Thailand further eases entry restrictions for international travellers

[Scouse123]

1 hour ago, samtam said:

I changed the country from France to 1) Hong Kong and 2) United Kingdom (because my VISA cards are Hong Kong and UK issued), but unfortunately the same page with the first 9 of VISA card numbers does not equate. So I think your option is only open to you because you have a VISA issued in France, (and possibly you are French).

 

 

Can you advise the insurance company you used, and how long the duration needed to be for the insurance, (i'm assuming you are resident in Thailand)?

 

 

Can you advise the insurance company you used, and whether it is travel specific, and covid specific? (i'm assuming you are resident in Thailand)?

(I don't use insurance for my long stay term in Thailand), as hitherto it has not been a requirement for a Non-B Visa on Extension of Stay based on Retirement, (for the last 15 years).

I have same as you regards my Extension  of Stay but I actually have an annual health policy with Pacific Cross

[Jiggo]

On 4/22/2022 at 1:31 PM, anchadian said:

Furthermore, insurance has been reduced to $10,000.

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiPBSWorld/status/1517387086646898689

 

I heard the Thai policy prices have remained the same though?

[Pmbkk]

1 hour ago, alex8912 said:

Just because there is some gov't note doesn't mean it's not possible. Have you read this thread?  I used a Bonvoy group hotel and there was no problem getting a refund. They have dozens of hotels here. Another poster said he booked Raddison. Many times things say no refund or does not have to give refund and if you speak to hotel they will give one. So what if your missus?! ( (really ) is a Doctor or whatever for work. Her negotiating skills may be bad. It sounds more like you are taking some gov't BS notice and running with it like it's impossible to get a refund!  What hotel was it? Tok's cheap skate motel? Maybe you can give it a try instead and see what happens? Why not. 

 

Another hard man behind a keyboard.

 

I'm still waiting for the link to the survey - if you read previous threads it was quite common not to get a refund.

 

THE GOVERNMENT TOLD HOTELS THEY DID NOT NEED TO GIVE REFUNDS. 

 

 

[Harveyboy]

On 4/22/2022 at 1:57 PM, StayinThailand2much said:

Eliminate this requirement completely, and (more) people may actually decide to travel to Thailand.

as far as ins its dropped to 10000.. Do you possibly have any info on whether my government medical card would be sufficient as far cover ..          i dont pay for medical cover its free with my wife's job in Government   ive spent time in hospital..seen specialist.. doctors ect never pay all my prescription are free..               Do you think this would be accepted im on their data base and can receive treatment any government hospital Inc military  tks for any info 

[sambum]

"●Alcohol serving venues can stay open until Midnight, although continue to be converted into restaurants and not legally bars or nightlife"

 

Would sir care for some french fries with his french fries?

[Greenwich Boy]

1 hour ago, OJAS said:

But does not the Aussie version allow PDF uploads? Plus passport photopages and vaccination QR codes which have not been cropped to the nearest millimetre?

 

Yes. My UK vaccination records were PDF. My Thai booster was just a screenshot of a hard copy A4 document. Not difficult even for me. I got very frustrated with the Thai Certificate of Entry last year.

[SooKee]

17 hours ago, sezze said:

Like that is the worst you can imagine .... come on , who cares that they sell a few items to eat , in fact might save some people some time and stay in the bar

Nope it's not the worst I can imagine.  That's a stupid assumption on your part.  Try focussing on what your'e doing maybe, not what others are.  Still, there's always one ????

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, Harveyboy said:

as far as ins its dropped to 10000.. Do you possibly have any info on whether my government medical card would be sufficient as far cover ..          i dont pay for medical cover its free with my wife's job in Government   ive spent time in hospital..seen specialist.. doctors ect never pay all my prescription are free..               Do you think this would be accepted im on their data base and can receive treatment any government hospital Inc military  tks for any info 

I'm no expert, but I read somewhere that people employed with workpermit in Thailand are covered. (Someone correct me, if I'm wrong.)

 

As for other insurances besides the Thailand insurance scheme or foreign policies, you'd have to check with them and/or Thailand Pass.

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, Eleftheros said:

So a Thailand Pass may not be valid for some other countries in the region.

Why would you use Thailand Pass for other countries in the region? 

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, Jiggo said:

I heard the Thai policy prices have remained the same though?

I checked last time when the requirement was halved from 40,000 to 20,000US$. - Guess, what, prices seemed to be unchanged, so instead of an 'improvement', travellers would be worse off, i.e. paying the old price for only half the coverage!

[Eleftheros]

30 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Why would you use Thailand Pass for other countries in the region? 

Well, the Thailand Digital Health Pass is valid for 60 countries worldwide, though I suppose the Thailand Pass is slightly more complicated than that, with the extra insurance requirement for inbound travellers.

[StayinThailand2much]

31 minutes ago, Eleftheros said:

Well, the Thailand Digital Health Pass is valid for 60 countries worldwide, though I suppose the Thailand Pass is slightly more complicated than that, with the extra insurance requirement for inbound travellers.

Both passes are completely different things.

 

So, what is your experience in Singapore? Is the Thailand Digital Health Pass accepted, and what does one need? - I am actually considering to travel to Singapore next year, and my two initial jabs will be 18 months old, and my booster 1 year.

[josephbloggs]

8 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Both passes are completely different things.

 

So, what is your experience in Singapore? Is the Thailand Digital Health Pass accepted, and what does one need? - I am actually considering to travel to Singapore next year, and my two initial jabs will be 18 months old, and my booster 1 year.

Next year????   Don't you think things might have changed by then?

[StayinThailand2much]

2 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Next year????   Don't you think things might have changed by then?

There's always hope, but as long as the virus is around, I think some countries will keep their entry requirements for a while... Just look at China, a relatively small number of cases and deaths, and they lock down half the country and economy.

[bangkokbonecollector]

On 4/22/2022 at 9:34 AM, NorthernRyland said:

That thing made me so sick I don't care. Governments are desperately clinging on to this for no justifiable reason and people aren't going to put up with it forever. May 1st may be too soon but eventually it will fall apart.

Political hara-kiri

[slappy]

On 4/22/2022 at 2:13 PM, tracker1 said:

If you are an expat returning to your place of residence in Thailand do you have to do the same and as for insurance what if you are covered by your spouses Government Insurance thru her employment ?

As anyone replied to this poster, as i have just started to look at the thread (9) and i would like to know the asnwers if there are any with what the poster has asked. Thanks

[Anton9]

3 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

There's always hope, but as long as the virus is around, I think some countries will keep their entry requirements for a while... Just look at China, a relatively small number of cases and deaths, and they lock down half the country and economy.

That's only China, because they are the only country in the world pursuing zero covid.

[nattaya09]

With the testing on the Thailand side settling out , does anyone have any experience re-entering the US from Thailand with the 24 hour pre-return flight negative COVID test requirement before boarding?

 

I have a bunch of at-home, antigen rapid self-tests....including the free ones provided by the government. My understanding is these have to be applied along with a live online service which produces the test result report (??). Would fly out on a Saturday evening so I assume the 24 hour clock begins at 12:00 am on Friday

[proton]

23 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thats why it was always better to book the hotel with Agoda which had ‘easy cancel’ and then we can cancel for any reason (up to 3 days before travel).

 

Some hotels have been good with refunds in the past (when day 5 T&G was abolished), others were not very good about the refund at all. 

When the government change their policy with 10 days notice I don’t want the hassle of chasing refunds - Agoda has always been very good about this. 

 

 

 

 

I got an 80% refund from Holiday Inn Sukhumvit, 20% deducted for 'bank fees'. never knew banks charged that much for a simple refund! better than nothing

[STALINGRAD]

Many of us are required to maintain 800000 baht or 400000 baht in a Thai bank for an extension of stay. Wouldn’t that suffice for a insurance requirement?

[madmitch]

17 hours ago, possum1931 said:

The soldiers government were able to start their stupid rules immediately, so why can't they stop them immediately?

You can't just make an immediate change to a computer system such as this. It requires reprogramming and UAT (user acceptance testing) before going live.

 

 

[Rampant Rabbit]

14 hours ago, Eleftheros said:

The reason seems to be that this is no longer a health issue, but a reward for Doing The Right Thing.

well  thats pretty  sick isnt it............so  no  longer a  health issue ergo  dont need  a  booster. what a load of  old twadlle  they can spout. Ill issue  my own reward by not going throu countries that promote this  claptrap.

[Rampant Rabbit]

5 hours ago, STALINGRAD said:

Many of us are required to maintain 800000 baht or 400000 baht in a Thai bank for an extension of stay. Wouldn’t that suffice for a insurance requirement?

not if you  can be milked for more.

[nattaya09]

6 hours ago, STALINGRAD said:

Many of us are required to maintain 800000 baht or 400000 baht in a Thai bank for an extension of stay. Wouldn’t that suffice for a insurance requirement?

Plus...The hospitals/hospitels will likely give you a great rate if they think they have access to 800k Baht

[Coota]

8 hours ago, proton said:

I got an 80% refund from Holiday Inn Sukhumvit, 20% deducted for 'bank fees'. never knew banks charged that much for a simple refund! better than nothing

I thought the Hotel refund offer was too good to be true and wondered when the skull duggery would start. Below is the content of the latest email they sent me regarding my request for a full refund. I don't know how a Hotel can cancel a Thai Pass but that is what they say they can do.


Please be informed that if you wish to use the same QR code, then we are unable to process the full refund.
In this case, we can refund for RT-PCR and airport pickup only.

Otherwise, we might have to cancel your Thailand Pass in order to avoid any issue.

Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.


I have sent back an email seeking a compromise telling them I would like to keep the booking for the first night with airport pickup for us all and perhaps they could allow us to stay a second night in lieu of a partial refund. We still need accommodation and airport pickup and I really can't be stuffed looking around for alternative deals. 

[jacko45k]

22 hours ago, Henryford said:

How does the insurance thing work for long term expats? If i visit say Cambodia for a few days and return to my home here in Thailand do i need $10,000 insurance and for how long?

I believe for the expected duration of whatever stamp you will get (permission of stay).... this is Covid specific insurance and NOT  general medical, which will be required on a NON-Imm-OA based re-entry permit. 

[Henryford]

8 hours ago, STALINGRAD said:

Many of us are required to maintain 800000 baht or 400000 baht in a Thai bank for an extension of stay. Wouldn’t that suffice for a insurance requirement?

I doubt it as if you spend any of the 800/400 you would lose your visa. I still want to know as an expat living here do i need Covid insurance to pop out of Thailand for a few days. I don't have medical insurance here.

[jacko45k]

9 hours ago, STALINGRAD said:

Many of us are required to maintain 800000 baht or 400000 baht in a Thai bank for an extension of stay. Wouldn’t that suffice for a insurance requirement?

That money has been stated as required to live off during the term of the extension (yes I know, despite them not letting you withdraw it). Can't really cover both. Many do think your 'suggestion' is the reasoning behind it.... BUT, if you have an O-A based extension, you will need both!

[varun]

Good move in the right direction.

If the Thailand Pass and mandatory insurance would be removed, 

then that would be a huge step towards attracting more tourists.

 

 

[chricha]

Fantastic news as it saves the ridiculous waste of a day in Bangkok.

Of course the cost saving of B4200 is also welcome. As I booked with my favourite Booking.com I will get a full refund for May 12.

 

Normally I either hire a car or now with the new car we pickup tomorrow my family can pick me up at the airport and get on my way to beautiful Khao Kho.

Away from the oppressive heat, smog and traffic. I must get an Easy Pass. It took 25 minutes to get through the Thanyaburi 2 toll gate heading north.

Creeping along to pay B30 in a manual car is no fun at all! My legs were cramped and sore before I had travelled 50km from Bangkok.

 

On the issue of Government requirements such as the Thai Pass -

when I travel back to Australia this week I have to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration.

This is much like the Thai Pass now without the insurance designing to ensure arrivals are vaccinated protecting us all!