Travelling to Thailand

[EssexAl]

I thiml it's probably a 'Thai village' thing. On another forum I use (not T-UK), a member there documented his experience of getting to Thailand and quarantine in a hotel in Bkk. But once he was out, he was out. He was a free man!  He didn't live in a village.

Absolutely, Caller. If I had been coming out of quarantine and into say a condo that I happened to own in Pattaya or some place else there wouldn't be any village involvement. As for the hospital guidance for "Home quarantine" - same thing. There is no app or any other way that I know of them checking up on people going home to their condo's so nothing to worry about.

Unfortunately, as "the only farang in the village" I stand out like a sore thumb!!

[Hector]

An (edited) excerpt from Thethaiger today:
“In an effort to revive the tourism industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says they’ve “relaxed” the criteria for issuing tourist visas allowing some foreigners to enter on a 60 day tourist visa which can be extended to a 90 day stay.
Requirements for a single entry tourist visa: first, travellers need money! Applicants need a bank account balance of at least $17,000 USD (500,000 baht) each month for the last 6 months. Applicants also need a medical certificate issued 72 hours before departure and health insurance coverage of at least $100,000 USD. The traveller must still go through a 14 day quarantine upon entering Thailand and must arrange and pay for the alternative state quarantine (ASQ) hotel at their own expense.”
One can't help wondering if Thailand is really serious about wanting tourists to return!

[Hector]

As something of a PS to my last post and the fact that I also mentioned (somewhere) that I hadnt seen any reaction from foreign travel agents to the Thai travel requirements, I was interested to see this letter in today's BP:

"I read in the Bangkok Post's Dec 8 report the cabinet has opened the country to tourists from the world over, in an effort to get the tourism economy going again. It noted that only 825 visitors have taken advantage of the existing Special Tourist Visa.

I reside in Canada and have visited Thailand about eight times in the last six years, as it is my favourite country of over 70 that I have been to. The new rules for Canadian visitors, (and probably all others, this point not yet certain) require that in order to obtain a Thai visa, among other normal documentation, we must submit a bank statement showing at least 20,000 baht, the equivalent of one thousand dollars. My bank manager assured me this is illegal in Canada and they will not back any losses if accounts are hacked. Only a court order can force such information release.

For this reason alone, all my clients who were looking to go to Thailand (I am a travel consultant), have indicated they will go elsewhere this year. There appears to be no record of any country doing this before.

Another problem is the need to book a hotel online, which my computer warns is not secure. This site lists the 107 hotels approved for Alternative State Quarantine. The least expensive hotel, and only one at this rate, is 27,000 baht for the 14-day period....they go up from there, with the average at around 40,000 to 50,000 baht for the quarantine period.

Thirdly, after all this red tape, one must request a Certificate of Entry, online, and include a copy of their travel insurance policy for travel and Covid coverage, and the hotel information. My policy, issued recently, is a 44-page booklet.

When one takes all this into account in trip-planning, it is my view that the return to Thailand for tourists is going to be a small trickle, not a flowing stream, until major changes are made. I hope to return to Thailand soon, under normal conditions. The people there are the greatest."

TAT, please note!

[Coolkorat]

As vaccinations begin to roll out worldwide I assume there will be some form of 'Yellow Fever'-type record? A global database in some form or other. I don't know how much interconnection exists currently regarding passports - when immigration scan your passport are they accessing their own database, a global database or something else? Will this data be added to the electronic chip?

[Roger]

Makes it easier to return from the UK to Thailand - no 'fit to fly' documents needed just a negative test befire departure I guess and 7 days in a quarantine hotel . . . .

"Tanee Sangrat, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that travelers — Thais and non-Thais — are no longer required to have fit-to-fly documents issued by Thai consulates from Thursday. Foreigners, however, still have to show a negative COVID-19 test result.

He said that people who are certified to have been vaccinated will be allowed to spend seven days in special quarantine hotels, compared to the previous 14 days. Unvaccinated people have to spend 10 days in quarantine unless they arrive from one of 11 countries — all in sub-Saharan Africa — in which case they have to do the full two weeks."

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2021/04/02/thailand-reduces-quarantine-paperwork-for-vaccinated/

[Teessider]

From April 1 the pre departure covid test requirement will be dropped. This is good news for travellers as it eliminates the possible requirrment for last minute flight changes. However it also means the increased likelihood of bring onboard with covid positive fellow travellers. This means that the arrival pcr test is a bit of a lottery. Does the required insurance cover this. Anyone used a thai insurance company for this?

[Roger]

From May 1st, although the Thailand Pass is still required, vaccinated PAX will not need a PCR test either before departure or on arrival. No other tests either. Insurance required is now $10,000 cover/30 days

Unvax PAX need 5 days in Q still - PCR on Day 5

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/breaking-thailand-drops-pcr-test-on-arrival-no-sha-hotel-atk-test-optional?

Next to go - the 'Pass' itself ?? Shouldn't be too long IMHO   

[rdrokit]

I think by July there will be no Thailand Pass requirement.

[Alfie]

Thailand Pass to end on June 1

The cancellation of Thailand Pass registration is expected to take place on June 1, with tourists using their TM6 immigration form for vaccine declaration, says the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

After the Test and Go scheme is scrapped from May 1, the removal of Thailand Pass will create a more seamless travel experience and stimulate more travel to the country, said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

He said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul already agreed to terminate the Thailand Pass scheme.

Eliminating Thailand Pass means Thai embassies and consulates can reduce their workload, as they worked to help approve the required documents.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration must approve this proposal at its meeting next month for the requirement to void.

Tourists might be required to complete their vaccination record on the TM6 immigration form upon arrival, with immigration officers responsible for screening the form or vaccine passport, said Mr Phiphat.

However, the government hasn't decided to step up screening measures by mandating booster doses, as the vaccine coverage of each country differs.

"If the infection rate caused by the Omicron variant subsides by June 1, the remaining travel regulations must be unlocked as the country prepares to announce Covid-19 as endemic," he said.

Bangkok Post

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2301714/thailand-pass-to-end-on-june-1

[Teessider]

Submitted applications for Thailand Pass this morning. Received approval 10 hours later. Tickets booked with Emirates for next Wednesday. 26 and a half months since last there.

[Roger]

Teess that's brilliant - happy for you 

26 months   

I remember your first post about trying to return - the logistics of visits to London from up there with C o E and tests etc. It's a lot easier now than then.

Hopefully all this excitement will disturb your roll on the EPL successes      

ATB

[Teessider]

I refused to go to London esp while Covid was raging. Wife's Thai passport then expired and Thai embassy insisted we go to London for a travel document. We will both travel on UK passports. What made it easier was the no test on arrival change.

[Coolkorat]

I refused to go to London esp while Covid was raging. Wife's Thai passport then expired and Thai embassy insisted we go to London for a travel document. We will both travel on UK passports. What made it easier was the no test on arrival change.

Make sure she shows her expired Thai passport on arrival in BKK. Not the same country, but my wife travelled to Brazil on a British passport. On arrival she showed this to Brazilian immigration and they knew she had an expired Brazilian passport, telling her she should show this first. We didn't want to renew the passport in London because it would involve travelling to London and enduring the unbelievable bureaucracy and nonsense beloved of Brazil. I assume if you are Thai it doesn't matter if your passport is current or expired, and it will be simpler and easier to renew her Thai passport in Thailand.

[Teessider]

I have always been a bit wary of Thai immigration wrt dual nationality but wife thinks its worth trying to explain to them in order to avoid problems wrt overstay.

[Coolkorat]

I have always been a bit wary of Thai immigration wrt dual nationality but wife thinks its worth trying to explain to them in order to avoid problems wrt overstay.

I think she's right: she is a Thai citizen so the validity of her passport doesn't really matter (as she is, both in effect and in reality, coming home). Trying to unwind her status if she uses the British passport might be problematic.

[Teessider]

Success at Thai immigration, wife allowed in on expired Thai passport plus id card despite being a different surname to that on Thailand Pass. Resting up for the night in airport hotel before taxi to Korat in the morning.

[caller]

My other half used her expired Thai passport with no issues whatsoever. Did the usual of leaving on her UK passport, using the expired passport to enter Thailand, left on her new Thai passport and entered the UK on her UK passport.

A passport is really only needed when entering a foreign country, not your own, and she will have her Thai ID as well

[Roger]

Congrats Teess. You made it. Welcome home