Thailand to Germany visa requirements

Thai ordinary passport holders need a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa to visit Germany for tourism. Apply in advance through VFS Global in Thailand before you travel. Germany is part of the Schengen Area, and the German Federal Foreign Office lists Thailand as a nationality whose citizens require an entry visa. A Thai ordinary passport holder therefore cannot enter Germany visa-free and must obtain a Schengen short-stay (Category C) visa before departure. This visa permits stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area. Applications in Thailand are accepted through VFS Global for the German Embassy, with visa application centres in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Applicants need an appointment, biometrics (fingerprints and photo), and a full document set including travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000, proof of accommodation, round-trip reservation, financial means and evidence of intention to return. The standard adult fee is EUR 90 (paid in Thai baht), plus a VFS service fee published by the Embassy as EUR 19.13 in Bangkok or EUR 40 in Chiang Mai/Phuket. EU rules set normal processing at 15 calendar days, extendable to 45 days if more examination or documents are required. Thai nationals residing in Thailand may now qualify for progressively longer multiple-entry Schengen visas under the EU visa-cascade rules, but this is not a visa exemption and the 90/180-day stay limit still applies. ETIAS does not apply to Thai nationals because it is for visa-exempt travelers only; EES is a border registration system for non-EU short-stay travelers, including Thai Schengen visa holders, and does not replace the visa.