Thailand restricts visitor visas to limit virus spread

 

A waiter works in a beach with a few Western tourists, which is usually full of Chinese tourists, amid fear of coronavirus in Phuket, Thailand March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will temporarily suspend issuing visas on arrival to visitors from 19 countries and territories, including China, to contain the spread of the coronavirus, its interior minister said on Wednesday.

 

The suspensions were the latest measures imposed in the tourism-reliant Southeast Asian country, which has reported 59 cases of the virus and one death so far. Globally, over 113,000 people have been infected in over 100 countries.

 

“People from any country who want to come will need to apply for a visa with our embassies,” Minister of Interior Anupong Paochinda told reporters.

 

“Thai embassies everywhere will ensure that no sick people will travel to Thailand.”

 

Visa on Arrival (VoA) will be suspended for nationals of all 19 countries and territories previously eligible, including Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu, according to a list provided to reporters by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Visa exemptions will be canceled for South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong, Anupong said.

 

“These measures will solve the problem of foreigners arriving from risky zones,” he said.

 

Anupong said he would start the process immediately but it was not immediately clear when they will be effective.

A foreign ministry official said visa applicants will need to present medical certificates and insurance as part of the screening at Thai embassies.

 

Last week, Thailand designated South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran as “dangerous communicable disease areas.”

 

Thai authorities urged people arriving from the six places to self-quarantine for 14 days.

 

*post updated with minister's quotes. 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-11

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

Things are going south it seems...

About time..

This is weird, just as China is very much stabilizing. 

 

(It's probably too late for these kinds of measures too.)

1 minute ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

 

Why on earth is Iran not on the list?

 

 

Because Iranians can't do a Visa on Arrival anyway.

2 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Why on earth is Iran not on the list?

 

Interesting that Japan is also not included.

Japan is a massive investor in Thailand. Lots of Japanese / Thai JV's: auto's, motorcycles, chemicals, electronics etc. The Thai Government won't want to restrict travel from Japan if they can avoid it. 

2 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Why on earth is Iran not on the list?

They are not on the visa exempt or visa on arrival list. They have to apply for tourist visas that can be denied when the application is done.

2 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Interesting that Japan is also not included.

Maybe Thailand does not consider people from there as being a big risk.

Even if they cancel VoA for these countries,they can still apply for tourist visas at home. They had to pay ฿2000 for the VoA at the airport. Better pay for a 60 days Visa instead of a 15 days VoA. 

Starting to wonder, if and when I return to the US, as I was supposed to do in June for a daughters college graduation, if upon my return I will require a doctors certificate the way things are going.  However, a doctors certificate does not ensure one is not a carrier nor does it ensure one can not still be in the incubation period......

Visa on Arrival suspended for a host of countries

By The Nation

 

 

The government has decided to suspend Visa on Arrival (VoA) for visitors from 18 countries at a meeting today (March 11), chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, also head of the Covid-19 management centre. 

 

Countries affected are Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Republic of Vanuatu, and Taiwan.

 

All visitors to Thailand should contact the Thai embassy in their countries prior to travel. 

 

The cancellation of Visa on Arrival also applies to high-risk countries ( Italy, South Korea) and Hong Kong until the situation returns to normal.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383858

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-11

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

10 minutes ago, Ranshoko said:

Japan is a massive investor in Thailand. Lots of Japanese / Thai JV's: auto's, motorcycles, chemicals, electronics etc. The Thai Government won't want to restrict travel from Japan if they can avoid it. 

And you don't think China is a massive investor in Thailand? 

China, India and Russia on the list!

Wow, that's another deep hit.

 

5 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Starting to wonder, if and when I return to the US, as I was supposed to do in June for a daughters college graduation, if upon my return I will require a doctors certificate the way things are going.  However, a doctors certificate does not ensure one is not a carrier nor does it ensure one can not still be in the incubation period......

The incubation period of 14 days has to be stated in the health certificate.

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

Starting to wonder, if and when I return to the US, as I was supposed to do in June for a daughters college graduation, if upon my return I will require a doctors certificate the way things are going.  However, a doctors certificate does not ensure one is not a carrier nor does it ensure one can not still be in the incubation period......

You may wish to read current account of UK couple who just recently flew from London to Hanoi. Couple of folk on plane tested positive. The UK couple along with others on the flight were tracked and placed in quarantine. The accommodation might make lot of travelers reconsider their plans. 

9 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Starting to wonder, if and when I return to the US, as I was supposed to do in June for a daughters college graduation, if upon my return I will require a doctors certificate the way things are going.  However, a doctors certificate does not ensure one is not a carrier nor does it ensure one can not still be in the incubation period......

You can have a Dr clearance yet you may catch it during flying to bkk????

24 minutes ago, WinnieTheKhwai said:

 

Because Iranians can't do a Visa on Arrival anyway.

They could have cancelled their 30 days Visa exempt like they did with Italy,HK and South Korea.

Why is Italy not on the list?

1 minute ago, fruitman said:

Why is Italy not on the list?

... they get a 'No Entry' visa...

Funny how ASEAN member like Singapore are excluded.

Probably for fear of reciprocal action.

8 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

They could have cancelled their 30 days Visa exempt like they did with Italy,HK and South Korea.

 

7 minutes ago, fruitman said:

Why is Italy not on the list?

Both are not countries with visa on arrival.

Iran (as already written above): strictly visa from consulate required (maybe even one that has to be confirmed by foreign ministry?).

 

Italy: normally visa exempt.

As far as I remember now forced quarantine.

And as the country is in some kind of lockdown more or less theoretical.

 

Don't mix visa exempt with visa on arrival and visa required.

 

Why Russia is on the list is not obvious for me.

17 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Starting to wonder, if and when I return to the US, as I was supposed to do in June for a daughters college graduation, if upon my return I will require a doctors certificate the way things are going.  However, a doctors certificate does not ensure one is not a carrier nor does it ensure one can not still be in the incubation period......

I have trips planned to Germany and the US for later this year, but I expect to cancel both of them.  The virus could die out within a few months or LA could become Wuhan.  No one knows.  In addition to the basic health risk from travel, there is the new possibility that we might be stranded at our destination unable to return to our home here.

2 minutes ago, cmarshall said:

In addition to the basic health risk from travel, there is the new possibility that we might be stranded at our destination unable to return to our home here.

I am even concerned about a simple visa run planned later in the year.

19 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

China, India and Russia on the list!

Wow, that's another deep hit.

 

They were taken off the VoA list. Now it's just 2-3 countries left on the list. 

Soon France, Spain, Germany ... US ?

 

 

11 minutes ago, cmarshall said:

I have trips planned to Germany and the US for later this year, but I expect to cancel both of them.  The virus could die out within a few months or LA could become Wuhan.  No one knows.  In addition to the basic health risk from travel, there is the new possibility that we might be stranded at our destination unable to return to our home here.

Just pick a nice destination if you're going to be stranded. ????????

18 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

 

Both are not countries with visa on arrival.

Iran (as already written above): strictly visa from consulate required (maybe even one that has to be confirmed by foreign ministry?).

 

Italy: normally visa exempt.

As far as I remember now forced quarantine.

And as the country is in some kind of lockdown more or less theoretical.

 

Don't mix visa exempt with visa on arrival and visa required.

 

Why Russia is on the list is not obvious for me.

They picked all but 2-3 countries on the VoA-list. Who will miss Russians? 

 

1 minute ago, Max69xl said:

They picked all but 2-3 countries on the VoA-list. Who will miss Russians? 

 

Nobody gonna miss them, since they just apply for a visa BEFORE arrival and continue to enter Thailand in their usual numbers.

When the dust settles, everyone will wake up and see that it was just another flu which spread much easier than the normal flu, and killed those who were much older, had weaker immune systems and those with pre-existing conditions that weren't in the best of health, but the damage worldwide will take years if not a decade to fix.

 

Maybe this will be a lesson for government around the world to take note and spend big on research and vaccines, also consider implementing practice drills with their communities for when the big one comes, like fire drills in high rise buildings, no doubt the big one is coming and hopefully everyone will be prepared for it as opposed to everyone going into panic mode like now.

 

I hope at least people have learned one thing from this, good hygiene practice should be taught at every level from schools up, and the sooner schools and governments teach everyone that it not ok to share cups at water supplied areas in such buildings, there will be a lessor spread of other germs, seriously !

58 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

So much for wealthy Indians to save the tourist industry.

 

Why on earth is Iran not on the list?

 

Interesting that Japan is also not included.

Because Iranians don't qualify for a visa on arrival.

 

What confuses me is why Russia is on this list, when Russians get a 30 day visa waiver. No Russian in their right mind would fork out money for a 15 day visa and pay money for it, when they can stay twice as long for free.

7 minutes ago, Susco said:

Nobody gonna miss them, since they just apply for a visa BEFORE arrival and continue to enter Thailand in their usual numbers.

Yes,but now they can get denied when applying for the tourist visa because of the Coronavirus. Nobody knows. And I know that many Russians arrives on VoA. Some don't have money for a longer stay than 15 days. And the rubel is falling because of the falling oil prices.