BKKBike09

PR holders also: 1. don't have to bother with the TM30 nonsense (because PR holders go onto a standard blue Thai household registration book) 2. can (in normal times) register to use the e-gates at Suvarnbhumi which, if a frequent traveller, can be a big time saver. 3. if buying a condo, don't need to get the Central Bank letter stating that the funds were brought in for that purpose (which form is needed for repatriating said funds, unless things have changed recently) PR is a hassle to apply for and is expensive but it offers a great deal of security to holders once obtained e.g. lose your job, don't need to worry about visa; get divorced, don't need to worry about visa etc. Plus id doesn't expire if you leave Thailand, as long as you come back once a year. That's unlike many countries (eg Singapore) where you lose PR if absent for more than X number of years.

Actually I was wearing a mask, where mandated, in Bangkok, which is where I caught Covid. I did take it off, of course, to eat in restaurants, which is likely where I caught it. Back to my original post: when I was in the UK subsequently I presented no risk to anyone and hence chose not to continue to wear a mask just to make other people feel 'comfortable'. You and I clearly have very different views on all this, which at least makes for interesting debate.

No. Let me make it simple for you. I said: "I greatly enjoyed spending last month in UK, going about my daily life without a mask. Since I was double-vaxxed effective early July, still caught Covid in late September (very mild symptoms), and had a further jab in UK in early Nov ..." Last month was November. I had positive LFTs on 23 and 26 September; I immediately self-isolated at home for 10 days. I then had negative PCR tests on 14 and 29 October. So me being unmasked in UK from 1-30 November presented zero risk to anyone, hence my lack of interest in wearing a mask simply to make other people feel better. Anyone that worried about catching Covid from other people should only wear a medical-grade N95/FFP2 mask, changed at least 2-3 daily, rather than a basic cloth covering or surgical mask pulled up and down numerous times during the day.

Spot on. Just as every death - regardless of cause - isn't an equal tragedy on a societal level. The death of someone in their late 70s who's lived a full life is far less tragic than the death of a 5-year old from, say, conflict, malnutrition or malaria [U-5 mortality from malaria (2019) - est. 274,000 - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria] Vaccination against Covid should be strongly encouraged by government, but not mandated - especially when long-term data on possible vaccination side effects in those currently at minimal risk of serious illness (healthy individuals aged under 40) is not available. There may be no significant side effects, but no-one can possibly know that at this point. I greatly enjoyed spending last month in UK, going about my daily life without a mask. Since I was double-vaxxed effective early July, still caught Covid in late September (very mild symptoms), and had a further jab in UK in early Nov, I really didn't see why I should continue to wear a mask simply to make other people feel comfortable. By that reasoning, since one can never know whether another person presents a risk, we will all have to wear masks for ever. No thanks.

In the case of Brits, in the past (pre 2018) it was required that applicants executed, in person at the Embassy, a Declaration of Intent to renounce UK citizenship if Thai nationality was granted. It was (is) a criminal offence to make knowingly a false declaration but, as has been pointed out, intentions can change for many reasons. Nowadays the Embassy will not witness this declaration but instead issue a mail order letter which basically says "this person has said they'll give up their British citizenship but UK doesn't care and won't stop him/her having two nationalities". Again, the Thai authorities may not care, but this is making it clear that the embassy expects the person won't do it, so maybe making it harder for the Thai authorities to turn a blind eye. In the past the e-gates of course meant that one never had to deal with an immigration officer rifling through a passport looking for a visa. In these Covid times, however, the e-gates are out of action. This won't be forever and indeed the immigration officers likely don't care, but leaving on a brand spanking new Thai passport with no visa stamps would make it obvious a second passport was being used if on a direct flight to a country where Thai nationals need a visa. Hence flying to, say, UK, via Qatar, or some other country that offers visa free entry for Thais, might be an idea to consider. Thai nationals - those who were born Thai - can hold other nationalities. But naturalised Thais are not allowed to do that, under present regulations. Luckily for Brits, if born before UK Nationality Act 1981, it is allowed to reclaim citizenship if forced to renounce it for the purpose of obtaining a second nationality. It's a drawn out process, but it is an option. Basically any applicant for Thai nationality would be well advised to bear in mind the - however remote it may be - possibility of having to give up one's original nationality.

I arrived yesterday afternoon. The documents asked for at SVB were passport, boarding pass, Thailand Pass and PCR test. I had paper copies but some other people only had e-copies. Really quick process. From leaving the aircraft to getting in hotel car was about 25 minutes. Qatar flights from both UK and Doha were full (Economy). Check in at LHR took two hours ... docs required there were passport, Thailand Pass, negative PCR test, Hotel Booking, Insurance. Again, you can use e-copies (I forgot to print the insurance letter).

That's interesting. I think that's updated UK guidance because when I left start of November, it was very clear that Sinovac / Sinopharm weren't approved in UK. It also didn't say anything about mix and match of country programmes: when I filled in the Passenger Form for UK it only allowed one choice of country for where you had been vaccinated.

I don't know. Maybe because UK regs still don't approve mix and match for Dose 1 / Dose 2, so could be linked to that (in terms of whether you are considered fully vaxxed or not)? This is what the NHS says about it (for walk in): Availability of vaccines If you’ve already had your 1st dose, you need to have the same vaccine for your 2nd dose.

As the OP has said, don't need any outpatient coverage - that's just part of my existing policy. Also as per OP's response, service onboard is top notch. Back to normal pretty much. Cabin crew wear masks but that's it.

At check in in Bangkok I had to show my vaccine certs - in my case one print out from NHS for the UK jab and the yellow vaccine passport for the one jab from Thailand. All they cared about was to check that both jabs were the same vax (AZ in my case). The UK Passenger Form asks what country's programme you've been vaccinated; you can't select more than one country so I said Thailand, given that's where the second dose was received. Didn't have to upload any screenshots or enter any specific details like dates of vax etc (AFAIR).

Does this count as an OTOP product like say salted eggs or baskets?

I think it's quite possible no checking is done and that it's an 'honour system'. I had one jab from UK in April and one from Thailand in July, so there was no single record to be checked either in UK or Thailand to confirm I am double vaxxed (so I got a further jab here in UK in early Nov just so I can show two jabs from one country). Anyway, cases in UK are running around 40K a day and have been for months, so maybe it's a moot point. Pacific Cross issue a letter which says (in my case): "This Certificate of insurance guarantees that the insured persons above are currently insured By Pacific Cross Health Insurance PCL. The insured’s insurance policy is currently in force from 01 June 2021 until 31 MAY 2022 Health insurance policy which covers treatment and medical expense in relation to COVID -19 with a minimum coverage of 100,000 USD and a minimum In-Patient coverage to 400,000 THB and Out-Patient 40,000 THB for other medical and accident expenses (Subject to the terms and conditions of the policy)." The letter also has full name, policy number and passport number.

No one checks anything in the UK if you use e-gate for passport control. I arrived the day before the OP (also on Qatar from BKK). Straight through.

It's high time the Thai government legalised casino gambling for foreigner-only casinos, as long as the casino is part of an integrated resort project a la Marina Bay Sands / Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. Pattaya and Phuket would be the logical locations: international airports close at hand, good infrastructure etc etc. But international operators won't be willing to pony up billions of USD to develop an IR if they're not guaranteed attractive tax rates and a clear statement of future competition (eg only 2 licenses and no sub-licenses for 10 years etc). US operators like LVS / Wynn / MGM are faced with losing their concessions in Macau next year; I'm surprised they haven't been lobbying here more actively. Asian operators like Genting / Galaxy / Melco (maybe even Crown) would also be sure to be interested - particularly given the ongoing debacle about legalisation in Japan. Forget the low-rent joints in Lao / Myanmar / Cambodia. Actually the Philippines is fast becoming the biggest casino destination in the region, second only to Macau. There are some very good properties there. Thailand as ever will be late to the party. Of course vested interests will make it difficult, but at least there should be proper and open debate. I am not pro-gambling per se but land-based casinos can be controlled. The fee for all of online is much more corrosive and socially damaging and far, far harder to regulate, especially with the adoption of crypto as a payment mechanism.

FWIW. Applied in UK last Friday for return at end of this month. Approved in a couple of hours. Having done COE in the past I think Thailand Pass is less user friendly. It's a pain you can't save an application and go back to it later. So you need to have everything sorted out and docs in jpg format before you start. I object to sending copies of passport / vax cert etc to a hotel just to get a booking, given Thailand's stellar data protection record, but there's no way round that. Seems odd that TP has nowhere to state what category of visitor you are eg tourist, returning resident etc. I've read that if vax cert from overseas only has first name / last name and you have a middle name in your passport, it can be a problem. UK certificates only put first name / last name regardless of whether your NHS records have your full name. However it obviously didn't cause any problems. The most laborious part of the process was hotel booking (Centre Point Thonglor). Send all docs to them ... wait a day or so to get an approval and links to two separate payments, one for hotel, one for hospital for PCR test ... can't just pay them for everything. THB 6500 total (i splashed out for dinner and breakfast, which added THB 500!). Good luck to anyone applying. I suspect some issues may be caused by the converting PDF to JPG process. Screenshots sometimes are not very good quality. If you use a Mac, then the pre-installed Preview programme has a helpful 'Export As ..." function for a PDF file that let's you choose JPG and makes goof quality files.

20% in one day? Not much different to buying crypto ...

I hadn't been allocated a seat when I filled in the PLF on 30 October and it was all accepted okay - in fact I don't think it asked for a seat number, just flight no and arrival time? Didn't have to upload any pics of vaccine certs either etc. I just selected Thailand as the country of vaccination given that it was where I completed the two doses. The Passenger Form doesn't have an option for Dose 1 Country A / Dose 2 Country B (or at least, it didn't on 30 Oct).

I'm thinking of getting a third jab while here in UK just so I have proof of full vaccination from one country. Can only make travel easier, or at least less subject to the vagaries of some jobsworth's interpretation of 'double jabbed'.

Arrived at LHR yesterday early morning on Qatar. Had all my paperwork ready - passenger form, day 2 test booking, vaccination docs (in my case one dose from UK and second from Thailand). Nothing checked by anyone because all UK passport holders were directed to the e-gates. Supposed to wear a mask in the terminal. 99% of passengers wearing them; 99% of airport workers not ... From plane to car park took 20 mins. Leaving BKK Qatar staff asked for my PCR test. I said it wasn't needed because I'm doubled jabbed. They weren't sure. I actually did one 'just in case' because I'm not double jabbed under one country's programme. The jab history wasn't a problem - they did however want to check that both jabs were the same vaccine (AZ in my case). No-one checked any paperwork transiting in Doha. Bizzo BKK-DOH was maybe half full. DOH-LHR was completely full and both DOH and LHR were busy.

Interesting, and thanks.

Cheers and apologies for ref to 'your son' rather 'your daughter'. Good luck with getting the 2nd jab. Hope it all works out time-wise. Seems to me that the only thing they'll really care about at this end is whether the visitor has been double-vaxxed more than 14 days before travel.

OP - If you don't mind saying, is your son aged under 17 years and 9 months? If he is - and doesn't have any underlying conditions - how did he get double vaxxed? My daughter is also 17 (but under that limit) and her school/GP won't arrange a second jab. That will condemn her to 10 days quarantine if she comes over in December. Apparently if you live with someone who's clinically vulnerable it's possible to get a second shot if you're under 17 years 9 months so I'm now trying that argument on them.

This isn't a particularly "Thai" problem. In Asia most gloves are produced in the rubber growing countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. The issue is massive demand for gloves and a slew of middlemen and newly incorporated PPE supply companies all looking to make a quick buck. People want to make as much money as possible so they skimp on pre deal due diligence about who's supplying the gloves, don't want to pay for SGS or TUV to do pre-load inspections, want the cheapest price which is offered by ' No 1 Happy Lucky Massive Glove Ltd' and then send payment up front.

Mate, I've no idea what the OP may or may not have read. He says he has certification from Kalasin Hospital. I'm sure it's a fine institution but is it counted as "a national or state-level public health authority" as per the stated UK requirements for a vaccine certificate? Maybe no-one gives a #### when you travel or maybe they do and OP finds himself at the check-in counter being told "must have yellow vaccine passport". I hope the OP has a smooth journey back and a great time back in UK. Feet up in a Q Suite enjoying the excellent wine and food. Not having to wear a foetid face mask outside when back in UK, or indeed most places unless you choose to wear one. Able to get a drink with a meal in a restaurant. I'm counting down the days to my trip back.

The UK regs state: You must be able to prove that you’ve been fully vaccinated under a vaccination programme with approved proof of certification. There are several ways to prove vaccination status: the NHS COVID Pass if you live in England the EU Digital COVID Certificate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccination card for US residents a vaccine certificate Vaccine certificates only If you use a vaccine certificate as proof, it must be issued by a national or state-level public health authority, be in English, French or Spanish, and include as a minimum: your forename and surname(s) your date of birth vaccine brand and manufacturer date of vaccination for every dose country or territory of vaccination and/or certificate issuer https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countries-with-approved-covid-19-vaccination-programmes-and-proof-of-vaccination Mor Phrom app has an option to 'Request for a COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate' which implies the app itself isn't enough. If you make it to UK you can probably argue the toss with the friendly and helpful Border Force officials. But you want to take a chance with the airline at check-in in BKK? Don't assume they know what the rules are / what UK will or won't accept as a Vaccine Certificate.