Thailand Now Wants a Visa From Colombians: How to Plan Your Trip

For the last two years, Thailand was one of the easiest long trips for Colombian travellers. You booked your flights, packed your bag and received a generous visa free stay at Bangkok airport. Many Colombians used it for beach holidays, backpacking routes and even long working breaks.

That has now changed. On 15 September 2026, Thailand replaced its old visa exemption system with a shorter list of 60 countries and territories. Colombia is not on that list. If you hold a Colombian passport, you now need a visa before you travel to Thailand.

What Changed on 15 September

In 2024, Thailand opened visa free entry of up to 60 days to 93 countries, and Colombia was among them. In September 2026, the Thai government reduced the scheme to 30 days for a new list of 60 places, mostly in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania, plus Canada and the United States. In Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru keep their own bilateral agreements. Colombia does not have one, so Colombians fall outside both lists.

Which Visa Fits Your Trip

For a normal holiday, a tourist visa is the usual choice. If you plan to study, work, retire or stay with a Thai partner, there are other visa types with their own rules. Remote workers sometimes look at the Destination Thailand Visa, which has a savings requirement and longer stays. Choose the visa that matches what you will actually do in Thailand, because border officers can ask about it.

How to Apply Step by Step

1. Check that your passport is valid for at least six months and has blank pages.
2. Go to the official Thai electronic visa website or contact the Thai embassy that serves Colombia.
3. Choose the visa type that matches your purpose.
4. Upload your passport, a recent photo, flight bookings, hotel bookings and bank statements.
5. Pay the official fee shown on the government site only.
6. Wait for approval before you buy non refundable tickets.

Documents That Make Your Application Stronger

• Bank statements showing steady funds for your whole trip.
• A letter from your employer or proof of your business or studies in Colombia.
• A clear day by day travel plan.
• A return or onward ticket.
• Travel medical insurance.

Thailand also asks arriving foreigners to complete a digital arrival card online before landing. As of October 2026, check the official Thai immigration channels a few days before you fly, because the form and timing can change.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

Do not pay unofficial websites that copy the Thai government design and charge extra service fees. Do not assume a connection through another country solves the problem; if you leave the airport in Thailand, you need the right visa. And do not rely on old blog posts or social media videos from 2024 or 2025, because they describe the rules that ended in September 2026.

If you are planning a multi country route through Southeast Asia, check each country separately. Neighbouring countries have different rules for Colombians, and some offer electronic visas while others ask for embassy applications.

Timing matters too. Thai visa decisions are not instant, and holiday seasons bring more applications. If you plan to travel for Christmas, New Year or the Colombian mid year break, apply several weeks ahead and keep your flight dates flexible until the visa is approved.

Families travelling with children should prepare one application per person, including babies, and carry birth certificates that show both parents' names.

Before You Rely on Any Figure

The rule described here took effect on 15 September 2026 and reflects official announcements and Colombian media reports as of October 2026. Fees and processing times are set by the Thai authorities. Rules, fees and dates change, so check the official government website on the day you act. For questions about your own case, speak to a licensed immigration lawyer or an authorised representative. World Visa Academy is a training academy; it does not file applications or guarantee any visa or outcome.

The Honest Summary

Thailand is still open to Colombian visitors, but you now need a visa before you fly. Apply early through official channels, show clear funds and a real travel plan, and ignore old advice about visa free entry.

Key takeaways

• From 15 September 2026, Colombians can no longer enter Thailand under the visa exemption scheme.
• Colombia is not on Thailand's new list of 60 visa exempt countries and territories.
• You now need a visa before you fly, usually through Thailand's official electronic visa system or embassy.
• Travellers who entered before the change keep the stay they were given at arrival.