• Following the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s announcement on 18 February 2016 regarding the revision of guidelines for issuing non-immigrant visa category “M” (or ‘media visa’) for journalists and media correspondents applying to work in Thailand, several media have reported that the Ministry has “revoked” media visa of several members of the media. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to make the following clarifications.

 

• The purpose of this revision is to introduce a clear categorisation of personnel eligible to apply for media visa in view of the changing nature of media over the years and an increase of new media and online media applying for media visa. The former guidelines also lacked a clear scope as to who would constitute a foreign journalist which led to a misuse of media card holders working on unrelated fields.

 

• Nevertheless, the guidelines revision has no intention to restrict, forbid, or limit the work of foreign media, as well as foreigners who work in Thailand. Journalists, correspondents and freelancers employed by news agency registered with the competent agency of either Thai or foreign government will not be affected. 

 

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will advise the personnel ineligible for media visa to apply for another appropriate category. Related agencies will be informed of the grace period as 

stated in the revised guidelines.

 

• The revision of guidelines was based on an extensive research of media visa requirements from various nations and on discussions with related foreign correspondents, as well as a meeting with some executive members of Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand

(FCCT) to discuss the elements of the revised guidelines. 

 

• Concerning the case of foreign photographers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised those personnel concerned to apply for other appropriate visa category, such as non-immigrant type “B” (for business and work). As for the case of freelance photographers that require media card to work for news agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall receive their application and inform related Thai agencies to issue media card. Photographers working under news agency registered with the competent agency of either Thai or foreign government as stated in the guidelines will not be affected.

 

• As of January 2016, there are more than 500 foreign journalists who applied for media visa with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Approximately not more than 5% of total journalists would eventually be ineligible to apply for media visa following the revised guidelines.