Suvarnabhumi e-gates open to 33 nationalities

UAE but not USA.

The mind boggles

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

One step at a time.

Backward most of the time

1 minute ago, gargamon said:

What a loser. Get a life.

If you're referring to me, you have no idea whatsoever, and that puts you into the assuming category. Everyone has a life if they're alive. Some waste theirs trying to put others down, usually stemming from low self esteem or narcissism, both coming from a damaged childhood.

I'm raising one child and raised 5 others mostly on my own,accomplished many physical things most on earth never will, and enjoyed hobbies, so that gives me a life.

When you don't understand something, research about it and don't argue with those who are more informed. If you're prejudiced, it's your problem and not others, so work's needed there.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by fredwiggy

2 hours ago, RandolphUK said:

The officer needs to manually write the re-entry date in the passport. What's strange is that Thailand issues visas, then prohibits leaving and returning using the same visa, unless you pay for an extra 're-entry' visa permit.

They need to scrap the re-entry permit system first before they can allow long-term visa holders through the gate. It serves no practical purpose.

I know Australia (and presumably most other western countries) automatically include multiple entry/returns stated in every tourist and other visas and visitors can go through the electronic gates without any passport stamps. Having said this, Border Australia will often turn back at the airport those who have already returned twice or more on the same visitor visa (eventhough the visa technically allows multiple returns). Thailand often does similar

1 minute ago, Brettoj said:

So when are you landing troops into Ukraine? You pick what you think are the easy ones. Ukraine is certainly being taken advantage of. You’ve even stopped weapons going there unless they’re paid for and under the other geriatric Biden, he wouldn’t let weapons be used on Russian soil.

Your view of America you no doubt got from Hollywood. No country views America like you think. We used to think you were reliable allies but you’re fair weather friends really, only there for what you can take!

My view of America is from living there 62 years, along with visiting yearly since moving here. Hollywood is largely an exaggeration, although many movies are historically correct. You really have little idea how anyone views anything besides what you hear on videos, in person or actually hearing a large group's thoughts.

Troops on the ground means casualties on both sides, and that isn't our war. Ukraine has been holding their own, and Russia with Putin isn't doing anything but damaging everyone in it's greed. Easy ones? Was World War 1 and 2 an easy victory? All wars are casualty related. That America now could destroy anyone doesn't mean they need to.

America is and always will be a reliable ally, but some tried to take advantage of us so are now being curbed. There are both aides to that argument with both sides having accuracy, and time and a new president will help to iron those out. Hopefully sooner than later. I've watched these things materialize over 70 years, and problems are always fixed while others are created, as you can't please everyone equally.

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The gates are available only to eligible visitors entering Thailand under the visa-exemption scheme who have previously visited the country and are entering on the same passport.

It's interesting that neither of these conditions is required to use the auto gates at the new Techo airport in Phnom Penh - as long as you're one of the permitted nationalities, you can go through without ever seeing an officer, and an email is sent to you instantly giving your entry info and authorized length of stay. If Cambodia can do that, surely Thailand could as well!

2 hours ago, Bigwave12 said:

I would surmise that it’s because Trump is denying or has blocked Thai’s from entering the U.S. using a visa. He has Thailand on current ineligible list I believe.

Thais are not blocked from entering the US, and are not on any "ineligible list".

If the US was omitted from the auto gate group as some kind of punishment for the never-ending tariff nonsense that would be understandable, but Thailand generally avoids that type of petty revenge in its international relations - so who knows what the motivation was. Or perhaps they needed to make space for the hordes coming in from Luxembourg and Malta? 🤔

6 hours ago, gargamon said:

Not Americans but Canada? 555

They need a special line for the Americans that goes directly to departures.

Joking aside, this is a PR disaster. Selecting one country over another to be a guinea pig in a system that is deeply flawed is not a good idea. After a long journey one is expected to determine if your visa qualifies for the e-gate. The sign does not show which visa qualifies and which one doesn't. IMHO a poorly thought out system.

It's interesting that neither of these conditions is required to use the auto gates at the new Techo airport in Phnom Penh - as long as you're one of the permitted nationalities, you can go through without ever seeing an officer, and an email is sent to you instantly giving your entry info and authorized length of stay. If Cambodia can do that, surely Thailand could as well!

But Cambodia is not a digital hub like Thailand. But appaently Cambodia is less controlling.

2 hours ago, RandolphUK said:

They need to scrap the re-entry permit system first before they can allow long-term visa holders through the gate. It serves no practical purpose.

Same with the 90-day report.

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

For foreigners arriving on a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), education visa, non-immigrant B work visa, or another Thai visa, Khaosod reported that immigration stated that currently, the new system does not yet apply. They must continue to use the staffed immigration counters.

So I assume that includes anyone on any of the 5 BOI visas. Actually, as stated in another thread, it's better for long term residents to get the stamp as we so frequently need to produce our passports to various places who want to see the stamp (banks as one example when replacing a pass book, getting a post-paid mobile is another).

12 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Actually, as stated in another thread, it's better for long term residents to get the stamp as we so frequently need to produce our passports to various places

I very much doubt that has ever occurred to them. I might be wrong.

8 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I very much doubt that has ever occurred to them. I might be wrong.

Well you are wrong. For quite a long time now you can request a copy of your incoming and outgoing travel record from any specific period. Do you really expect they would introduce e-gates without considering that? Obviously yes, as you always think negatively.

And yes, it's free.

You're welcome.

I assume this will monitor the number of entries made to Thailand each year, as this is supposed to be limited under the new rulesm

Also, will there be a booth to get a 30 day stamp after the e-gate? I can't imagine that a country so obsessed with rubber stamps will forego this but it's a big step forward if they do.

It's a case of wait and see.

2 minutes ago, madmitch said:

I assume this will monitor the number of entries made to Thailand each year, as this is supposed to be limited under the new rulesm

Also, will there be a booth to get a 30 day stamp after the e-gate? I can't imagine that a country so obsessed with rubber stamps will forego this but it's a big step forward if they do.

It's a case of wait and see.

No booth, there will be no stamps.

Getting the entry and exit list is useful, but the banks, hotels, mobile phone companies and others want to see the passport stamp. That's the problem - or at least the hassle that I foresee. It might also be why those of us who have visas to live here are directed to an IO to get a stamp.

3 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

No booth, there will be no stamps.

If you mean at Swampy, yes there is. You have a choice of the e-gate or an IO kiosk/stamp (unless that's changed).

Anyone know why the United States is excluded? Technical reason?

7 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

If you mean at Swampy, yes there is. You have a choice of the e-gate or an IO kiosk/stamp (unless that's changed).

Yes, you can choose to go to an IO. But the question asked was whether there would be a booth after the e-gates to get a stamp, to which the answer is "no".

10 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Getting the entry and exit list is useful, but the banks, hotels, mobile phone companies and others want to see the passport stamp. That's the problem - or at least the hassle that I foresee. It might also be why those of us who have visas to live here are directed to an IO to get a stamp.

I don't believe that's the reason as we have been able - and encouraged - to use e-gates on departure for a while now. I think they are phasing it in. They started with only Singapore and HK to get the system up and running and iron out kinks on a trial run essentially. They obviously feel confident enough now, and the systems (with TDAC) joined up enough to expand it to the masses. I believe that maybe in 6-8 months they systems will be suitably stress tested and joined up that they'll open it to long term residents.

It just makes sense and surely TDAC was all part of the plan.

Of course I could be wrong but it would seem an obvious path.

58 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

It's interesting that neither of these conditions is required to use the auto gates at the new Techo airport in Phnom Penh - as long as you're one of the permitted nationalities, you can go through without ever seeing an officer, and an email is sent to you instantly giving your entry info and authorized length of stay. If Cambodia can do that, surely Thailand could as well!

Thais are not blocked from entering the US, and are not on any "ineligible list".

If the US was omitted from the auto gate group as some kind of punishment for the never-ending tariff nonsense that would be understandable, but Thailand generally avoids that type of petty revenge in its international relations - so who knows what the motivation was. Or perhaps they needed to make space for the hordes coming in from Luxembourg and Malta? 🤔

58 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

It's interesting that neither of these conditions is required to use the auto gates at the new Techo airport in Phnom Penh - as long as you're one of the permitted nationalities, you can go through without ever seeing an officer, and an email is sent to you instantly giving your entry info and authorized length of stay. If Cambodia can do that, surely Thailand could as well!

Thais are not blocked from entering the US, and are not on any "ineligible list".

If the US was omitted from the auto gate group as some kind of punishment for the never-ending tariff nonsense that would be understandable, but Thailand generally avoids that type of petty revenge in its international relations - so who knows what the motivation was. Or perhaps they needed to make space for the hordes coming in from Luxembourg and Malta? 🤔

Yes, Thailand was included on a 75-country list where the U.S. State Department paused immigrant visa processing starting in January

2026. Bangkok Post +1

7 hours ago, gargamon said:

Not Americans but Canada? 555

They need a special line for the Americans that goes directly to departures.

Just the ones in the red hats.

29 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Well you are wrong. For quite a long time now you can request a copy of your incoming and outgoing travel record from any specific period. Do you really expect they would introduce e-gates without considering that? Obviously yes, as you always think negatively.

And yes, it's free.

You're welcome.

Thanks. A lot of hoops to jump through isn't it. But have a look at what @ronnie50 said about some places still needing to see a stamp in the passport. So the things you list might be good enough, or they might not. As usual.

2 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Thanks. A lot of hoops to jump through isn't it. But have a look at what @ronnie50 said about some places still needing to see a stamp in the passport. So the things you list might be good enough, or they might not. As usual.

Nobody has to use the machines. If you are worried join the queue for an IO, it is still an option and always will be.

1 hour ago, khunjeff said:

If the US was omitted from the auto gate group as some kind of punishment for the never-ending tariff nonsense that would be understandable, but Thailand generally avoids that type of petty revenge in its international relations - so who knows what the motivation was. Or perhaps they needed to make space for the hordes coming in from Luxembourg and Malta? 🤔

I am going to bet on the US not sharing biometric Passport data. I have been trying to sign up for airport facial recognition for years.

4 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Wouldn't be Thailand without spelling errors. It's so hard to check before displaying.

Yes, the other one being Luxembourgish......😁

1 hour ago, Bigwave12 said:

Yes, Thailand was included on a 75-country list where the U.S. State Department paused immigrant visa processing starting in January

2026. Bangkok Post +1

That suspension of processing made no sense, but it only involved immigrant visas (for permanent residence). There was no pause in the processing of nonimmigrant visas (tourist, student, etc.), and it was certainly not the case that "Trump is denying or has blocked Thai’s from entering the U.S. using a visa. He has Thailand on current ineligible list". Thais are not blocked from entering the US.

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

No booth, there will be no stamps.

Actually, I don't care for that because I like the "Admitted Until" stamp in my passport just in case I'm ever asked to show it, not that I ever have been!

However, for me, it's less time-consuming as i always use the "VIP" or "Priority" lane and never have to wait that long.