New Applicants
Those who apply for the foreign media accreditation in Thailand for the first time. If the application is approved, he/she will be able to obtain the media visa, work permit and press card from relevant government agencies, which are valid for up to 12 months.
Sign up on the MMOS website to create a personal account.
Step 2
Log in and complete an application form for “New Application”. A list of required documents can be found here. Applicants will be asked to indicate where they would like to have their interview (either at the Department of Information or any Royal Thai Embassy/ Royal Thai Consulate-General) and where they would like to obtain their media visa (any Royal Thai Embassy/Royal Thai Consulate-General which does not have to be the same place where they have their interview)
Step 3
Employment verification and interview. The Department of Information will coordinate with the Royal Thai Embassy/ Royal Thai Consulate-General where the headquarters of the applicant’s organization locate to verify the applicant’s employment. The applicant will also be contacted to schedule his/ her interview.
Step 4
Application in consideration. The Department of Information will determine each application based on the information submitted as well as the interview in accordance with the Guidelines for Issuing Non-immigrant Visa Category “M” (Media Visa) and Official Visa Category “F” The applicant will be notified of the decision through the MMOS system and his/her designated email.
Step 5
Obtaining the media visa. Upon the approval of the application, the applicant will be given a reference number to be used when applying for a media visa at the designated Royal Thai Embassy/Royal Thai Consulate-General.
Step 6
Obtaining the accreditation letters. Upon entry into Thailand using the media visa, the applicant will have to log in to his/her MMOS account and upload the clearly scanned copy of his/her media visa and entry stamp from the Immigration Bureau. Three accreditation letters will then be issued to the applicant so he/she can obtain necessary documents required for working in Thailand as an accredited member of the media, namely:
-
Extension of visa and period of stay
the media visa is valid for three months with a single entry permit. Upon arrival in Thailand, the applicant will be granted a three-month stay in Thailand. The Department of Information will issue a letter addressed to the Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police, requesting the extension of the applicant’s visa and period of stay to a maximum period of one year. -
Work permit
a letter addressed to the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, requesting the issuance of a work permit to the applicant with a maximum period of one year. -
Press Card
if requested by the applicant, a letter addressed to the Department of Public Relations, Office of the Prime Minister, requesting the issuance of a press card to the applicant with a maximum period of one year.
The applicant will be notified through the MMOS system and his/her designated email when these letters are ready for collection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Ayudhya Road.
Step 7
Obtaining the documents required for working in Thailand. Upon receiving the three accreditation letters, the applicant will have to contact the relevant agencies to obtain the extension of visa and period of stay, work permit and press card, namely
-
Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police
One-Stop Center for Visa and Work Permit
18th Floor, Chamchuri Square Tower
319 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10300
Telephone : + 66 (0) 2209 1100
or
The Government Complex
3rd Floor, Tower B, South Wing
Chaeng Wattana Road, Laksi
Bangkok 10210
Telephone : + 66 (0) 2142 2222 -
Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour
One-Stop Center for Visa and Work Permit
18th Floor, Chamchuri Square Tower
319 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10300
Telephone : + 66 (0) 2209 1100
or
The Ministry of Labour
Mitmaitri Road, Dindaeng
Bangkok 10400
Telephone : + 66 (0) 2245 5801 -
Department of Public Relations, Office of the Prime Minister
Foreign Office, Ground Floor
9 Soi 30 (Aree Samphan), Rama VI Road, Phayathai
Bangkok 10400
Telephone : + 66 (0) 2618 2323 ext. 1113
- A copy of the applicant’s passport (with at least 6 months validity).
- A letter of reference/assignment letter from the headquarters of the applicant’s organization addressed to the “Director-General of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, confirming the appointment and job title of the applicant.
- Profile of the applicant.
- Profile of the organization, including but not limited to its background, scope of work, circulation and names of related publications (if available)
- Evidence of the organization registration with the Thai government or an overseas government.1
- The applicant’s criminal record, issued by the country of which the applicant is a national or by his/ her country of residence (if applicable).
- A copy of the applicant’s work during the year prior to the date of application, including work on Thailand (if applicable).2
Note 1 An official note from a foreign embassy in Thailand certifying that an applicant’s accrediting organization is a known and bona fide entity in that country can be used as evidence of the organization’s domestic registration. Furthermore, applicants from media organizations whose registration documents have previously been submitted are not required to resubmit such documentation.
2 First-time applicants are required to submit samples of work they have produced in the past year, which shall be related to Thailand, if applicable. However, if the applicant has not done any work on Thailand, he/she should submit other samples. At least ten samples are required, though more may be requested on a case-by-case basis when deemed necessary. In addition, English summaries are required when submitting samples of work in other languages. The summary must include key points and provide a clear overview of the subject matter.
For new application and organization change application, the process takes approximately one to two months. It is advisable that applicants for these two categories submit their application as early as possible.
