Australians planning a getaway to Thailand will soon have an extra step to complete before boarding their flight. The Thai government is introducing a mandatory electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which must be obtained ahead of travel.

 

This new system, introduced by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is designed to enhance the screening and tracking of foreigners entering the country.

 

“The ETA will be an important tool for screening and tracking the movement of foreigners entering Thailand.”

 

The Thai ETA is required for travellers from nearly 100 visa-waiver countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and most European nations. It’s a system similar to the USA’s ESTA and the upcoming travel authorisation systems in Europe, the UK, and Japan.

 

Scheduled for a pilot launch by December this year, with a full roll-out by June 2025, ETA applications will be processed online via the official Thai e-Visa website. Unlike other countries’ ETAs, which may allow multiple entries over several years, the Thai ETA must be applied for each time a visitor plans to enter Thailand. However, it’s expected to be free of charge.

 

 

 

 

Once approved, ETA holders will benefit from the convenience of automated passport gates at immigration checkpoints. This comes alongside the recent extension of stay for tourists and business travellers from visa-free countries, who can now enjoy up to 60 days in Thailand, with the possibility to extend for another 30 days upon arrival.

 

In addition, Thailand introduced the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), tailored for remote workers, digital nomads, and visitors attending approved activities. Priced at 10,000 baht (430 Aussie dollars), this visa allows a stay of up to five years, provided applicants can prove they have at least 500,000 baht for the duration of their stay.

 

The DTV also covers the holder’s spouse and dependent children, offering them a five-year stay with multiple entries, extendable by another 180 days, reported Executive Traveller.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Executive Traveller

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-09-04

 

 

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So they're replacing the visa, that was waived, with an ETA.

This will stay free for all of five minutes I suspect.

 

 

Bla Bla Bla Bureaucrats have nothing better to do than think up new bothersome rules......  All for our convenience of course.....lol.........

 

Hey what happend to the Thai Pass? ......It was a mandatory paper that all MUST  have when entering Thailand........But its been completely forgotten about.......Like I think this nonsense will be forgotten...

Another 100 copies required

So they can perfectly track people who use visa waiver 39 times in 14 years. 

 

 

So what happens if one has a retirement visa, and a re-entry permit?

 

I suppose if it is accessed online, it will work about as well as 90 day reporting does.

8 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

So what happens if one has a retirement visa, and a re-entry permit?

Good question. I look forward to the answer in due course.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

, ETA applications will be processed online via the official Thai e-Visa website.

How loge before these crashes, like most Thai government websites.

Or, will it be like the almost nightmare of getting the Covid free certificate before entering Thailand 

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

So what happens if one has a retirement visa, and a re-entry permit?

 

Nothing its a totally different visa category. 

Removed an off-topic post about gangsters and work gangs.

The ETA for Singapore and electronic entry/exit gates work extremely well. We live in hope that Thailand can implement the same system, and ensure it works for those on retirement, marriage, work and business visas. Not just for tourists. Oh, and yes, keep it free. These ETAs can be an impediment to travellers and discourage travel. Time will tell.

 

8 hours ago, kickstart said:

How loge before these crashes, like most Thai government websites.

Or, will it be like the almost nightmare of getting the Covid free certificate before entering Thailand 

Exactly, it was a complete shambles.  Let’s hope they have better technology this time. Wishful thinking , probably. 

9 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Bla Bla Bla Bureaucrats have nothing better to do than think up new bothersome rules......  All for our convenience of course.....lol.........

 

Hey what happend to the Thai Pass? ......It was a mandatory paper that all MUST  have when entering Thailand........But its been completely forgotten about.......Like I think this nonsense will be forgotten...

ETA is pretty well universal in the western world, not a surprise that it is coming to Thailand... and to be quite honest using automated immigration gates as a tradeoff for having to get an ETA... I would take that exchange any day of the week.

So long as it is not an overly lengthy and onerous process I support it. It may help in quelling the number of undesirables making their way here. Time will tell. 

9 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Hey what happend to the Thai Pass?

Wasn't that just a Covid thing so went away along with compulsory PCR Tests & the one night mandatory isolation etc...?. 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“The ETA will be an important tool for screening and tracking the movement of foreigners entering Thailand.”

Why not test it on the Chinese first.

10 hours ago, Lacessit said:

So what happens if one has a retirement visa, and a re-entry permit?

 

I suppose if it is accessed online, it will work about as well as 90 day reporting does.

All you people do is complain.  You lot must be fun to drink with.  Like a bunch of women.  What they are implementing is becoming a global standard and as a big economic player in the world Thailand needs to adapt and implement.  Give Thailand a break.  Stop whining and be thankful that you can live here.  

11 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Bla Bla Bla Bureaucrats have nothing better to do than think up new bothersome rules......  All for our convenience of course.....lol.........

 

Hey what happend to the Thai Pass? ......It was a mandatory paper that all MUST  have when entering Thailand........But its been completely forgotten about.......Like I think this nonsense will be forgotten...

Don't forget the electronic tags from a few years ago

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Thai government is introducing a mandatory electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which must be obtained ahead of travel.

 

 

Is that not counterproductive to their goal of attracting 40 million tourists ?

36 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Why not test it on the Chinese first.

Yes, also India and Russia!!

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“The ETA will be an important tool for screening and tracking the movement of foreigners entering Thailand.”

ETA applications will be processed online via the official Thai e-Visa website.

So you enter some data on a website and this makes you trackable? How? I don't understand the mechanics of it...

I see this is a positive if we don't have to go to a desk and see an actual person on arrival. Singapore and Malaysia are now so easy to go in and out of using the automated gates.

 

I have been using the auto gates to leave Suvarnabhumi recently though, which made things a lot easier. 

 

However, this does also mean that long-term tourists without proper visas may be able to come in and out on ETAs as much as they like, without human intervention. They could of course electronically limit the amount of ETAs per year…

 

Russia is missing from the ETA list............😉

3 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

So you enter some data on a website and this makes you trackable? How? I don't understand the mechanics of it...

 

They will have more information on when and where you plan to enter/exit the country.

 

After you register, you are already on the electronic database so no need to stand at a desk and see an actual person.

 

Passport scan, facial recognition and fingerprint scan will happen at the automated gate as usual. 

11 hours ago, fondue zoo said:

So they're replacing the visa, that was waived, with an ETA.

This will stay free for all of five minutes I suspect.

 

 

S. Korea has an ETA system and it was almost $10 dollars.  But the ETA was good for a year.  The S. Korean ETA response was under 5 minutes.  I doubt anything from LOS will be that quick or efficient. 

1 minute ago, sqwakvfr said:

S. Korea has an ETA system and it was almost $10 dollars.  But the ETA was good for a year.  The S. Korean ETA response was under 5 minutes.  I doubt anything from LOS will be that quick or efficient. 

 

Dunno about that. Cambodia has recently implemented an online arrival card system and app, and it seems to work pretty well.

 

Mind you they are already 15 years ahead of Thailand when it comes to e-visas. 

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

Dunno about that. Cambodia has recently implemented an online arrival card system and app, and it seems to work pretty well.

 

Mind you they are already 15 years ahead of Thailand when it comes to e-visas. 

One problem I see if LOS charges for an ETA is sometimes using a foreign or debit card can be difficlut. Using the S. Korean ETA entry portal on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website was a breeze and using my American Credit Card was also a breeze.  

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Why not test it on the Chinese first.

Too many of them for a trial

I don't understand why the headline refers to Aussies, when the ETA pretty much is applicable to all nationalities?

 

Do we need one of these if we are on retirement extension?

55 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Yes, also India and Russia!!

Kuwaitees