New travel rules: Thailand’s ETA to shake up visa-free visitors

[Destiny1990]

We can expect the airport arrival waiting lines to tripple 🤢🤢

[cjinchiangrai]

14 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Until they work out what a simple way it will be to levy a "tourist tax".

They already have that as part of the ticket. 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

23 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Whatever, as long as it is easy to process.

 

If they want to get things under control, start with arresting agents.

"If they want to get things under control, start with arresting agents. "

 

Arresting agents, for what exactly?

[craighj]

These people are F-ing idiots that could not organise a root in a brothel!!!

 

Extend visa exemption and then add a different process that is similar to a electronic visa!

 

My big Buddha, can we please get someone who knows what they are doing to run immigration!!!

[proton]

6 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

If this online submission can be done in less than 5 minutes, as is the case for neighboring countries, and then allow you to walk off the plane and go through the e-Gates instead of standing in a queue, I'm all for it. It has worked great for me in Malaysia and Singapore. 

 

Yeah well they say that about the TM30 online, still never got that to work in the past 12 months

[proton]

1 minute ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

"If they want to get things under control, start with arresting agents. "

 

Arresting agents, for what exactly?

 

Bribery and corruption?, just a wild guess 

[mokwit]

1 minute ago, cjinchiangrai said:

They already have that as part of the ticket. 

Not quite, it is airport tax.

[cjinchiangrai]

3 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

"If they want to get things under control, start with arresting agents. "

 

Arresting agents, for what exactly?

Bribery, falsifying government documents, fraud.

[Patong2021]

Hopefully the  individual trip requirement will change to  annual and then multi year. 

Wait until a planeload of Chinese, Arabs, Indians or Russians arrive and don't understand.

[cjinchiangrai]

3 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Not quite, it is airport tax.

That has been included in the price of airline tickets for years. The only people that need to pay it are border bouncers living in LOS illegally.

[cjinchiangrai]

18 minutes ago, Lopburikid said:

I read on Thai Visa it was free. If you go online to fill the form it quotes Visa or debit card $6 .

 

Link? I would like to see the details.

[cjinchiangrai]

11 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Hopefully the  individual trip requirement will change to  annual and then multi year. 

Wait until a planeload of Chinese, Arabs, Indians or Russians arrive and don't understand.

They would not be allowed on the plane.

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Once approved, travellers can pass through electronic immigration gates using a QR code

And not everyone uses QR codes.

[Cabradelmar]

Tracking the flood of visa exempt is a noble cause. Albeit not something THA has ever been good at. Now that the sock puppet PM has ousted expect more visa related changes.

[gejohesch]

52 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

That's a foregone conclusion.

Unfortunately, I tend to agree. Thailand has an incredible record of complicated and ever changing rules. Thailand should take an example from how Malaysia does it - straight and simple. I traveled to KL a few months ago and was stopped at the immigration because I had not arranged for the ETA. I did not know it was a new requirement, having traveled in and out there multiple times over the years before, and never had any problem as I carry a EU passport. But I could fix it right there by the immigration desk, it took me 5 minutes and I just had to let pass a dozen or so of other travelers in front of me while I was connecting with the relevant website. That shows Malaysia has an easy and straightforward system in place. Thailand, again, should look into it. ...... But, I forgot, it's Thailand, and why should Thailand learn from anyone anywhere outside Thailand????

[HK MacPhooey]

MacPhooey recently arrived with a new UK&NI PP, the IO girl asked me if I would be entering with my APEC Card - I told her that my APEC Card is linked to my old PP so it was obsolete, point being that they already had a link between my old and new PPs possibly from info in the new PP chip 😐

[818Pilot]

Goodbye border runners and those who try to live in Thailand without a proper visas. If, and this is a big If, it’s implemented correctly the system should deny anyone from unlimited visa exemption entries. 

[mran66]

Just imagine all the hassle for the millions of package tourists from China and also other countries, especially so if any documentation beyond passport numbwr is needed in submission. 

[mokwit]

2 minutes ago, 818Pilot said:

Goodbye border runners and those who try to live in Thailand without a proper visas. If, and this is a big If, it’s implemented correctly the system should deny anyone from unlimited visa exemption entries. 

No gloating, now.

[kjdude]

25 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

And not everyone uses QR codes.

How do you live here without using QR codes. During covid you couldnt even enter many buildings including Immigration without QR codes

[John Drake]

Just now, kjdude said:

How do you live here without using QR codes. During covid you couldnt even enter many buildings including Immigration without QR codes

 

That's not true. I went to Chaengwattana five or six times during Covid and never needed or used a QR code. They are not needed at all.

[mokwit]

1 minute ago, kjdude said:

How do you live here without using QR codes. During covid you couldnt even enter many buildings including Immigration without QR codes

I've lived here for 30 years and I have never used a QR code.

[tomazbodner]

If this ETA would be same as e-visas, where creating a profile and logging into the system is required, you can more or less forget any elderly foreigners coming for tourism purpose from the "visa-free" countries, as they'd get lost in that page and give up, and switch to Malaysia or Philippines or... many other destinations that actually want them.

 

This visa-free thingy was basically a con. First you tell some countries they no longer need visas, then you tell everyone that the need one. Just called differently.

 

I wonder how long, after arrival numbers tank, this will all become a "misunderstanding". And don't get me wrong - I think ability to check people before they come is a good thing - but this isn't the right way of doing it. Especially troubling visitors to do it every time they travel.

[mokwit]

1 minute ago, tomazbodner said:

you can more or less forget any elderly foreigners coming for tourism purpose from the "visa-free" countries, as they'd get lost in that page and give up

I know of older people who just came here on visa exempt rather than tourist visa once the online application was introduced*, now I guess they will just have to stop coming.

 

* not everyone knows you have to upload a blank jpeg file to proceed.

[cjinchiangrai]

59 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

We can expect the airport arrival waiting lines to tripple 🤢🤢

Or eliminated as the system becomes automated more.

[cjinchiangrai]

8 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

If this ETA would be same as e-visas, where creating a profile and logging into the system is required, you can more or less forget any elderly foreigners coming for tourism purpose from the "visa-free" countries, as they'd get lost in that page and give up, and switch to Malaysia or Philippines or... many other destinations that actually want them.

 

This visa-free thingy was basically a con. First you tell some countries they no longer need visas, then you tell everyone that the need one. Just called differently.

 

I wonder how long, after arrival numbers tank, this will all become a "misunderstanding". And don't get me wrong - I think ability to check people before they come is a good thing - but this isn't the right way of doing it. Especially troubling visitors to do it every time they travel.

Don't think you are the only person on the planet that can operate a computer.

[redwood1]

41 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Looks like a de-facto Elite Visa for 5 years, now sold at only THB10000-.

 

I bet these are sad days in the Elite office....New sign-ups I bet have fallen off a cliff.......Time to make some ...Will Work For Food...signs...

[wensiensheng]

20 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

If this ETA would be same as e-visas, where creating a profile and logging into the system is required, you can more or less forget any elderly foreigners coming for tourism purpose from the "visa-free" countries, as they'd get lost in that page and give up, and switch to Malaysia or Philippines or... many other destinations that actually want them.

 

This visa-free thingy was basically a con. First you tell some countries they no longer need visas, then you tell everyone that the need one. Just called differently.

 

I wonder how long, after arrival numbers tank, this will all become a "misunderstanding". And don't get me wrong - I think ability to check people before they come is a good thing - but this isn't the right way of doing it. Especially troubling visitors to do it every time they travel.

I wonder why you think “elderly” people can’t operate a simple electronic system. Do you think we are stupid, Mr Oh So Smart Youngster?

 

[redwood1]

21 minutes ago, kjdude said:

How do you live here without using QR codes. During covid you couldnt even enter many buildings including Immigration without QR codes

 

I used a QR code  to pay for a Lazada purchase at 7-11 one time.....The one and only time I have ever used a QR code.

[black tabby12345]

32 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

 

I bet these are sad days in the Elite office....New sign-ups I bet have fallen off a cliff.......Time to make some ...Will Work For Food...signs...

 

Looks like Thai govt changed their policy: From Luxury Department Store to Supermarket.