A piece of new information was announced last August 2024 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) that Thailand will issue a new protocol for visa-except countries to enter before entering the kingdom of Thailand. The latest ETA will be effective starting on December 1, 2024, to track all the foreigners who will enter the kingdom and to speed up the immigration process. It will also bring convenience to foreigners.

Who needs to Apply for ETA?

The countries that need to apply for an ETA will be the 93 visa-exempt countries, but it will be a different story for three surrounding countries of Thailand which are Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia and they don't need to apply for ETA to enter the kingdom.
The ETA will grant and issue a 60-day stay to visit the Kingdom of Thailand and you will have the option to extend for 30 days if you enjoy staying in the country.

Am I Affected?

If you're part of the 93 visa-exempt countries you have to apply for the ETA, and I will be listing down the list of countries:

Europe: 43 countries
Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and United Kingdom
Asia: 27 countries
Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan
North America: 10 countries
Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and United States
South America: 7 countries
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Peru
Africa: 4 countries
Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia
Australia (Oceania): 2 countries
Australia, and New Zealand

How Can I get the ETA?

It will be easy to obtain the ETA and it can be done with your mobile phone as long as you have internet,  and it will be quick and convenient to access the www.thaievisa.com.th which will be a standard entry point to get it

How much it will cost?

Obtaining the ETA will cost you no fee, yes It's free. It's just a piece of advance registration information before entering the kingdom of Thailand and it will be similar to the Philippines eGovPH application which you can download on Android and IOS, declare the travel and departure information for a smooth and hassle-free entry to the country.

Having an ETA will ensure smooth entry into the Kingdom.

Well to make it clear, this will make smooth entry to the kingdom, but remember that it does not guarantee entry into the kingdom of Thailand. Immigration officers retain the right to refuse entry if deemed necessary.
As Thailand rolls out this new system, travelers need to keep an eye on the latest updates. This streamlined process is set to make visiting Thailand even more accessible and convenient, ensuring a positive experience for all.