Entry into Thailand

[kangarunner]

Anyone here in the know about getting back into Thailand?

I read a few articles saying that Phuket is the only entry point that is open right now.

https://www.timeout.com/news/thailand-i ... ths-092920

[Yohan]

Unfortunately at this moment there is no way to enter Thailand as a tourist. For Phuket you have to fulfill about 25 requirements, only a few rich people who have time and don't care about money can do this.

I am also ready to go anytime to my second home in Pattaya, but I am forced still to wait it out in my home in Japan. My 12-months-Thai visa/multiple entry expired already. Thai Consulate closed in Japan. No way to go as I am not a businessman, not a student in Thailand, no Thai family, and there are no commercial flights allowed, only charter for returning people and so on.

You need to stay 14 days in quarantine at your cost and they force you for these 14 days into expensive resort hotels in Phuket, you need various certificates to allowed to board even such a plane - if it is available...and so on and so on.

How long will this continue? No idea, some hope for a vaccine, but I am sceptical, it takes years to develop a safe vaccine - sometimes a vaccine was never found, like for the HIV virus...

Some hope, that missing money will speed up Thailand to open, but the other Asian countries are doing the same as Thailand... which country will open first? After that, others will follow soon.

----------------------------------------------------

I just wait, unfortunately this covid infections are not finished yet. I consider all this isolation policy of many Asian countries as exaggerated and business damaging. How can you close all travel routes for tourists? Keep a huge number of airlanes grounded, dismiss airline and hotel staff.... for what?

Covid is real, not a hoax but it is nothing else but a strong flu-like disease and of course a big business for the pharma industry and medical doctors and hospitals.

Here in Japan, comparing deaths month by month there is no difference between 2018, 2019 and 2020. Japan as about 1.3 million deaths per year.
So far there are about 86000 infections, 78000 recovered and only 1600 died - almost all of them were 80+ or even 90+ or had otherwise serious medical issues before they have been infected. In the province where I am living in Japan there are only 8 people in hospital in isolation, nobody died and this out of 2 million people....

[kangarunner]

There's a lot of news articles saying that Phuket is open to foreign tourists. But I cannot find the official source from any Thai government site.

https://asiatimes.com/2020/10/thailand- ... t-flights/

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... to-open-up

[kangarunner]

Unfortunately at this moment there is no way to enter Thailand as a tourist. For Phuket you have to fulfill about 25 requirements, only a few rich people who have time and don't care about money can do this.

IF you are 100% sure on this, then please cite the source / link / article where it says these requirements.

[Gali]

Unfortunately at this moment there is no way to enter Thailand as a tourist. For Phuket you have to fulfill about 25 requirements, only a few rich people who have time and don't care about money can do this.

IF you are 100% sure on this, then please cite the source / link / article where it says these requirements.

Btw. If you intersted in this thai visa forum is a good source of information

[Yohan]

There's a lot of news articles saying that Phuket is open to foreign tourists. But I cannot find the official source from any Thai government site.

You cannot find any official source as Phuket is NOT open to foreign tourists in general.

It will be open to people, who are holding a special tourist visa, valid only for charter flights and private airplane.
After arrival you have to spend 14 nights in quarantine in a very expensive resort hotels and cannot go anywhere.

https://thaiest.com/blog/thailand-speci ... %20country.
https://thaiest.com/blog/list-of-altern ... s-thailand
https://thaiest.com/blog/thailand-alter ... lsq-hotels

----------------------------------------

Keep in mind that 30-days without visa status is suspended.

Keep in mind that at this moment there are no general tourist visa issued, if you cannot find any other reason why you want to enter Thailand, for example medical treatment....

What kind of visa do you intend to apply?

https://www.thephuketnews.com/four-airp ... -77544.php

------------------------------

Official sources, you can check out all webpages of Thai embassies worldwide....

In my case it is now possible since 3rd of October to apply again for a retirement related visa.
Conditions are re-edited, a bit more complicated than before,

http://site.thaiembassy.jp/en/visa/type/9512/

I could enter Bangkok from Tokyo, as there are some special flights
http://vabo.thaiembassy.jp/vabo/

The additional problem is however about this Covid-19 restrictions, totally exaggerated rules.
After arrival I have to go by private pre-arranged taxi to a hotel for isolation for 14 days...despite I am owner of a condominium in Pattaya.
https://thaiest.com/bookings/alsq/best-bella-pattaya

This will cost minimum of baht 39.000,- (and not per room, but PER PERSON) no idea what is the surcharge for using the double room as a single.

-------------------------------------

However consider the costs....

Alone the medical certificates I need from Japanese hospitals about general testing and Covid are around baht 25.000,-
Airplane how much is unclear
After you get a reservation on a plane, you have to apply for a Certificate of Entry (COE) as you are not a Thai citizen:
Read this page very carefully up to the end, please,
http://site.thaiembassy.jp/en/news/announcement/9426/

About health insurance, for 3 months including Covid-19, I got an offer from a Thai agent (possible up to 80 years old, I am now 68) of baht 27.000,-

Well, have a nice trip - I will not accept such conditions to visit Thailand despite I have my own rooms there....
As said, my life in Japan is nice, I can wait...hopefully next year something will change.

Here you find comments of some people who want to enter Thailand nevertheless
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2986063 ... ial_plugin

[Yohan]

http://site.thaiembassy.jp/en/news/announcement/9426/

Flight for non-Thai nationals in October 2020

**Please purchase an air ticket directly from the airline before registering for the Certificate of Entry (COE)**

1. Certificate of Entry (COE)

1.1 The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is currently restricting international passenger flights into the Kingdom of Thailand. Non-Thai nationals will be allowed to fly to Thailand only by special flights under the permission of the Royal Thai Government. The non-Thai nationals, who wish to travel on such flights, will therefore need to apply for the Certificate of Entry into the Kingdom of Thailand (COE) as well as to comply with certain requirements.

1.2 Required documents for the COE application

(1) The biodata (photo) page of passport;

(2) The visa page or re-entry stamp page of passport; Guidance for applying visa (download here) , Visa reservation (click here)

(3) Air ticket or e-ticket reservation document;

(4) A completed Declaration Form; (download here)

(5) Health insurance with a minimum coverage of 100,000 USD, covering the whole intended period of stay. In case that the applicant intends to stay in the Kingdom for more than one year, the health insurance should cover at least the period of one year. The insurance must state explicitly that it covers the medical treatment related to COVID-19;

(6) A reservation document of 14 days Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ), except for Medical treatment purpose; (http://www.hsscovid.com/)

(7) Documents indicating the reason for entry:

Ø For business purpose: A copy of a work permit or a certificate issued by Ministry of Labour of Thailand or the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) or the certificate issued by Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT)

Ø For permanent residents: A copy of Certificate of Residence and re-entry permit stamp

Ø For immediate family members of Thai nationals: A copy of a marriage certificate (in the case of spouse), a birth certificate (in the case of children), or other official evidence of parental relationship with a Thai national (in the case of parents)

Ø For immediate family members of foreign business persons:

- A copy of a work permit or a certificate issued by Ministry of Labour of Thailand or the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) of the foreign worker or the certificate issued by Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) of the foreign worker;

- A copy of a marriage certificate (in the case of spouse), a birth certificate (in the case of children), or other official evidence of parental relationship with the foreign worker (in the case of parents).

Ø For study purpose:

- A copy of document certifying the applicant’s student status or a letter of acceptance from a Thai university or school which is under the supervision of the Thai relevant authority.

- If travelling with parents or guardians, the parents or the guardians must present official documents proving their relationship with the student.

Ø For medical treatment (except the treatment of COVID-19):

- A copy of Confirmation Letter from a Thai hospital authorised as Alternative Hospital Quarantine (AHQ) certifying the traveler’s patient status and confirming the provision of 14-day quarantine in the hospital facility, with an official stamp from the Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand (example)

- An evidence of financial support for all medical expenses incurred in the Kingdom of Thailand;

- For accompanying assistants, A copy of Affidavit (of Support Letter with an official stamp from the Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand (example)

Ø Valid non-re (retirement) visa with re-entry permit or non O-A/ O-X visa holders (long stay)
1.3 Please be reminded that a COE and a visa alone do not grant permission to enter into the Kingdom of Thailand. Kindly read the below information under No. 3 (Required documents to be presented at the port of embarkation and upon entry into the Kingdom of Thailand) and No. 4 (Measures required upon entry into the Kingdom of Thailand) carefully.

2. COE Application Procedure

2.1 Make sure that the applicant has a valid visa or a re-entry permit

2.2 All applicants need to submit ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS in PDF files and add the number of documents in the file names, for example: 1 passport photo, 2 visa or re-entry page, 3 air ticket, 4 declaration form, 5 health insurance, 6 ASQ reservation, 7 reason for entry

2.3 Please specify an email’s subject as “desired travel date: reason for entry: name surname of applicant”

Example: 1 October 2020: Business: Mr. Taro YAMADA

1 October 2020: Business Family Member: Mrs. Sakura YAMADA

2.4 Required application documents shall be e-mailed to one of these addresses.

(1) The Royal Thai Embassy, Tokyo : econ.tyo@mfa.mail.go.th

(2) The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Osaka : rtcgosaka.visa@gmail.com (*The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka is in the process of organizing flights for non-Thai nationals from Kansai International Airport in November 2020. Details of the flights will be announced in the Consulate-General's website in due course)

(3) The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka : visa.fuk@mfa.mail.go.th

2.5 All applicants need to fill in the Online Registration Form
15 October 2020 (TG643) Google Form 7 7 October 2020
18 October 2020 (TG643) Google Form 8 9 October 2020
22 October 2020 (TG643) Google Form 9 13 October 2020
25 October 2020 (TG643) Google Form 10 15 October 2020
29 October 2020 (TG643) Google Form 11 20 October 2020
16 October 2020 (JL031) Google Form 12 8 October 2020
23 October 2020 (JL031) Google Form 13 14 October 2020
30 October 2020 (NH847) Google Form 14 21 October 2020

*The registration with INCOMPLETED information or beyond the deadline will be considered invalid and void.

2.6 The COE will be sent to the applicant via e-mail around 4 working days prior to departure.

3. Required documents to be presented at the port of embarkation and upon entry into the Kingdom of Thailand

3.1 The passenger’s passport with visa page or re-entry permit;

3.2 Certificate of Entry (COE);

3.3 Declaration Form (completed with signature) (an original paper, not a copy)

3.4 Fit to Fly Health Certificate, issued in English (an original paper, not a copy);

3.5 Medical Certificate with RT-PCR laboratory result indicating that COVID -19 is not detected, issued in English and not more than 72 hours before travelling[1] (an original paper, not a copy)

3.6 Health insurance policy over 100,000 US$ and covers COVID-19;

3.7 ASQ reservation document.

4. Measures required upon entry into the Kingdom of Thailand

4.1 Due to current COVID-19 pandemic situation, all travelers arriving the Kingdom of Thailand are requested to submit a T.8 form upon their entry. The form is available to register online through AOT phone application at https://aot-app.kdlab.ai

4.2 Upon entry into the Kingdom of Thailand, all travelers will be required to undergo a medical check-up performed by medical personnel designated by the Thai authorities, and at least 14 days of quarantine at an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ).

[Yohan]

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/hard ... -right-now

Hard truths about travelling to Thailand, right now

Nice summery to read about the present Thai visa situation - simply said the situation is rather chaotic, the future not predictable.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.thailongstay.co.th/index.html
http://www.thailongstay.co.th/stv_visa.html

Also worth to take a look.... sounds like a private company with tourism authority shareholder?
http://www.thailongstay.co.th/about.html

No idea if such an agent can be helpful....but the rules about a special tourist visa are clearly explained.

[kangarunner]

@Yohan Thanks for the detailed info. So all those news articles are just hype or misleading news. I could have believed the news article that Phuket is open and then booked a flight to Phuket only to be rejected on arrival and sent back. From now on I will keep a close eye on Thailand news.

[Yohan]

@kangarunner
As you correctly say, a lot of misleading and incomplete news. See link below...

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... urn-329314
Foreigners owning property in Thailand welcome to return

This is another strange idea how to attract 'tourists' and to welcome them to return -

but only if you have too much money and are willing to put it into a Thai account.

From where even did they get this 'news'? No idea of the source because the Thai Embassy in Tokyo does not know anything about it....

In my case, yes, I own a condominium in my name since almost 20 years and I have some money in the local Thai bank account for my daily expenses and house maintenance fees.... I have a retirement allowance clearly above the required minimum of baht 800.000,- per year, but surely I will never keep in a Thai banking account USD 100.000,- (approx. 3 million baht) - just asking for too much.

And not to forget to mention all these Covid-19 restrictions, testings and overpriced expensive 14 days quarantine - this costs a lot of money and time until they let you use your own condominium ....

About myself, I am waiting until this Covid restrictions will end - I cannot blame however only Thailand, because other Asian countries are also very restrictive, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.....they all have strange and difficult rules until they let you in their own country.

[Spencer]

Unfortunately at this moment there is no way to enter Thailand as a tourist. For Phuket you have to fulfill about 25 requirements, only a few rich people who have time and don't care about money can do this.

IF you are 100% sure on this, then please cite the source / link / article where it says these requirements.

Btw. If you intersted in this thai visa forum is a good source of information

Can you post links to thaivisa thread bout requirements now october

[Gali]

Unfortunately at this moment there is no way to enter Thailand as a tourist. For Phuket you have to fulfill about 25 requirements, only a few rich people who have time and don't care about money can do this.

IF you are 100% sure on this, then please cite the source / link / article where it says these requirements.

Btw. If you intersted in this thai visa forum is a good source of information

Can you post links to thaivisa thread bout requirements now october

Sorry Spence I am quite busy with other stuff. The thread is huge btw.

Latest I read the Chinese were not allowed to get into Thailand. They did not get a refund. So I would say Thailand will not be open for awhile for normal tourists.

[Yohan]

Be aware, that Thailand is not so cheap anymore, if you are 50+ better save more money for yourself and do NOT depend on any spouse visa from a Thai woman....

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattay ... isa-334250

Pattaya wives demand a price to file British husbands’ marriage visa
November 19, 2020

Farang-Thai marriages aren’t always a success story.

In a sign that some Thai-farang marriages are breaking down, several Brits are having trouble persuading their wives to hand over or even produce the paperwork necessary for them to obtain a one-year extension of stay based on marriage. For example, the documentation requires the production of the Thai wife’s ID card, the original marriage certificate and confirmation from Thai neighbours that the couple are living together in harmony. But what happens if the wife refuses to cooperate?

In one case, which led to a near shouting match near the immigration complex carpark in Jomtien, the Thai wife demanded her British spouse hand over 50,000 baht or she would refuse to confirm to officials that the marriage was still alive. In another case, which was sent to a lawyer for an attempted compromise, the wife said she had hidden the original marriage certificate and would only produce it if the family car was put into her sole name.

For some, marriage is a prison sentence.
Immigration officials say that the easiest one year extension of stay to obtain is for retirement and is available to foreigners aged over 50 whether they are married or single. However, it requires a lump sum or annual income totaling at least 800,000 baht, whereas – for married men only – the floor limit drops dramatically to 400,000 baht if the marriage extension route is chosen. It is this attraction of “need less money” that has led many foreign men to renew their one year extensions via the much more complicated “marriage visa” route rather than the much simpler retirement option.

62-year old Richard, from Somerset, said, “I married a Thai nine years ago and we have always visited the immigration bureau jointly to provide all the documents required as well as my bank book showing 400,000 baht. However, our marriage has been falling apart of late and my wife is now demanding a cash payment for her cooperation. She says that, otherwise, I should apply for the retirement option but she knows I do not have the 800,000 baht. My only other recourse is to go back to England and the wife says she couldn’t care less.”

A lawyer at V2B International Law Services said, “Sadly, a growing number of long-term marriages of this sort seem to be in trouble. The British husband has often been suffering a declining income year after year, perhaps because of the deterioration of the value of the pound or due to loss of capital over the years, which has led to marital discontent. Another factor is that Thai wives are now picking up on the fact that they will not receive any state pension if their British husband dies unless they already have a national insurance number which very few do.”

V2B says the problem is not confined to Brits, but most of the cases so far have involved them. “Lots of Brits came to retire in Thailand 20 years ago and some are now sometimes finding Pattaya is no longer a cheap living option for their white-haired years. British pensions have declined in absolute terms and the rising cost of living here, plus medical insurance and hospital charges, have clearly created mayhem in some marriages.”

Although no formal figures are issued in Thailand, many sources believe that the cost of living here has at least doubled in the last 20 years.

[Winston]

Thailand allows unvaccinated travelers now, however you have to get quarantined and apply for a Thailand pass and buy medical insurance too, which is a pain in the ass. See below.

https://tp.consular.go.th/

https://tqm-app.com/static/thailandpass/index.html

3 Options for getting into Thailand now. The third option does not require vaccination but requires quarantine and travel insurance. See below.

https://tp.consular.go.th/en/plan

[Yohan]

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... end-391875

Nothing really decided yet, but under consideration.

Unpopular Thailand Pass entry rules may end

The Thai tourism ministry has indicated that Thailand may simplify the rules of entry as early as July 1. This is the provisional date when Bangkok authorities may reclassify the coronavirus pandemic as an epidemic. The principal advantage would be to end pre-authorization for vacationers and enable them to fly to Thailand armed only with their documents: passport, airticket and a negative pre-flight RT-PCR test result.

Tourist Authority governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that surging oil prices and the invasion of Ukraine had dented earlier predictions that international tourism was about to surge, thus indicating the need for immigration liberalization for short-stay tourists. At present, they must register in advance via the government website, obtain medical insurance, show a pre-flight PCR negative test and book a hotel on arrival for a temporary quarantine of several hours pending a second health check.

Some neighboring countries are already introducing simplified entry procedures. The Philippines require a pre-flight PCR test, but the government website insists only on “self monitoring” for a week after arrival. Cambodia does require an ATK test, taken at the airport on arrival, but claims the process takes only 20 minutes. Malaysia is set to introduce visas on arrival from April 1, with evidence of a pre-flight PCR test and “an ATK test taken within 24 hours of arrival”, although the precise bureaucracy is not clear.

Vietnam and Laos are both reviewing their tourist entry procedures, but joining a tour group is the main loophole at present for those wishing to visit. Thailand’s land borders with all neighboring countries remain closed for foreign tourists for now, although there are reports of some crossings at Cambodian and Laos entry points. The opening of Thai border posts is believed to be under review to coincide with a projected July 1 liberalization. Insisting on health tests at Thai land frontiers would be a gigantic problem because of the numbers involved.
Thailand is also considering abolition of the mandatory Covid insurance of at least US$20,000, downgraded from US$50,000 last month. Although the Philippines still insists on insurance worth at least US$35,000, the Cambodian government website shows no compulsory cover for tourists (although some are required to have a bond worth US$2,000 in case they catch the disease) and there is no mention of mandatory insurance in the latest Malaysian announcements of intent.

Travel agents say that pre-registration on government websites is the biggest drawback to a tourist revival in Thailand. But the long-distance market is being badly hit by the deteriorating international political situation. The Thai authorities will likely concentrate on short-haul visitors, especially from India, with travel bubbles already on the cards. However, the collapse of Thailand Pass (if it happens) will be welcomed by long-haul fans of Thailand from Britain, mainland Europe, Australia and beyond. Thailand is hoping to reach a 626 billion baht inflow this year from international tourists. Without significant immigration letups, that simply can’t happen.