Foreign tourists can now stay in Thailand for up to nine months without the need of travel abroad to have their visas extended, three months on the initial visa with two extensions of three months each.

 

Thailand’s Ministry of Interior says the new rules came into effect on October 1st, and are valid until September 30th next year, in a bid to boost the tourism industry.

 

Foreign tourists will, however, have to meet certain requirements to qualify as long stayers.

 

First of all, they must agree to a period of quarantine, as part of the Public Health Ministry’s measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, and must show booking receipts from the hotels in which they will isolate.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/foreign-tourists-can-now-apply-to-stay-for-up-to-nine-months-in-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-10-03

 

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And only 8 months quarantine.

You read the first part and you think to yourself: About time.. and than comes the caveat and the buts... no free launch in this country who needs tourists like air to breath...

11 minutes ago, Thailand said:

And only 8 months quarantine.

And COVID-related insurance requirements of US$2,000,000

2 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

And COVID-related insurance requirements of US$2,000,000

and a GPS tracker around the ankle

its called the STV, we are now entering year 2 of this program. How is this news??

Just now, at15 said:

its called the STV, we are now entering year 2 of this program. How is this news??

well the current STV I believe is expiring or ending soon.  SoThais, being the un original copy cats they are, are kind of copying that again, but with a different strings attached.  I am over 50 so most likely will go for the "new" Non Imm O visa that the USA Thai embassies are now offering.  Before they had OAs but that requires Thai insurance, in addition to of course the COVID stipulations.  The O visa before, was only available if in Thailand.  The O visa for long stay and elibigible for retirement extensions, at the moment does not requie Thai insurance/  My global insurance is fine for anything I might need in Thailand, although for simplicity I may get the cheapest Thai insurance available just to smooth things out.  I can afford it, and if it makes things easier, it may be worth spending the bucks.  I am still waiting to see how the Nov 1 open with Vaccination proof really works and if there will be good enough airline flights through countries and with airlines I like available

From the link in the article.  Nothing particularly bad about that, but it does not say how long a quarantine, or if after Nov 1, if vaccinated if no quarantine is needed.  The real sticking point for me though is showing proof of lodging.  I NEVER pay in advance for any long length of time.  Very risk in Thailand.  And I plan to visit a few different places during those 9 months and not just stay in one place.  Sure one could rent a place in Pattaya, and still travel and stay a week in Phuket or whatever.  Depending on the rate it may be cheaper to maintain the first place even while paying for others

 

Then, they must show evidence of payments for their lodgings during their stay in the kingdom, which can be a rented house, a rented condominium room or a title deed of a condominium room.  They are also required to have health insurance, with a minimum of US$ 100,000 cover for COVID-19 treatmentvalid for the entire period of their stay in the country. They must also have health and accident insurance coverage of40,000 baht for out-patient treatment and 400,000 baht for in-patient treatment.

they just are not getting it are they - more red tape and hoops to jump through

 

do they really want foreign tourists, it is hard to figure out because they keep throwing obstacles in the way

 

First of all, they must agree to a period of quarantine, as part of the Public Health Ministry’s measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, and must show booking receipts from the hotels in which they will isolate.

 

Then, they must show evidence of payments for their lodgings during their stay in the kingdom, which can be a rented house, a rented condominium room or a title deed of a condominium room.  They are also required to have health insurance, with a minimum of US$ 100,000 cover for COVID-19 treatmentvalid for the entire period of their stay in the country.

 

 

23 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

well the current STV I believe is expiring or ending soon.  SoThais, being the un original copy cats they are, are kind of copying that again, but with a different strings attached.

This is just the STV; it was due to finish 30 September, they extended it for another 12 months.

Summary: STV extended for another year

1 minute ago, Salerno said:

This is just the STV; it was due to finish 30 September, they extended it for another 12 months.

agreed.  I do not see much different except the words in the link that said proof of lodging for the period.  Have people really had to show they were staying in the same place for 9 months or different places but paid in advance for all?  I doubt people did that.  And the link article said quarantine, but did not specify how long.  And now if one is vaccinated, would one not have to quarantine but could still get this 9 month STV method?  I would go for that if it were that simple.  But I am not paying 9 months in advance for a place.

2 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

Have people really had to show they were staying in the same place for 9 months or different places but paid in advance for all?

No requirement or reason to book the whole period as the initial stay is only 90 days followed by two possible extensions!

1 minute ago, gk10012001 said:

Have people really had to show they were staying in the same place for 9 months or different places but paid in advance for all?

Yes.

 

1 minute ago, gk10012001 said:

I doubt people did that.

More than a few reports of people using Agoda etc. with the ability to cancel bookings.

 

2 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

I would go for that if it were that simple.  But I am not paying 9 months in advance for a place.

See above re paying but the main thing to remember is you can't change an STV to a different visa in Thailand. The limitations and requirements that made it, IMO, a bad choice when first offered are still the same.

I am on a STV. Proof of accommodation can be obtained via a booking that can be cancelled. Insurance is a bit more expensive but no big deal. You know when you sign up that it cannot be converted. For those who wish to spend 9 months here without commiting to a long term visa it works. Not for everyone obviously 

7 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

agreed.  I do not see much different except the words in the link that said proof of lodging for the period.  Have people really had to show they were staying in the same place for 9 months or different places but paid in advance for all?  I doubt people did that.  And the link article said quarantine, but did not specify how long.  And now if one is vaccinated, would one not have to quarantine but could still get this 9 month STV method?  I would go for that if it were that simple.  But I am not paying 9 months in advance for a place.

 

The STV lasts for 3 months, with 2 optional 3 month extensions. I think you'd "only" need to book somewhere for the first 3 months.

 

That said, it's a ridiculous requirement.

 

22 minutes ago, HansumFarang said:

 

The STV lasts for 3 months, with 2 optional 3 month extensions. I think you'd "only" need to book somewhere for the first 3 months.

 

That said, it's a ridiculous requirement.

 

Fair enough and doable.  Although I was planning on renting a condo and really prefer checking it out in person once I arrive before signing zee papers. But as others posted, there are options for booking places, canceling, etc.  All doable.  Just the usual watch out for the Thai "hooks".  I love the place and have been 15 times, but there are a lot of gators in the moat waiting to take a bite

34 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Yes.

 

My bad; for 90 days (initial length of entry) not 9 months (misread it initially).

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

to meet certain requirements to qualify as long stayers.

1  stand  on one leg for not less than 2  days

2 recite the national anthem backwards  witha  mouthful of durian

3  eat a  whole  bowl of Pla  ra with  one chopstick in under 30 seconds

4 Repeatedly  tell everyone how wonderful Thailand and the Thai  people  are

5 Sign a  waiver for anything that goes wrong during their saty admitting  full liability

6 Have insurance of not  less than 41.3389766 billion baht boguth only from one company in Thailand

7 Forms  filled out in quadruplicate only with  vermillion pen colour  ink

8  Coe abc defgh  filled  out in triplicate with the admin fee of 2000baht each

9 a  return ticket open

10 At  least 10000000000000000000000 baht in cash which must be spent during your stay

Pay for two STV extension get an STD free????

Wow. So much "stuff" to read about here!

As I have yet to hear of a poor Insurance Company, how does it work if, say, you have  insurance issued in your home country, but thinking to be safe, you also take out insurance  from a Thai company, and  you have an illness/injury  in Thailand requiring medical treatment.    Knowing   insurance companies  extreme reluctance to part with money,  would there  be a bun fight between to the companies as to whom, if any would pay any    costs, as I doubt  both would   .

Oh how the mighty have fallen, LOL!

Before you could beg, plead, do whatever, you must go and come back.  Now look at them.  

This is desperation.  Pure and simple..  

22 minutes ago, Blumpie said:

Oh how the mighty have fallen, LOL!

Before you could beg, plead, do whatever, you must go and come back.  Now look at them.  

This is desperation.  Pure and simple..  

"This is desperation.  Pure and simple.. " 

 

But not deep enough yet ...to become workable to have big result

An annoucement today, is a retraction tomorrow.

1 hour ago, HAPPYNUFF said:

As I have yet to hear of a poor Insurance Company, how does it work if, say, you have  insurance issued in your home country, but thinking to be safe, you also take out insurance  from a Thai company, and  you have an illness/injury  in Thailand requiring medical treatment.    Knowing   insurance companies  extreme reluctance to part with money,  would there  be a bun fight between to the companies as to whom, if any would pay any    costs, as I doubt  both would   .

There is I fear a high possibility of your home insurance punting and saying your Thai insurance would now be the primary.  Had some discussions on this in the past without a lot of resolution.  That lady Sheryl that posts a lot about insurance may have some insight

4 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Foreign tourists will, however, have to meet certain requirements to qualify as long stayers.

I guess the two extensions was too simple.

This sounds like a poor-mans visa solution to me. I thought they only wanted the rich to come??

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

You read the first part and you think to yourself: About time.. and than comes the caveat and the buts... no free launch in this country who needs tourists like air to breath...

Like all military juntas, anal retentive. Can't let go.

"First of all, they must agree to a period of quarantine, "

 

What the hemorrhaging Hades for?

 

And will I get a reentry stamp or am I condemned to stay in Thailand once I'm in? I also travel abroad anyway when I'm there - use LOS as a long term home base.