Thailand Seeks Finland's Support for Visa-Free Travel Agreement With the EU

Key Points:

1. Thai and Finnish officials met to enhance diplomatic ties, including discussions on visa exemptions.
2. The talks covered improving labor conditions for Thai workers, particularly seasonal berry pickers in Finland.
3. Thailand sought Finland’s backing in securing a visa exemption agreement with the EU.

Thailand Seeks Finland’s Support for EU Visa Exemption

Thai and Finnish representatives recently held diplomatic talks to strengthen bilateral cooperation, focusing on visa exemptions and labor rights.

Krongkanit Rakcharoen, Director-General of Thailand’s Department of European Affairs, hosted Jussi Tanner, Finland’s Director-General of Consular Services, along with Finnish Ambassador Kristiina Kuvaja-Xanthopoulos, to discuss key areas of collaboration.

A major topic of discussion was Thailand’s pursuit of visa-free travel to the EU, with Thai officials seeking Finland’s support in advancing this process.

Improving Labor Rights for Thai Workers in Finland

The meeting also addressed labor rights and welfare improvements for Thai seasonal workers in Finland, particularly berry pickers. Discussions focused on ensuring their safety, well-being, and preventing exploitation, including human trafficking concerns.

In mid-2024, the first group of Thai berry pickers arrived in Finland, mainly in the Kainuu region. Finland issued 900 residence permits to Thai seasonal workers that year. However, initial delays occurred as Thailand implemented stricter controls before allowing workers to leave.

A Finnish law enforcement official expressed surprise at the eventual arrival of Thai workers, given Thailand’s strict monitoring of migrant labor departures.

Thai Nationals Filed Over 270,000 Schengen Visa Applications in 2023

Thailand ranked as the ninth-largest country for Schengen visa applications in 2023, with 270,504 applications submitted. The majority were filed in Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway, accounting for 67.5% (182,661 applications) of the total.

Countries with the fewest applications from Thai nationals included Slovakia (121), Luxembourg (378), and Poland (1,020).

Regarding visa approval rates, Austria led with 97.5% of applications approved (12,859 out of 13,208). Switzerland and Italy also had high approval rates, while Sweden, Poland, and Belgium granted fewer visas, approving between 82% and 86% of applications.