COE timing

[a6patch]

I have a marriage extension of stay through next year and a re-entry permit.  I came to the US, got vaccinated, and plan to return to Thailand July 1st.  After reading the instructions about how to do the COE, it is unclear to me about the timing.  The web site says something like...you apply for the COE, submit your documents, etc...then wait 3 days until it is approved, then "Applicant finds and books a flight and Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) within 15 days".  Does that just mean I need to post the ASQ and Flight details within 15 days...or does the flight and ASQ stay have to start within 15 days?  

 

In other words....my planned return trip is about 40 days out.  Can I start the COE process now?  Or do I have to wait until June 15+ to have the flight and ASQ fall within 15 days after the COE approval?

 

Thanks

[Jumbo1968]

You can do your COE now, no need to wait for 15 days before you travel date, I did ours 5 weeks before our travel dates.

[richard_smith237]

You can start whenever you want.

I applied for my latest CoE 5 weeks before my planned travel date. 

 

 

You register and apply submitting the required documents

- Passport ID Page

- Passport Visa Page

- Marriage Cert

- Proof of Health Insurance (>US$100,000)

 

You will receive an e-mail of ‘Pre-Approval’ which includes a 6 Digit Code. 

 

Within 15 days you have to log back into the the CoE website using the 6 Digit code and submit:

- Flight Ticket

- ASQ Booking

 

You will receive the Certificate of Entry by e-mail. 

 

-----------

 

Note: It took me 3 hours from registering to receiving my CoE (very efficient, but response times of different Embassies may vary).

 

Note: If any of your plans change by a day or two you can e-mail the Embassy directly re-submitting your flight ticket and ASQ booking and they will re-issue a CoE for the correct day.

(I made a change 3 days before travel and brought my trip forwards by 24 hrs)

This response depends on how efficient, attentive and responsive The Thai Embassy staff are in your area. 

 

 

 

 

[DFPhuket]

Assuming that beginning July 1 as a vaccinated person you can fly to Phuket with no-quarantine, you might want to wait and see about that option. If (and of course it's an if) they pull this off, spending 7 days in Phuket without being stuck in a quarantine hotel would be more pleasant and cheaper than 14 days in a Bangkok ASQ. Several airlines have added direct flights to Phuket beginning July 1.  

 

I'm in a similar position. I flew to the US to see my family and just had my second Pfizer shot. I was going to land in BKK in mid-June but am now waiting to decide if I should postpone my return to July 1 and land in Phuket. 

[Sheryl]

Moved to Visa forum

[a6patch]

42 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

Assuming that beginning July 1 as a vaccinated person you can fly to Phuket with no-quarantine, you might want to wait and see about that option. If (and of course it's an if) they pull this off, spending 7 days in Phuket without being stuck in a quarantine hotel would be more pleasant and cheaper than 14 days in a Bangkok ASQ. Several airlines have added direct flights to Phuket beginning July 1.  

 

I'm in a similar position. I flew to the US to see my family and just had my second Pfizer shot. I was going to land in BKK in mid-June but am now waiting to decide if I should postpone my return to July 1 and land in Phuket. 

 

Yeah I'm doing the same thing.  Just sort of feel like in limbo because the embassy might not know anything until July 1st hehe.  

[a6patch]

2 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Moved to Visa forum

Hehe, I wasn't sure which forum.  Certainly seemed Covid related, but COE/Visa issues do belong here I guess.  Thanks

[richard_smith237]

53 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

Assuming that beginning July 1 as a vaccinated person you can fly to Phuket with no-quarantine, you might want to wait and see about that option. If (and of course it's an if) they pull this off, spending 7 days in Phuket without being stuck in a quarantine hotel would be more pleasant and cheaper than 14 days in a Bangkok ASQ. Several airlines have added direct flights to Phuket beginning July 1.  

 

I'm in a similar position. I flew to the US to see my family and just had my second Pfizer shot. I was going to land in BKK in mid-June but am now waiting to decide if I should postpone my return to July 1 and land in Phuket. 

 

There are 41 days between now and 1st July - Expect at least 41 announcements between now and then each adding a little more contradiction, confusion and very little the way of conformation. 

 

 

 

[a6patch]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

There are 41 days between now and 1st July - Expect at least 41 announcements between now and then each adding a little more contradiction, confusion and very little the way of conformation. 

 

 

 

 

Yeah I don't expect clarity or confidence before the end of June.  By then, we'll at least know for sure when the Embassy either issues a COE for Phuket without an ASQ or refuses.  

[TerraplaneGuy]

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

You can start whenever you want.

I applied for my latest CoE 5 weeks before my planned travel date. 

 

...

 

You will receive an e-mail of ‘Pre-Approval’ which includes a 6 Digit Code. 

 

Within 15 days you have to log back into the the CoE website using the 6 Digit code and submit:

- Flight Ticket

- ASQ Booking

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

So do I understand correctly that you can start the process whenever you like BUT you have to be ready to submit a flight ticket and ASQ booking within 15 days?  In other words, the actual flight date could be well in the future but if you're not ready to book it you'd better not start the process?

[Jumbo1968]

1 hour ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

So do I understand correctly that you can start the process whenever you like BUT you have to be ready to submit a flight ticket and ASQ booking within 15 days?  In other words, the actual flight date could be well in the future but if you're not ready to book it you'd better not start the process?

Correct, I did my COE 5/6 weeks before we travelled, just make sure your insurance coincides with your travel dates and length of stay.

[TerraplaneGuy]

On 5/20/2021 at 11:32 PM, Jumbo1968 said:

Correct, I did my COE 5/6 weeks before we travelled, just make sure your insurance coincides with your travel dates and length of stay.

 

Thanks.  And then what happens if, once you're approved, you change your flight date?  Do you have to start the process all over or (if the insurance is still good) is there a way to just amend the travel dates on the COE?  In my case, I'm in Canada now and have a return flight to Thailand booked for October.  But I might want to head back to Thailand in July or August - I'm uncertain now exactly when.  I already have Covid insurance for the whole year.  I'm wondering when is the best time to start the COE application.

[Jumbo1968]

2 hours ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

 

Thanks.  And then what happens if, once you're approved, you change your flight date?  Do you have to start the process all over or (if the insurance is still good) is there a way to just amend the travel dates on the COE?  In my case, I'm in Canada now and have a return flight to Thailand booked for October.  But I might want to head back to Thailand in July or August - I'm uncertain now exactly when.  I already have Covid insurance for the whole year.  I'm wondering when is the best time to start the COE application.

I believe you email the embassy with any changes, no need to apply for a new COE.

[richard_smith237]

12 hours ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

Thanks.  And then what happens if, once you're approved, you change your flight date?  Do you have to start the process all over or (if the insurance is still good) is there a way to just amend the travel dates on the COE?  In my case, I'm in Canada now and have a return flight to Thailand booked for October.  But I might want to head back to Thailand in July or August - I'm uncertain now exactly when.  I already have Covid insurance for the whole year.  I'm wondering when is the best time to start the COE application.

 

 

IF you change your dates, e-mail your local Thai Embassy with the new ASQ booking and Flight Ticket - the Embassy will re-issue a new CoE for your new arrival date.

 

 

You can start the application process any time before departure. 

3-4 weeks in advance will allow plenty of time.

 

 

 

 

[fusion58]

Is a COVID-19 test still required for entry to Thailand?

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, fusion58 said:

Is a COVID-19 test still required for entry to Thailand?

Yes