(Yicai Global) Nov. 22 -- Chinese  tourists, among others, may now apply online for a visa to visit  Thailand. The digital service is expected to shorten lines for visas on  arrival, which are endemic to Thai airports. 

Thailand Immigration Bureau has opened a  website to offer visa services for tourists from 21 countries,  state-backed Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday. 

Travelers may submit their applications  and receive the visa via e-mail within 24 hours after paying the fee of  THB525 (USD16 or CNY110) online. The e-visa is valid for one month after  the date of issuance. 

Thailand  has been jammed with tourists applying for visas on arrival, Surachet  Hakpal, the bureau's acting commissioner said in a press conference held  at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. With the new digital procedure,  filling in the application takes less than one minute instead of the two  hours of waiting at the airport, he added. 

E-visas  on arrival are available at the two airports of Don Muang International  Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, as well as the Phuket  International Airport. Flight passengers landing in northern Chiang Mai  will be able to also use the digital visa service from Nov. 26. Such  e-visas will be launched in the country's all aviation bases in future. 

Travelers can apply for the visa on the immigration bureau's dedicated website: www.evisathailand.com. 

Editor: Emmi Laine