The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand would like to announce the revised guidelines for issuing non-immigrant visa category “M” (or ‘media visa’) for journalists and media correspondents applying to work in Thailand for more than the period of three months. The revision is intended to update the criteria in view of changing nature of new media and to recategorise personnel eligible to media visa. Details of the guidelines are as follow:

Visa for foreign media will be issued to applicant with the following qualifications:

   1. Must be employed by a news agency registered with the competent agency of either Thai or foreign government.

   2. Works full time as a correspondent of a news agency and does not intend to take employment elsewhere except as a correspondent of a news agency.

   3. Shall report on Thailand during his/ her period of stay in the Kingdom which shall exceed 3 months.

   4. Has no work or behavior which indicates possible harm to the public or constituting any disruption to the public order or to the security of the Kingdom. The applicant shall not be under warrant of arrest by competent officials of foreign governments.

   5. Has never committed intentional distortion of information when applying for a Media Visa.

   6. This category of visa covers contributors in fields of politics and economy. Extra supporting documents shall be submitted upon request for contributors in such fields as entertainment, leisure, sports, fashion, interior design, and religion.

Enforcement

            The guidelines shall become effective from 21 March 2016 onward.

            Media visa issued to applicants who would become ineligible to reapply for media visa due to the effect of the new guidelines shall remain effective until the expiration date inscribed.

            To accommodate applicants who would be affected by guidelines revision, applicants whom existing media visa due to expire within 18 February – 20 March 2016 shall be provided a recommendation letter from Ministry of Foreign Affairs to extend the visa and related documents for 120 days of grace period, while applicants whom existing media visa due to expire within 21 March – 21 May 2016 shall be given 90 days of grace period.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises the applicants to apply one’s visa type to the appropriate category during this period.

List of required documents for the application for a Media Visa

   1. A copy of the applicant’s passport (with at least 6 months validity).

   2. A letter of reference from the headquarters of the applicant’s agency addressed to the “Director-General of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, confirming the appointment and job title of the applicant.

   3. Profile of the applicant.

   4. Profile of the news agency.

   5. Evidence of the news agency’s registration with the Thai government or an overseas government.

   6. The applicant’s criminal record, issued by the country of which the applicant is a national or by his/ her country of residence (if applicable).

   7. A copy of the applicant’s work during the year prior to the date of application, including work on Thailand
(if applicable).

List of required documents for the renewal of a media visa

   1. A copy of the applicant’s passport (with at least 6 months validity).

   2. A copy of the extension of visa issued by the Immigration Bureau (its One-Stop Service Center for Visas and Work Permits)

   3. The applicant’s work permit.

   4. The applicant’s Press Card (if applicable).

   5. A letter of reference from the headquarters of the applicant’s agency addressed to the “Director-General
of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs” and confirming the appointment and job title of
the applicant.

   6. Profile of the applicant.

   7. Profile of the news agency

   8. Evidence of the news agency’s registration with the Thai government or an overseas government.

   9. The applicant’s criminal record, issued by the country of which the applicant is a national or by the country of residence (if applicable).

   10. A copy of the applicant’s work during the year prior to the date of application, including work on Thailand.

   11. Evidence of the applicant’s income and tax payment in Thailand if the applicant has had any taxable / assessable income.