Tighter rules to prevent visa overstays as tourism rebounds

BANGKOK -- Foreign nationals must show passports or other valid identification before flying domestically in Thailand, under a requirement that took effect Tuesday.

 

A foreign passenger must hold the original passport with the name matching that on the boarding pass in order to board a domestic flight, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand said. Those who lost their passports can board with a temporary passport, or with a non-Thai ID card or a driver's license issued by the Thai government.

 

The tighter rules are intended to prevent unlawful overstays by foreign nationals. More foreigners are expected to visit Thailand in the coming years, but the number of people overstaying their visas has become a problem, especially at resort areas.

 

Foreigners are required to show either a physical boarding pass obtained at an airline counter or at an automated check-in kiosk, or display an electronic boarding pass sent by the airline via email. Smartphone pictures of tickets are invalid.

 

Thailand forecasts up to 35 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, or 90% of the level in 2019. Domestic flights drew roughly 280 million passengers, including Thai nationals, between January and November of 2023 as traffic rebounded to pre-COVID levels.

 

Picture" Tourists wait to check in for flights at the Bangkok area's Suvarnabhumi Airport.   © Reuters
KOSUKE INOUE, Nikkei staff writer

 

Spurce: NIKKEI Asia 2024-01-18

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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1 minute ago, webfact said:

but the number of people overstaying their visas has become a problem, especially at resort areas

Wasn't a considered problem when making the decision to allow more counties to enter on Visa Exempt......

Thailand domestic boarding regulations tighten

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed new regulations for non-Thai passengers taking domestic flights in Thailand.

 

Effective from January 16, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) tightened control on the boarding pass and ID checks.

 

The CAAT laid down the law, demanding an exact match between the name on the boarding pass and the passenger’s government-issued ID.

 

Whether it’s the traditional paper pass from the check-in counter, a sleek PDF on your mobile, or a snazzy e-boarding pass via the airline’s app – make no mistake, they’ve got their eyes on you. Screen-captured passes will not be accepted, unless when a passenger validation system or a boarding pass scanner is used at the airport.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-18

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Can't remember I time, over the past 22 years, where I boarded a domestic flight WITHOUT my passport!!!

Just now, bdenner said:

Can't remember I time, over the past 22 years, where I boarded a domestic flight WITHOUT my passport!!!

You are going to need it for something at your destination so makes sense to carry it, as required!

I have never had to show my passport for a domestic flight.  My Thai drivers license has always been sufficient.

11 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I have never had to show my passport for a domestic flight.  My Thai drivers license has always been sufficient.

You're right of course, just less chance of discussion with the passport.

I would imagine anyone on overstay wouldn't be catching a flight anyway, if they dont want to get caught stay away from the airport, 

So nothing has really changed.   But really ... Who would leave their province without their passport ?

 

... "or with a non-Thai ID card or a driver's license issued by the Thai government."

1 hour ago, bdenner said:

Can't remember I time, over the past 22 years, where I boarded a domestic flight WITHOUT my passport!!!

I can't remember the last time I SHOWED my passport. I use my pink ID card. Sometimes this has been a problem only because some of the staff don't know what it is. This misunderstanding (on their part) is quickly sorted out.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Those who lost their passports can board with a temporary passport, or with a non-Thai ID card or a driver's license issued by the Thai government.

Wonder about this one as it has name in Thai only, but the tickets are in Latin letters, so how exactly do they know that it's "matching name to boarding pass"?

 

If airlines knew what first digit of card number stands for, then they could differentiate between those with permanent permissions to stay and those who would need to get extensions (and I'm confident they don't have a clue), but then how would they know that from driver's license?

 

This is pretty useless unless they tie together the immigration and police databases, and link those to check-in computers of airlines.

26 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I can't remember the last time I SHOWED my passport. I use my pink ID card. Sometimes this has been a problem only because some of the staff don't know what it is. This misunderstanding (on their part) is quickly sorted out.

What is it about these pink ID cards that make people bang on about them. It seems odd to depend on something that may or may not be recognized?

12 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

What is it about these pink ID cards that make people bang on about them. It seems odd to depend on something that may or may not be recognized?

It is an official Thai ID card as is a Thai drivers licence. No banging on just a plain and simple fact.

I wonder if they mean matching ID and boarding pass before actually getting on the plane? 

 

I know I always had my PP or TDL to get my boarding pass, but I don't remember whether they actually matched them up at the gate flying domestic.  But I haven't flown domestic in Thailand since Covid.

 

I always wondered if someone could buy a boarding pass for someone else...

 

 

Damned foreigners! 

 

 

9 minutes ago, impulse said:

I wonder if they mean matching ID and boarding pass before actually getting on the plane? 

 

I know I always had my PP or TDL to get my boarding pass, but I don't remember whether they actually matched them up at the gate flying domestic.  But I haven't flown domestic in Thailand since Covid.

 

I always wondered if someone could buy a boarding pass for someone else...

 

 

They always check your boarding pass against your ID before customs and at the gate. 

So does this mean that airlines are really going to check visa/permission to stay status and forward every foreign passenger's travel to immigration police? Can't see how they could handle that. How would they know that from a Thai DL or Pink ID as there would be no permisssion to stay stamp. Or maybe they will check against every passport number? Pehaps they could try but it would be a massive workload trying catch any overstayers. 

 

What exactly is new?  ID has always been required for both Thai and foreigners.  Foreigners can still use alternative ID card/DL.  We had issue 20 years ago with Thai grandchild name not exactly same on birth certificate as boarding pass and refused boarding on CM to Bangkok flight until found amendment paperwork for name spelling.   

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

The CAAT laid down the law, demanding an exact match between the name on the boarding pass and the passenger’s government-issued ID.

 

This is more of a worry for those of us that have middle names. I can't remember ever using middle names on a flight ticket booking. Yet, of course my passport and Thai DL/ID have my middle names. If ticket is only first & last name, will they start denying boarding as with middle names missing it will considered a "mismatch"?

 

Modern Thailand

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Whether it’s the traditional paper pass from the check-in counter, a sleek PDF on your mobile, or a snazzy e-boarding pass via the airline’s app – make no mistake, they’ve got their eyes on you. Screen-captured passes will not be accepted, unless when a passenger validation system or a boarding pass scanner is used at the airport.

 

Well I use a "snazzy e-boarding pass...". "...a sleek PDF..." is NOT acceptable. One thing I DO NOT use is Chat GPT. 

Wtf are they smoking?

I don't ever remember been allowed to check in without showing my passport 

Yet another totally unwarranted intrusion into the lives of ex-pats living in Thailand. Has there been an incident where using a passport, instead of a driving license say, would prevent a hi-jacking or a Thai 9/11. Maybe someone could enlighten me, because I haven't seen or read about such an incident. 

Another minor inconvenience, own top of all the bureaucratic nonsense and paperwork. 

2 hours ago, bdenner said:

Can't remember I time, over the past 22 years, where I boarded a domestic flight WITHOUT my passport!!!

Thank you; reading the article I was puzzled as I can't remember one flight where I boarded without having to show my passport.

5 minutes ago, VinnieK said:

Wtf are they smoking?

I don't ever remember been allowed to check in without showing my passport 

Read above posts. Passport not necessary on domestic flights if you have Thai ID.

How’s this going to prevent overstays? Are the air carriers now expected to check visas? Another case of “lets do it and see what happens” rather than doing a simple feasibility study.  

4 minutes ago, lemonjelly said:

How’s this going to prevent overstays? Are the air carriers now expected to check visas? Another case of “lets do it and see what happens” rather than doing a simple feasibility study.  

It's called thought bubble policy. Maybe they'll demand passports for a while and maybe not but Thai ID is still accepted. 

 

Even though I've got my driving licence I still rather travel with my passport internally, it could be something as simple as my bank card being eaten by a machine and needing to get cash across the counter. 

So, what is the change. They have always asked for some kind of identification for boarding domestic flights. Now it´s still valid id such as passport, pink id or driver license that works. Same same!

You'd need your passport anyway if checking into a hotel.