Cambodia and Thailand agree on visa-free entry

Thailand and Cambodian signed a visa exemption agreement during the 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit that closed last week in Phnom Penh. The visa-free entry will be effective from 16 December, allowing citizens of both countries to visit without having to apply for a visa, either at the embassy, or on arrival at a border check point. Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers, Kasit Piromya and Hor Nam Hong signed the agreement in the presence of the prime ministers of both countries, Abhisit Vejjiva and Hun Sen, last Wednesday.

From 16 December, ordinary passport holders of both countries will be able to travel for up to 14 days without a visa. The agreement between Cambodia and Thailand now means the majority of the 10 ASEAN-member countries are in compliance with the ASEAN charter that calls for member countries to allow visa-free travel for all citizens of the regional community. The exception is Myanmar, which continues to require visas from all visitors whatever their nationality.

On other visa matters, Thailand has also been working on what is called an ACMECS single visa (ASV) project since 2005, under the concept known as “Five Countries, One Destination,” which follows the lines of the European Schengen Visa. In 2007, the Thai and Cambodian governments signed an agreement to organise a pilot project, but it has yet to be implemented. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approval has been gained from both the Cambodian government and Thailand’s Parliament.

However, it still requires the Ministry of Interior to draft a ministerial law and publicise it in the Royal Thai Government Gazette. After publication, the ASV between Thailand and Cambodia should be effective after 60 days. The Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) is a cooperation framework that involves Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam in the task developing the sub-region.

Source=ttrweekly