BANGKOK, August 29, 2026 — Vihok News
Thailand is moving ahead with plans to expand automated immigration gates for international arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with 31 additional nationalities identified for the programme as authorities prepare for the year-end travel high season.
Suvarnabhumi can handle around 190,000 passengers a day during peak periods, while international arrivals currently average about 70,000 to 75,000 passengers daily. Between roughly 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., immigration checkpoints can receive around 5,000 to 6,000 passengers per hour, putting heavy pressure on staffed counters.
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has approved in principle the expansion of arrival Auto Gates to passport holders from 31 additional nationalities:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Together with Singapore and Hong Kong, which were already covered under the arrival Auto Gate system, the planned expansion would bring the total to 33 nationalities and jurisdictions.
Authorities said the selection process considered several factors, including immigration refusal records, passport strength, legal requirements and national-security considerations.
Returning visitors expected to get access first
Being on the nationality list does not mean every traveler will immediately be able to use an arrival Auto Gate.
The system is expected to prioritize travelers who have previously entered Thailand and already have biometric information stored in the Immigration Bureau’s database.
First-time visitors will still need to pass through a staffed immigration counter for identity and biometric registration before becoming eligible to use automated processing on future trips, subject to the system’s requirements.
Officials estimate the expansion could make around 6.5 million additional travelers eligible for Auto Gate processing, along with approximately 900,000 long-term visa holders.
Once fully implemented, automated gates could process up to 53% of international arrivals.
For passengers who do not require additional security screening, Auto Gate processing can take around 24 to 30 seconds per person, potentially reducing queues and allowing immigration officers to focus on travelers who require closer inspection.
Thailand has already opened automated immigration channels for departing foreign e-Passport holders of all nationalities since December 15, 2023. The latest expansion is aimed at tackling the more difficult bottleneck on the international arrivals side.
Authorities are also working to make better use of all three immigration zones, adjust staffing during peak flight periods and study additional immigration facilities at the airport’s Satellite Terminal.
The government has also reminded foreign travelers that the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC, is free of charge, amid concerns about unofficial websites charging fees.
What travelers should know
One important distinction remains: the nationalities have been identified, but that does not mean the expanded arrival Auto Gate service is already fully operational for all of them.
Implementation is expected to be phased according to final approvals, equipment readiness, biometric records and security requirements. Travelers should therefore check the latest Immigration Bureau or airport guidance before departure.
Vihok News
Vihok News Sources:
Royal Thai Government
Royal Thai Immigration Bureau
Bangkok Biz News
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