Travellers are being urged to remain vigilant against visa application scams as outbound travel from Thailand continues to rise.
Scams include fake visa appointment letters and requests for additional payments in exchange for so-called fast-track visa approvals, according to VFS Global, a visa outsourcing firm.
“With increasing outbound travel from Thailand, demand for visa appointments is rising,” said Simon Peachey, VFS Global’s chief operating officer for Australasia, China, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. “Unfortunately, higher demand can create opportunities for scammers to target applicants with false promises or attempts to profit illegally.”
VFS Global said one of the most common scams in the region involves fraudsters offering expedited visa processing in return for extra fees. Others sell fake appointment letters or request upfront payments to personal bank accounts.
The company stressed that it does not sell visa appointments, which are free and can only be booked through its official website or relevant government portals. It also does not offer priority access or sell appointment slots, nor does it work with third-party agents for appointment allocation.
Payments for visa services should only be made through the official VFS Global website or at authorised visa application centres, the company said.
Mr Peachey emphasised that neither VFS Global nor any third party can influence visa decisions, which are made solely by the respective governments.
He added that VFS Global provides an official online channel for the public to report suspected scams and actively monitors fraudulent activity, including identifying and taking down websites that impersonate the company. Victims of visa fraud are also advised to file police reports so cases can be properly investigated.
Fraud cases targeting visa applicants in Thailand are less common than in some other Asian markets, such as India, largely due to population size, Mr Peachey noted.
He also clarified that VFS Global does not provide immigration or overseas employment services, despite claims made by some scammers.
Travellers are advised to apply for visas as soon as flights and accommodation are confirmed, as some countries accept applications up to 180 days before travel.
Outbound travel from Thailand is expected to continue growing this year, driven by work, study and tourism, with a strong baht further supporting overseas travel demand.
Last year, the top destinations for visa applications by Thai travellers through VFS Global were the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
VFS Global reiterated that data protection and information security remain top priorities, with personal data used solely for visa processing and deleted once applications are completed.
In Thailand, the company serves 26 governments through 38 visa application centres across Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.