The Royal Thai Embassy, Kathmandu has mandated Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS-Global) to process visa applications in Nepal.
VFS-Global will now cater to travellers from Nepal across all visa categories through the Visa Application Centre under the jurisdiction of the Thai Embassy in Kathmandu.
“From December 19, 2022, new visa applicants holding ordinary passports will have to submit their applications at VFS-Global Visa Application Centre in Kathmandu. However, applicants who have already made an appointment with the Embassy via the online registration system are requested to submit required documents directly at the Embassy on the appointment date between 9:00 am and 11:30 am as usual,” VFS Global said in a statement.
The new changes will come into effect from January 3, 2023. The statement said, “All applicants holding ordinary passports will have to submit their applications at VFS-Global Visa Application Centre in Kathmandu. Travellers will have to book their appointments online before visiting the Visa Application Centre.”
VFS-Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. The companny has partnered with 67 client governments and operates a global network with more than 3,400 application centres in 144 countries.
“We are excited to extend our Thailand visa services to customers in Nepal, bringing ease and convenience to their visa application journey. This is another testament to VFS-Global‘s excellence in business delivery and focuses towards evolving customers experience,” Prabuddha Sen, COO South Asia, VFS-Global said.
Resident diplomatic missions at the Charge d’Affaires level were opened in each other’s capitals in 1969, which were subsequently upgraded to the Ambassadorial level in 1980.
It is pertinent to mention that Nepal and Thailand established diplomatic ties on November 30, 1959. The status of diplomatic representation was raised from the Ministerial level to the Ambassadorial level in May 1969.
In recent years, a growing number of Thai nationals have shown interest in trekking in Nepal. Similarly, thousands of Nepali nationals visit Thailand for tourism, medical checkups and education.