Single Entry Tourist Visa to Thailand now requires foreigners to show funds of 500k THB

[webfact]

Single Entry Tourist Visa to Thailand now requires foreigners to show funds of 500k THB

 

File photo for reference only

 

Foreigners who wish to apply for a Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) to Thailand are now required to provide 6 months worth of bank statements showing a bank balance of at least 500,000 THB.

 

The jaw dropping new financial requirement has been confirmed on the websites of several Thai embassies around the world, as well via emails to Thaivisa readers. 

 

The SETV allows foreigners to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days from the date of arrival and is valid for 90 days from date of issue. 

 

Previously, applicants for the SETV had to show proof they had a balance of at least 20,000 THB or 40,000 THB for families and sometimes, depending on the Thai Embassy or Consulate, this wasn’t asked for. 

 

But now, applicants need to show a bank balance of 500,000 THB or equivalent.

 

If you are applying from the UK, the Thai Embassy in London now requires a balance of “£12,800 maintained throughout the past 6 months”, while the Thai Embassy in Washington requires “$17,000 or 500,000 baht each month for the last six month”.

 

And that’s not all. 

 

Applicants also need to meet all the other requirements necessary for any non-Thai to return to Thailand currently such as, Certificate of Entry, declaration form, quarantine booking, Fit to Fly Certificate, COVID-19 negative test result and an insurance policy which provides a minimum of 100,000 USD coverage, including for COVID-19. 

 

The new requirements for SETV echo the equally jaw dropping requirements for foreign property owners who wish to return to Thailand currently. 

 

However, what isn’t clear is if the new financial requirements are temporary while Thailand continues to successfully battle the COVID-19 pandemic or if it will be permanent.

 

The SETV has been a popular way for many different types of tourists to enjoy an extended stay in Thailand. 

 

However, it is particularly popular with young backpackers who use the 60 days to travel around Thailand before travelling elsewhere. 

 

It remains to be seen how many young backpackers would be able to meet the new 500,000 THB financial requirements. 

 

The new requirements as listed on the websites of the Thai Embassies in Helsinki, London and Washington can be found below:

 

Helsinki:

 

https://helsinki.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/tourist-visa-started-9-10-2020?page=5f49f4a199a85e260f4278de&menu=5d80876d15e39c3354007bb1

 

Washington:

 

https://thaiembdc.org/2020/11/05/trsingle_entry/

 

London:

 

https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/119247-requirements-for-certificate-of-entry-during-travel-restriction?page=5d6636cd15e39c3bd00072dd&menu=5f4b6eb3f6ae4b236972c562

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-11-11

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[4reaL]

That will teach all those Cheap Charlie types from mooching around LOS.

 

 

[MadMuhammad]

Im guessing we won’t see any backpackers for a long time to come. Not such a bad thing 

[Thaiwrath]

 

R.I.P. tourism.

[Shuya]

They must be running out of feet to shoot themselves into 

[Tropicalevo]

Hmm. No mention re the Chinese embassies

[Eibot]

Who makes this <deleted> up?

[Pottinger]

17 minutes ago, MadMuhammad said:

Im guessing we won’t see any backpackers for a long time to come. Not such a bad thing 

 

Too good for those grubby young people, with their fun and high-spirited ways, eh?

[Haggislover]

For the average man/ family in the UK, a annual holiday is planned and cash saved in advance, 12000 quid ? to have dead in bank?? Other destinations are on the card now, another instance of thai lunacy

.

[Eibot]

34 minutes ago, 4reaL said:

That will teach all those Cheap Charlie types from mooching around LOS.

 

 

I know people who have milions in the bank but flip every penny when it comes to spending. 

Having 500K dead in the bank for atleast half a year doesn't mean you are going to spend that. It does prevent certain tourist to come who have saved the whole year to spend money in Thailand. Thailands economy is also reliant on those tourist. I you like them or not. 

[Eindhoven]

30 minutes ago, MadMuhammad said:

Im guessing we won’t see any backpackers for a long time to come. Not such a bad thing 

 

Backpackers will use the 30 day exemption once they are allowed back in. No one will go through the nonsense of showing what is in their bank account unless they REALLY need to be here.

[a3tsw]

Genuine tourists will simply go elsewhere , if they think that the entry requirements are too onerous , Thailand is not the be all and end all of holiday destinations , there are plenty of options available.

[ChouDoufu]

31 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Hmm. No mention re the Chinese embassies

 

nothing nefarious going on here.  the article in english is intended for western english-speaking audiences.  the reporter also didn't mention taiwan, korea, japan or palau.

 

if you are truly interested, the STV & SETV requirements are listed in PDF format on the thai embassy and consulates in china..........in english...........with the same requirements.

 

 

 

 

[kotsak]

32 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

 

R.I.P. tourism.

 

Well, you see, that coffin in the image has still a lot of room for a nail. In this instance, there is none left.

 

[Christopher84]

I guess the 1,2,3 star hotels and all the Motels based on tourism can just close down. 

[Somtamnication]

LOL. April Fools Day came early today, krab!

[bdenner]

Got it now! They are making sure there is redundancy in the compulsory 100K Travel Insurance just incase the dodgy insurance company they have endorsed reneges on a claim.

[sebastion]

^{Thats insane}

[ThailandRyan]

Waiting to see what the requirement will be for a 30 day Visa on Arrival....let's see the Thai government do away with those and really kill tourism.

[mickymouse1]

They should insist ,that you bring in 500k and leave with 5k max ONLY if allowed. Or Must spend 500k is better.

I am totally confused now.

I never had £12k in my account for a continuous 6 month period.

No one does u DH $&£ lustful lot.

Many alternative destinations available where people and governments are not as desperate. 

 

[riclag]

Boy did I luck out .I got married in late 2019  !

Just before  the you know what hit the fan!

All of these requirements now, omg!

[Techno Viking]

great news, should keep the smelly cheap charlie farangs away !!

[polopeterpan]

I suppose that if my daughter and my son wants to come to see me in Thailand it will be impossible now

What a shame 

[Hayduke]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Single Entry Tourist Visa to Thailand now requires foreigners to show funds of 500k THB

 

Tourism flat-lined months ago....they killed it....it's gone....why do these morons keep pumping bullets into the dead body? Are they trying to make it...more dead?

 

 

 

[riclag]

2 minutes ago, polopeterpan said:

I suppose that if my daughter and my son wants to come to see me in Thailand it will be impossible now

What a shame 

Thats sad ! I was lucky my daughter came to visit in Nov 2019 !

Lets hope next year things calm down with less requirements

 

[JusticeGB]

I ran a successful accounting practice which ran on an overdraft and took out money as and when I needed it. My savings were my pension policies not money earning no interest in a bank account. 

[Techno Viking]

5 minutes ago, polopeterpan said:

I suppose that if my daughter and my son wants to come to see me in Thailand it will be impossible now

What a shame 

Visa exempt is good for 30 days, how long did you want them to stay ?

[Falcon]

Taking in to account the lack of tourists here allowed entry and the future lack of tourists because of both financial problems and / or Thailand’s rediculous ideas on how to restart the tourist trade, or put more simply, how to get a hold of foreigners money, I am expecting them to announce that they are going to charge and entry fee to the country, just like Bhutan who charge up to $250 per day just to be in the country. Ideal for Thailand that...

 

Bhutan

However, it's also considered to be one of the most expensive trips in the world that you can embark upon. The government has placed a minimum fee of around $200 USD per day per person in low season and $250 USD per day per person during high season for visitors to Bhutan

[alianware]

Why six months ? Since most country requiere only 3 months or even not required at all.  Another stupid thing from thailand.

[Tatsujin]

BREAKING: Thailand tourist recovery postponed to NEVER due to having zero clue about which tourist groups actually come and spend here and put into the local economy