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

[Migrosmarket]

1 minute ago, MadMuhammad said:

I was following the covid/China thing very closely and had a feeling it could go pear shaped extremely quickly. I had an ED VISA valid until 30 July this year but changed over to a marriage extension in Feb. One of the few times in life I absolutely nailed a decision brought on through anxiety 

Good man. Great decision. 

[findlay13]

28 minutes ago, Saltire said:

£12k in the bank doing nothing for 6 months?

 

They really do think we are all millionaires.

I can afford it but it's one more dumb idea.It'll be dropped soon I should imagine . 

 

[LeNata]

This is the final blow. Hey Thailand, where did you want to go? Don't make me laugh, thanks

[Fairynuff]

22 minutes ago, HanSRT10 said:

They want tourists, but prefer the ones who can pay their own bills.  If you've ever been in Thailand you should know the type of tourist they prefer not coming back

I came as a backpacker many years ago for my first visit. Many years later I came to live here and now have 3 homes. Nobody should be excluded because they’re not a high end tourist.

[Phoenix Rising]

18 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

It's because we got here early enough to enjoy ourselves and they needed the blue pills to have fun.

 

Plenty bitterness when I tell other expats I've been here since my early 20's.

True dat! Was here as a backpacker in the late 80's and moved here right after college when I was in my mid 20's. Those were good times!????

[Fairynuff]

14 minutes ago, Migrosmarket said:

He's right. News all the time about uninsured  people or brainless young people getting into trouble and having no backup money.

 

60 day people come with no money then want to live here and cheat the visa laws then end up with a problem they expect someone else to solve.  Cheap Charlies and E-beggars.

 

Stuff 'em.

 

Tourists can still come for 30 days for a proper holiday - one where they go home and work afterwards.

He’s wrong, and so are you. Out of the millions of tourists what percentage fall into the category you talk about? I’ll answer for you... a tiny percentage who get a lot of publicity.

[anto]

52 minutes ago, riclag said:

I came over on a SETV in 2019 and  got married, after I converted it to a Non O in Thailand! Looks like those restrictions will put that option to rest till when ever

 

OK you got married .Thats the 2 nd time you mentioned it .What age is the lucky lady ,and extended family

can i ask ?

[anto]

45 minutes ago, taninthai said:

No worries most will take the 30 day visa on arrival and then disappear off to Cambodia and Vietnam for 3,4,5 or 6 months,,,,great way to go push a huge percent of tourists out to neighbouring countries????????.

They seem to be forgetting tourism was at a low even before all this virus came along

I though that the visa on arrival ,which is not a visa but a visa exemption ,had gone forever.?

[findlay13]

50 minutes ago, taninthai said:

No worries most will take the 30 day visa on arrival and then disappear off to Cambodia and Vietnam for 3,4,5 or 6 months,,,,great way to go push a huge percent of tourists out to neighbouring countries????????.

They seem to be forgetting tourism was at a low even before all this virus came along

No, the "High So"s  will all be flocking in to drop boatloads of Baht to save the country! [Said the Chesire cat to Alice ]

[transam]

And I thought they wanted to boost tourism, not decimate it further....Crazy stuff...????

[ThailandRyan]

49 minutes ago, katatonic said:

They already did that.

No Covid did that...lol, once it goes away then lets see how much they want on your body as you enter the country. 

[keithkarmann]

1 hour ago, Techno Viking said:

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

Two years ago my no money in the bank son stayed for about 6 weeks but 30 days would have been enough.

[OnTheRun]

17 minutes ago, anto said:

I though that the visa on arrival ,which is not a visa but a visa exemption ,had gone forever.?

Where did you read that? Link?

[mberbae]

And Good Luck taking it out when you leave.

This policy is the height of insanity.

Or, is it a ploy for EVERYONE coming to Thailand to buy a

Multiple Entry Visa ?

[Hawaiian]

50 minutes ago, katatonic said:

Apparently the authorities here do not understand the concept of credit cards, multiple bank accounts, investment accounts etc. And who, if they did have such a stupidly big balance in one account, continuously, would want some foreign immigration service poring over their financial affairs for the last half a year anyway? No-one will be able to comply.

My mom had money in every financial institution in town.  As the executor of her estate it was quite a chore to round up all the accounts for distribution to her heirs.  Each bank had their own rules for closing the accounts.

[riclag]

1 hour ago, pokerface1 said:

Yep as I thought the fine print in the policy states during a state of emergency the policy is voided so you have to pay out of your own pocket

Wow! 2014 was the beginning of the end!

[ukrules]

Thailand no longer has a tourist industry.

[Kaopad999]

500k requirement to enter any country for a short holiday is complete insanity. <deleted> are they thinking?
 

[aussiexpat]

I couldn't believe this so I checked the Thai consulate site in Australia. Yep, required to show you've had a minimum of A$25,000 in your bank for last 6 months

 

But wait, they forgot to mention in the OP that they now also require proof of confirmed accommodation for entire stay as well (includes 14 days ASQ)

 

Madness as appears all about money rather than any covid risks

 

[m33lad]

This will bankrupt the country! Thailand has seen a horrible drop in their GPD since COVID started!  And already ppl dont feel like traveling anymore. This will only put them off from going to Thailand. 

[vandeventer]

With the Chinese tourist they are on a buy 1 visa and get 1visa  free. Better hurry as Christmas comes but once a year.

[Techno Viking]

1 hour ago, katatonic said:

Apparently the authorities here do not understand the concept of credit cards, multiple bank accounts, investment accounts etc. And who, if they did have such a stupidly big balance in one account, continuously, would want some foreign immigration service poring over their financial affairs for the last half a year anyway? No-one will be able to comply.

500k baht aint exactly a huge sum of money in this day an age.

[ikke1959]

typical Thai... first do ... than think..... do it wrong again and  than try to solve the big problem...

 

[jvs]

1 minute ago, Techno Viking said:

500k baht aint exactly a huge sum of money in this day an age.

Maybe not for you but i can a sure you for many people it is a lot of money.

Some people who used to come here on holiday spent a lot of money which they

did not have.All on credit and after they got home they went back to work and paid for it.

Just go and see how many people are only two paychecks away from bankruptcy ,i think it is some thing like 85% of the work force.

 

[Techno Viking]

1 minute ago, jvs said:

Maybe not for you but i can a sure you for many people it is a lot of money.

Some people who used to come here on holiday spent a lot of money which they

did not have.All on credit and after they got home they went back to work and paid for it.

Just go and see how many people are only two paychecks away from bankruptcy ,i think it is some thing like 85% of the work force.

 

 

A person 2 checks away from bankruptcy should not be considering an oversea's holiday, extremely irresponsible act but a mindset that has likely got them into their predicament.

[notmyself]

2 hours ago, Eindhoven said:

 

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.

 

Most backpackers were already using visa exempt entries anyway as they venture from country to country in the region. 

 

[transam]

5 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

500k baht aint exactly a huge sum of money in this day an age.

Wish I was a hi-so member like you....????......

[Techno Viking]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Wish I was a hi-so member like you....????......

Iam very far removed from being a Hi-so..... we are talking about baht here not USD.

[alyx]

6 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

500k baht aint exactly a huge sum of money in this day an age.

Not really huge it is true,  but most people do not keep funds sleeping in a bank especially with the interests the latter give. This being said, I am not quite sure that people are willing to disclose their numbers when they are trying so hard to hide it from their respective governments ( IRS springs to mind ), dont you think ?

[transam]

1 minute ago, Techno Viking said:

 

A person 2 checks away from bankruptcy should not be considering an oversea's holiday, extremely irresponsible act but a mindset that has likely got them into their predicament.

Bankruptcy, so the average holidaymaker in your mind has a Company........Bwaaaaaaaah....????