Summary of the Weekly Press Briefing
By Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy MFA Spokesperson
on 19 May 2026 at 15:30 hrs. at MFA Press Conference Room

1. Outcomes of the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the 2026 BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

• On 14 May 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a visit to New Delhi, India, to attend the 2026 BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where he paid a joint call on the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, together with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of BRICS member states and partner countries, before delivering a statement under the theme “BRICS@20: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.”
• The Deputy Prime Minister underscored the importance of BRICS in promoting the voice of developing countries and the Global South to ensure their meaningful participation in global decision-making processes. He reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to strengthen cooperation with countries of the Global South through the Thailand - Africa Initiative, with a view to expanding practical cooperation in the areas of economy, technology and sustainable development with African countries, particularly in the context of an evolving global landscape. He also emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation within regional frameworks and the multilateral system, while upholding the rules-based international order.
• The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted the 3 approaches that Thailand has championed within ASEAN, which are Regionalism, Resilience and Relevance, and proposed that regional organizations and groupings like BRICS can make good use of these approaches to further strengthen their role on the global stage.
• He also held bilateral meetings with other Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the sidelines of the Meeting, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In these bilateral meetings, both sides discussed ways to advance cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, security, and connectivity, including jointly strengthening cooperation within multilateral frameworks. They also exchanged views on developments in regional situations of mutual interest.
• Thailand joined BRICS as a partner country on 1 January 2025 and is committed to active participation. In 2028, when Thailand assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship, it stands ready to serve as a bridge between ASEAN and BRICS to further promote practical cooperation and respond to the needs of the people in all member countries.

2. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to Visit the Southern Border Province of Yala

• The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to visit the southern border province of Yala, tomorrow (20 May 2026). The purpose of the visit is to follow up on government operations, deliver policy directives, and listen to views and recommendations from government agencies in the area, in his capacity as the Deputy Prime Minister overseeing the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC). He will also take this opportunity to hold discussions with business owners in the southern border provinces to explore ways to enhance cooperation on the development of cross-border trade connectivity.

3. The Approval of the Visa Cascade Regime by the European Union for Thai Passport Holders

• On 8 May 2026, the European Commission approved the application of the European Union’s Visa Cascade regime to Thai nationals residing in Thailand, who have a good travel record and wish to apply for short-stay Schengen visas at the Embassies or Consulates of Schengen States in Thailand.
• This measure has already taken effect and will help reduce the need for frequent visa applications for Thai passport holders who have previously obtained Schengen visas and maintained a good travel record. Under this regime, applicants who have previously obtained and lawfully used a Schengen visa may be eligible for multiple-entry visas with progressively longer validity periods.
• The Visa Cascade regime is not a visa exemption. Thai nationals are still required to apply for Schengen visas through the normal process. Again, to be eligible for longer-validity visas, applicants must maintain a good travel record, including full compliance with the laws and regulations of destination countries.
• This development represents a key achievement in Thailand’s relations with the EU and in people-centered diplomacy. It demonstrates the EU’s strong confidence in Thai passport holders as high-quality travelers, who respect and comply with the immigration laws and regulations of the EU and destination countries. Currently, Thailand is one of seven countries to have been granted this regime, and is the second ASEAN country to benefit from it.
• This achievement is the result of close collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels, all Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General across Europe, the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand, as well as the Embassies of the EU and Schengen States in Thailand, through sustained engagement over the past year.
• Going forward, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to build on this important milestone toward Thailand’s long-term objective of securing Schengen Visa Exemption. This will help promote travel, trade, investment, education, and mobility of skilled labor for the benefit of the Thai people.

4. Revision of Thailand’s visa exemption and Visa on Arrival (VoA) schemes (briefed by Mr. Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, Director-General, Department of Consular Affairs)

• Today (19 May 2026), the Cabinet approved the revision of Thailand’s visa exemption and VoA schemes. These revised measures include (1) granting only one visa exemption scheme per country/territory; (2) revoking the 60-day visa exemption scheme for all 93 countries/ territories; (3) revising the 30-day visa exemption scheme for tourism purpose and reducing the list of eligible countries/territories (from 57) to 54 countries/territories; (4) introducing the new 15-day visa exemption scheme for tourism purpose for 3 countries/territories; and (5) revising Visa on Arrival (VoA) and reducing the list of eligible countries/territories (from 31) to 4 countries/ territories. Details and criteria can be found in relevant Ministry of Interior announcements, which will be published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect 15 days after publication.
• This revision was made based on the following considerations: (1) national security; (2) tourism and economic interests; (3) reciprocity; (4) the reduction of overlapping visa exemption privileges, which may otherwise create confusion for foreign visitors; and (5) the convenience currently provided by the e-Visa system.

Watch the full session at: https://fb.watch/HbZBuEVxGF/