🇹🇭THAILAND

🇫🇷FRANCE (SCHENGEN)TH-FR

Do Thailand passport holders need a visa to visit France (Schengen)?

Q: Does ETIAS apply to Thai travelers?

No. ETIAS is a travel authorisation only for visa-exempt nationalities. Thai nationals require a full Schengen visa, so ETIAS does not apply to them.

Q: How long can I stay in France with a Schengen visa?

Up to 90 days within any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen states, subject to the validity printed on your visa.

Q: Where do Thai applicants apply for a France visa?

Through TLScontact, the official France visa application centre in Bangkok. You book an appointment, submit documents in person, and provide biometrics.

Q: How much does the visa cost and how long does it take?

The standard adult fee is EUR 90 (about THB 3,500), plus a TLScontact service fee. Processing usually takes up to 15 calendar days, longer in peak season.

Q: What is the EES and does it affect me?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is the EU's biometric border system, fully operational from 10 April 2026. As a short-stay visitor you will register fingerprints and a facial image at the border.

Thai ordinary passport holders need a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa before traveling to France for tourism. ETIAS does not apply to Thai nationals. France is part of the Schengen Area, and Thailand is not on the EU visa-exempt list. A Thai ordinary passport holder must therefore obtain a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) before traveling to France for tourism. The visa is applied for through TLScontact, the official France visa application centre in Bangkok, and permits stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen states. The standard adult fee is EUR 90, and processing normally takes up to 15 calendar days. Because Thai nationals are visa-required, the upcoming ETIAS travel authorisation does NOT apply to them. Note that from 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational, so biometrics (fingerprints and facial image) are collected at the border. Under new EU visa-facilitation rules for Thailand, frequent bona-fide travelers can now receive multiple-entry visas valid up to 1, 2, or 5 years.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30

Visa type

Schengen short-stay visa (Type C)

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days within any 180-day period

per entry

Entries

Single, double or multiple entry (frequent travelers may get 1/2/5-year multi-entry)

from issue date

Visa fee

EUR 90 (adults); EUR 45 (children 6-11)

consular fee only

Processing time

Up to 15 calendar days (longer in peak season Feb-Apr)

standard track

Validity

Visa duration as granted; 90/180 rule applies across all 29 Schengen states

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm purpose and gather documents

Confirm tourism as your travel purpose and assemble required documents: passport, photos, itinerary, accommodation and flight bookings, travel insurance and proof of funds.

· Tourism· Type C

/02

Book an appointment at TLScontact Bangkok

Create an account and book a submission appointment at TLScontact, the official France visa application centre in Bangkok. Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before travel.

· TLScontact· Online booking

/03

Complete the France-Visas online form

Fill out the application on the France-Visas portal, then print the completed form and appointment confirmation.

· France-Visas· Online form

/04

Attend appointment and give biometrics

Attend in person to submit documents, pay the visa fee, and provide fingerprints and a photo (biometrics required for the visa and for EES).

· In person· Biometrics

/05

Wait for processing and collect passport

Wait up to 15 calendar days for a decision, then collect your passport from TLScontact or via courier.

· 15 days· Passport return

/06

Travel and clear EES at the border

Enter France within your visa validity; from 10 April 2026 register your biometrics through the EES at the Schengen border.

· EES· Border entry

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items

Personalized checklist

0 / 10 complete

Thai passport valid 3+ months beyond departure, issued within last 10 years, with 2 blank pages

required

Completed and signed France-Visas application form

required

Two recent passport-size photos (Schengen biometric standard)

required

Travel medical insurance covering EUR 30,000 across all Schengen states

required

Round-trip flight reservation / itinerary

required

Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings or host invitation)

required

Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements, approx EUR 65/day)

required

Proof of ties to Thailand (employment letter, property, family)

recommended

Cover letter explaining travel purpose and itinerary

recommended

TLScontact appointment confirmation printout

required

Track your progress · save & email a copy

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Schengen visa fee (adult)EUR 90Approx THB 3,500; ages 12 and over

Schengen visa fee (child 6-11)EUR 45Children under 6 are exempt

TLScontact service fee~EUR 30Charged per applicant by the visa centre, in addition to the visa fee

Travel insurance~EUR 20-50Mandatory EUR 30,000 medical coverage; cost varies by trip length

Total estimateEUR 90 — EUR 170incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Standard processing

Up to 15 calendar days

Normal handling by the French Embassy in Bangkok; may take several weeks in peak season (Feb-Apr).

Early submission

Apply up to 6 months ahead

Submit well in advance, especially for peak-season travel, to avoid delays.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Thailand is not on the EU visa-exempt list

Thai ordinary passport holders must obtain a Schengen visa before entering France.

High

/02

France is in the Schengen Area

The Schengen short-stay visa applies and the 90/180-day rule governs the permitted stay.

High

/03

ETIAS does not apply to Thai nationals

ETIAS is only for visa-exempt nationalities; Thai travelers need a full visa instead.

Medium

/04

EES biometric registration from 10 April 2026

Fingerprints and a facial image are recorded at the Schengen border under the new Entry/Exit System.

Medium

/05

New EU visa facilitation for Thailand

Bona-fide frequent travelers may receive multiple-entry visas valid 1, 2 or 5 years.

Low

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.

/02

Customs

Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.

/03

Connectivity

Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-05-30

Thailand to France route verified

Confirmed via France-Visas, TLScontact Bangkok and EU/France Diplomatie sources that Thai ordinary passport holders still require a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa; ETIAS does not apply; EES is fully operational from 10 April 2026.

/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Thai citizens need a visa to visit France?—

Yes. Thailand is not on the EU visa-exempt list, so Thai ordinary passport holders must obtain a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa before traveling to France for tourism.

Does ETIAS apply to Thai travelers?+

How long can I stay in France with a Schengen visa?+

Where do Thai applicants apply for a France visa?+

How much does the visa cost and how long does it take?+

What is the EES and does it affect me?+

/11 — Passport tools