thai VisaSchengen VisaVisa Application ProcessTravel in EuropeExpat GuidanceVisa DifficultiesTourismThai CitizensVisa RequirementsMulti-Country Tours
Jul 24, 2023
a year ago
Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Level of difficulty for Thai women to tourist in Europe? Like a multi country tour?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The main difficulty for Thai women touring Europe is obtaining a Schengen visa. This application process can be complicated and requires proof of strong ties to Thailand, such as employment or property ownership, to ensure a return. Many users shared varying experiences: while some found the process manageable with sufficient funds and the right documentation, others highlighted issues related to lengthy paperwork and the need for an invitation from a European partner. Overall, while traveling is feasible, navigating the visa requirements poses significant hurdles.
Michael *******
I got my wife a US passport it's all workable.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Michael ******
Is it a real passport or did you pay a dodgy agent?
a year ago
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Michael *******
@Paul ******
 Real Passport!
a year ago
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Michael *******
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David ******
Biggest issue will be the lack of Thai food
a year ago
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Paul *******
@David *****
Then she shouldn't be going. Why travel to another country and not want to experience their food and culture? While I don't mind eating western food in China, I expect to dine on Chinese food most of the time. If I couldn't do that, I wouldn't go.
a year ago
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Paul *******
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Suthida ******************
Only problem is getting visa and be careful about which country use which visa. Some Europe country is not included in Schengen visa so if visa is single entry it is the end of the trip.
a year ago
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Ian *****
Nil. Visa straightforward as long as you have a plan to return and money and air tickets and Google translate can translate everything when you are there

English widely spoken across Europe normally
a year ago
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Anna ********
if your not married and she doesnt have steady thai employer whos been paying her tax, slim i think. Unless shes part of the high society / loaded
a year ago
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Michael *******
We used an agent. Lots of paper work. Personal info required. Got there in the end. No chance if no job or work to return to. A letter stating leave from employer very important. And the date of return. My Gf just returned to phuket after 45 days leave in uk,Visa achieved was multi entry for 6 monthes.
a year ago
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Bill *********
My friends Thai wife got a Schengen visa easily to visit Spain. Give it a go and see what happens.
a year ago
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Bo *******
Not difficult to get Schengervisa for Thai woman, my wife did get many times. She go on turist visa often
a year ago
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Jo **********
@Bo ******
 i looked at the requirements i am married to a Thai. The paperwork is immense and we have to fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and stay overnight for an interview that costs me 2 days. Then they want insurance she does not have overseas insurance. I would love to show her my home and country. I have plenty of money. But it’s so much work, with no guarantee.
a year ago
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Bo *******
@Jo *********
 My wife did always all the work and its easy, i newer involved.
a year ago
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Bo *******
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Charlie ******
Why are everyone telling its hard to get a schengen visa? If you want to travel and have the money its a piece of cake. Just choose the country you will arrive in and pick that embassy to apply for the visa. 50k thb in the bank is enough to get it from the Swedish embassy. But better to have more then that if you havent got a invitation letter. Get a incurens and book the tickets and apply in VFS. If you want help go to Trendy building in Bangkok and there is alot of agents helping you there.
a year ago
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Jo **********
@Charlie *****
 no look at the paper work involved unbelievable I would love for my wife to come to see my home and family. But there is extreme discrimination. not only that she would need to fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok just to get a visa. Yet I was able to get a 10 year LTR visa for Thailand with just submitting some papers. Ridiculous
a year ago
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Charlie ******
@Jo *********
*************************************************************


was correct, thay have a centre in Chiang Mai aswell 🙂 Just for you to attend there. Seriously, if my wife can do a visa alone, and I barely have any connections to Sweden these days more than I'm a citizen, why wouldn't you be able to do one for the Netherlands for your wife?
a year ago
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Charlie ******
@Jo *********
 weird in sweden for thaivisas you need to go there in person or you can hire an agent as the embassy doesn't send passports anymore.

I've been an agent here so.. thats why i doubt everyone that it is hard and yes everyone needs to go to VFS in person. Agents just help you with the paperwork's. I thought VFS had an office in Chiang Mai aswell? Or was they only working with English passport renewal these days?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Charlie *****
 Just FYI, the Thai embassy in Sweden has switched to e-visa. Any Thai embassy or consulate that has switched to e-visa no longer allows foreigners on the property. You cannot go to the Thai embassy and the ONLY way to apply is online. These embassies now only provide services to Thai citizens in person. All visa matters are handled purely online.
a year ago
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Charlie ******
@Brandon ***********
 yes in the last couple of years e-visa came, but before that e-visa you needed to go to the embassy no matter what. Open only 2h two times a week.
a year ago
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Charlie ******
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Charlie ******
If you're lazy and dont want to do the papers yourself.. get an agent. Plenty of them in Trendy Building in bangkok
a year ago
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Jo **********
@Charlie *****
 sorry you need to go there in person and agents in Thailand are corrupt
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Marc ********
@Charlie *****
 It's not that easy
a year ago
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Charlie ******
@Marc *******
 yes it is... :P atleast to get the schengen through the Swedish embassy.. no interview there for a touristvisa. I know plenty of SINGLE thais, men and woman that have gone for vacation in europe if you have the founds they dont have any reason to say no. Aslong as you can support yourself.
a year ago
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Charlie ******
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Jo **********
@Charlie *****
 i looked at the requirements i am married to a Thai. The paperwork is immense and we have to fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and stay overnight for an interview that costs me 2 days. I would love to show her my home and country. I have plenty of money. But it’s so much work, with no guarantee.
a year ago
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Charlie ******
@Jo *********
 what interview? To sweden there is only interviews if you want to get a resident permit by then you need to either have work in the country or a connection like marriage.

And ofc you need to go there in person mostly to VFS that handles the tourist visa applications for most of the schengen countries not the embassies. When you make a visa to thailand you need to visit the embassy of thailand aswell...

Last time i helped one with a visa to sweden a single woman.. was copy of passport, founds in bank 495sek/day. Paper that she can be off work. Insurance cover $1m. Booking confirmation to there and back to thailand. And a letter of what she was going to do and why and the migration paper filled and signed. Done two weeks later got it and collected her passport and went to sweden then the rest of Europe. Its about 15min work and some hours to turn it into VFS and then just wait.. so I don't understand how you guys can say its hard.
a year ago
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Jo **********
@Charlie *****
 thank you
a year ago
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Jo **********
@Charlie *****
 for Schengen visa for the Netherlands an interview is required so both me and my wife will need to fly to Bangkok and interview and leave the passport their
a year ago
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Charlie ******
@Jo *********
 No only your wife need to go there not you. You'll not even be allowed up to the VFS office when she applies. Here are the requirements for the Netherlands:
*************************************************************************************


Not so hard? 😉
a year ago
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Charlie ******
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Steve **********
Years ago had a staff member wanting a Schengen visa to visit a friend in Portugal.

Req'd a lot of ' simply follow the instructions from internet' not a lot of paper but do have to show good reason to return...( property, family, etc )

He needed to provide bank, financial info with letter of invite.

Insurance, return ticket, good career background.

Then the interview. Best to schedule on day of flight .

All looked great, everything above board, both people of integrity.

Rejected..no reason !

This was in 2012
a year ago
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Steve *******
Doesn't matter how many countries it is, the issue is getting the Schengen visa. If she has a full time job and other deep connections that will show the European embassy that she will come back, the visa isn't that hard to get.
a year ago
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Pete *******
Your biggest hurdle will be proving a strong reason for them to return to Thailand. The rest is easy.
a year ago
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Henrik ****
The challenge is getting a Schengen Visa, which in most cases will take an invitation from a fiance or spouse.
a year ago
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Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ***
 partner is from USA
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Jack ***************
, making it even more difficult...
a year ago
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Henrik ****
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Todd *********
The whole issue is getting a Schengen visa. With that, you can move very freely about europe. But it can be very difficult for Thai citizens.
a year ago
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Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Context: visa approval / permissions
a year ago
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Dan *******
@Jack ***************
 I would suggest using a visa agent for your first visa. I did my wife's for the UK and got rejected the first two times. The visa applications are all about ticking boxes. My wifes failed twice on 'not having enough of a reason to return to thailand' so on third application we explained in detail that she needed to care for her elderly grandparent and it was accepted.

I would recommend
@Ben *******
 she did my wife's shengen and UK visas and both where accepted and taught me how to do them myself 👍

If you do apply good luck, hope you get it 🙏
a year ago
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Jo **********
@Dan ******
 you can’t use a visa service for a Schengen visa. You need to physically be present for an interview.
a year ago
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Dan *******
@Jo *********
 For the interview yes. But you can have someone help with the application
a year ago
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Dan *******
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Jack ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan ******
 good input! This is idle planning for the future, but I imagine it all applies double for getting her into the USA. In what form did you explain about caring for grandmamma? Supplemental document? Pics? Letter from doctor?
a year ago
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Dan *******
@Jack ***************
 for the UK visa she has to write as part of her application. I think you can add as much supplemental documentation, the more you have the better. Its about presenting the application as a story of why you'll fullfil everything they want..

It always made me laugh getting rejecting for not having enough reason to return to thailand because we love it here 😂
a year ago
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Dan *******
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Matti *****
Getting around is easy and safe.

Getting Schengen-visa might be little tricky though.
a year ago
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Ni**
Just pick hotels near thai food restaurants and they wont complain too much about food.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Ni**
 Best is not to marry a Thai woman or take one to Europe who only eats Thai food. Those kind of women are unsophisticated, usually racist and should never leave Thailand.
a year ago
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Ni**
@Paul ******
 With such criteria, its way more easier to look woman from other country.
a year ago
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Ni**
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Chris ********
@Ni**
 Yup
a year ago
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Chris ********
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