Stranded Aussie expats told it could take “weeks, if not months” to return to Thailand

[webfact]

Stranded Aussie expats told it could take “weeks, if not months” to return to Thailand

 

video screenshot

 

Stranded Australian expats have been warned it could be months before they are able to return to Thailand.

 

In a video posted on the Australian Embassy’s Facebook page, Ambassador Allan McKinnon described the laborious process that awaits expats in Australia, namely those married to or who are a parent of a Thai national, from returning to Thailand. 

 

Mr McKinnon talked about the need to “jump through hoops” and said the process of returning to Thailand “can’t be done easily or quickly”, adding that it could take “weeks, if not months” to return to Thailand. 

 

In the six minute long clip, Mr McKinnon lists all the steps needed for Australians to return to Thailand, which include first gaining approval from the Australian government to leave Australia.

 

Foreigners who are eligible to enter Thailand (those married to a Thai, parent to a Thai or those with work permits) then need to book a place at a state quarantine hotel (at their own expense), obtain health insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000, including coverage for COVID-19, obtain fit to fly certificates and a Certificate of Entry from the Thai government.

 

Mr McKinnon warns the rules implemented have been done so in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and not to facilitate easy access to Thailand. 

 

“If you want to come to Thailand, you will need to know the rules, plan ahead, apply early, be prepared to jump through hoops and hurdles and above all, be patient.

 

“This (returning to Thailand) can’t be done easily or quickly.

 

“It may take weeks, if not months to get the permissions, documents and flight tickets you need”.

 

Finally, Mr McKinnon advised that the Australian Embassy has no control of the steps required to enter Thailand currently.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-07-10

 

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[miamiman123]

Prayuth has done a v good job w this CV issue 

[Xonax]

I guess that must be Wannabe expats the article is about! Real expats had plenty of time to get here, before the airports were closed.

[Mr Meeseeks]

Imagine needing permission from your government to leave your own country?

 

[berrec]

Bazinga! 

[Guderian]

  On 7/10/2020 at 3:34 AM, webfact said:

“It may take weeks, if not months to get the permissions, documents and flight tickets you need”.

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And I still see some people speculating that normal farang tourism will resume in August. <rolleyes>

Yes, August 2021 perhaps, lol.

[yellowboat]

Chinese new year next year, earliest. 

[Andycoops]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:23 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:

Imagine needing permission from your government to leave your own country?

 

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Sounds like something I would expect to come from North Korea not the Antipodes.

[British Bulldog]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:23 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:

Imagine needing permission from your government to leave your own country?

 

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Ha ! Funny that you should mention that, that's they way it was for Lao people before we joined ASEAN, it was only a formality and it cost all of $0.50c, but the 2 to 3 days (not to mention weekends) before you could apply for a visa to whatever Country you where going to .... and that included a 1000 Bt visa to Thailand (Unless you lived near a border and then you could use a border pass for 2 or 3 days with a limited distance of travel) ... that 'Exit' Visa also filled a whole page in my wife's passport also .... sheesh !

[mighty]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:14 AM, Xonax said:

I guess that must be Wannabe expats the article is about! Real expats had plenty of time to get here, before the airports were closed.

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Your a real winner with comments like that. So everyone could have just dropped what they were doing, left their job, got off a rig etc, etc and come here before the airport shut (about which nobody had a clue what date would be)

[Georgie65]

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice! Who wants to buy a Beer Bar??? <deleted>!!!!!!

[samsensam]

Mr McKinnon talked about the need to “jump through hoops”

 

diplomatic speak for 'unnecessarily bureaucratic process...' ????

[geisha]

Why blame the Australians? Thailand has laid down the rules. Many people have tried contacting and getting answers from Embassies / consuls in France, Gb etc and they are rarely even answering. Frustrating maybe, but that’s the way it is .

[pmk1000]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:14 AM, Xonax said:

I guess that must be Wannabe expats the article is about! Real expats had plenty of time to get here, before the airports were closed.

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Wannabe expats what are you on? The topic is talking about people! People who are separated from loved ones, their wife children, which is disturbing to say the least. Real expats, I assume you are talking about people such as yourself? Not everyone are as quick witted, as yourself! Not everyone saw this coming for what it is, and the consequences resulting from it. A lot of people have children from previous marriages who they would be concerned about, aging family etc. There are a multitude of reasons why an expat may have delayed travel, in my opinion they are just as real as your perfect self.

[Darkside Gray]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:23 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:

Imagine needing permission from your government to leave your own country?

 

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Just returning to the penal colony it was, back to its roots!

[Aussie Col]

I expect the Vietnam, Cambodia and Philippines will be very happy to pick up farangs when they open their borders soon that Thailand doesn't want.

All them hotel and bar and restaurants workers and taxi drivers are not going to be very happy with the Thai Junta. Thailand losing all them jobs

[Aussie Col]

  On 7/10/2020 at 8:24 AM, Georgie65 said:

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice! Who wants to buy a Beer Bar??? LMFAO!!!!!!

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There is already a load of beer bars and hotels for sale in Thailand. That's going multiply by 5 at least.

[nbg]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:14 AM, Xonax said:

I guess that must be Wannabe expats the article is about! Real expats had plenty of time to get here, before the airports were closed.

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Yes I was literally in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. However I did ask the captain to increase the speed from 7kn to 500kn so I could make the last flight to BKK. He was completely unreasonable and said no...

[Elkski]

prayuth maybe handling things on the safe side after March.  But I will never forget his long delay because of greed. Thailand somehow Dodge the bullet not by any bureaucratic policies just dumb luck or diet or Humanity because I think this virus or similar has been around asia before.  

[Chongalulu]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:14 AM, Xonax said:

I guess that must be Wannabe expats the article is about! Real expats had plenty of time to get here, before the airports were closed.

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For every complex problem there is an answer that is simple,clear ...and wrong.

[from the home of CC]

this whole 'bubble' travel malarkey is just a fantasy, this virus is the real deal and the moneymakers that are crying and influencing governments into making bad calls are just going to have to eat their own..

[raccos21]

The best way is stop coming to Thailand and save your time and money for the future or somewhere else.

[sambum]

  On 7/10/2020 at 8:31 AM, samsensam said:

Mr McKinnon talked about the need to “jump through hoops”

 

diplomatic speak for 'unnecessarily bureaucratic process...' ????

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Wrong way round, mate! 

[rupert the bear]

im in a different situation i must leave to see my dying only relative,my mother,i can go now thats a relief but i live here have all the necessary visas and stuff.own property but getting back,this is insane.i will leave very soon be gone a mnth about i guess  but hard to say exactly.i must see my mother i have to.but these dumb buffoons wrapped up in red tape corruption and self importance.surely if you have property a legal visa IE rtd why do this?other countries should just shut thai passport holders out,do the same as thai govt does do us basically,i see the uk banned them i can see why.ive friends in ph and they can leave and return as locals do if they fullfill equal criteria ie property wife etc,im not married but it shouldnt make any difference.i have come to the end with this place,i will sell up when i can after the emergency passes and i m gone,thank god my kids not half thai

[digger70]

  On 7/10/2020 at 3:34 AM, webfact said:

Stranded Aussie expats told it could take “weeks, if not months” to return to Thailand

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What a Drama .They only worry about the people that are "imported" to Los .

No special Papers No Quarantine What else, Money ?

[ponder]

Is that $100,000 general health insurance or specifically for COVID-19 treatment? I thought it was the latter, but this article suggests otherwise:

 

"...health insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000, including coverage for COVID-19".

 

People over 50 will have to spend a lot to return here. My health insurance costs me 45,000 per year, and it only covers 500,000 baht (in-patient treatment only; they appear to want about six times that...

[Traubert]

  On 7/10/2020 at 9:18 AM, soalbundy said:

That's the UK, Australia is owned by China.

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My mistake, I do apologise. ????

 

The 24th Province.

[Cattleman]

Nothing is going to change until a world wide vaccine is available ,my guess ,12 months away .

[hobobo]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:23 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:

Imagine needing permission from your government to leave your own country?

 

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In the cold war era, everyone on the "other" side of the wall needed a permission to leave the country, over 400 million people!

[Susco]

  On 7/10/2020 at 7:14 AM, miamiman123 said:

Prayuth has done a v good job w this CV issue 

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How about Australia not allowing it's own citizens outbound flight till the end of the year?

 

Is Prayuth the Australian PM now?