Thailand Introduces Online TM6 as Tourism Fee Faces Delays

[Beerzy65]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy: Facebook TAT news

 

In a significant move poised to streamline the entry process for visitors, Thailand is set to launch an online TM6 immigration form from May 1.

 

This development arises as the Ministry of Tourism and Sports gears up to promote the new digital system, which is expected to replace the traditional paper-based forms previously suspended by the cabinet in April 2024. However, the much-discussed 300-baht tourism fee may see delays, amid governmental hesitance to enforce it this year.

 

The digital TM6 form is part of Thailand's efforts to enhance the visitor experience and bolster tourist tracking for safety, amid ongoing concerns about the country serving as a conduit for illicit activities. Natthriya Thaweevong, permanent secretary of the ministry, highlighted that this online system could mitigate safety concerns by improving tourist oversight.

 

In preparation for this change, the ministry has engaged the Immigration Bureau to showcase the online system to its staff, ensuring a smooth transition and understanding across departments.

 

Additionally, a pivotal meeting is slated for January 31, bringing together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism Authority of Thailand, airlines, and the hospitality sector. The goal is to familiarise these parties with the new online form and facilitate communication with arriving foreigners.

 

Mongkon Wimonrat, deputy permanent secretary, emphasised the government’s focus on the digital TM6 to prevent confusion, before considering other entry screening measures. The online system will be mandatory for all foreign arrivals, whether they enter by air, land, or sea, and registration will be free of charge.

 

Anticipation surrounds the cabinet's expected approval next month, which will give concerned parties ample time to prepare. However, as noted by an anonymous insider from the ministry, the introduction of the online TM6 might overshadow the implementation of the proposed tourism fee, indicating a probable postponement.

 

Given the complexities of smoothly integrating the TM6 system and the country's current entanglements with security issues, there is a belief that this is not the optimal moment to introduce additional fees or entry requirements.

 

The government appears to prioritise ensuring the new process runs without hitches before revisiting the proposed tourism fee and potentially other entry measures similar to an electronic travel authorisation, which has found success in other regions.

 

This transition marks a pivotal step in Thailand's efforts to modernise its immigration processes, aiming to offer a seamless experience for international visitors while maintaining robust security measures, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-01-24

 

 

Not law as yet

"Anticipation surrounds the cabinet's expected approval next month, which will give concerned parties ample time to prepare."

[bwanajohn]

Wonder if it applies to all types of visas and extensions if stay...we will still need re entry permits for Non O.

[hkblademan]

2 minutes ago, bwanajohn said:

Wonder if it applies to all types of visas and extensions if stay...we will still need re entry permits for Non O.

They said previously it applies to everyone.

[Guderian]

You know the way these things go in Thailand, they'll have this nice shiny new online TM6 system, yet will still want all the usual paperwork as well. Dropping the TM6 arrival card was the first actual reduction in Immigration paperwork I can remember, but it was obviously too good to last and the Thai bureaucracy, addicted to forms as it is, got withdrawal symptoms and so has come up with this online gubbins. And nothing the Thais do online ever works very well anyway.

[HuaHinHim]

Not really sure how the new TM6 enhances the visitor experience but I do appreciate the new automatic gates in immigration for departure. Hopefully they will be up and running for arrivals soon. 
 

not sure Thai immigration will be too happy to have their jobs taken over by automation though, especially if it means reducing the immigration workforce 

[mran66]

3 hours ago, Tony M said:

But what is the point of an immigration arrival card ?  Surely the information/data is entered into the immigration database when the immigration officer scans your passport and enters the required data, including permitted length of stay, into the database. What happens to the written information card ?  Up to 40 million paper cards per year ?  I'm sure the immigration database is shareable with other departments, if required by them.

 

 

That's what I was wondering also yesterday when saw this news. Now they are planning to ask foreigners to fill two separate online forms to enter the country, the ETA and the TM.6. Hard to see much other reason that employing themselves and some externals to get envelopes to create useless things

[wensiensheng]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Utter rubbish.

Thailand is a police state and they want to know where everyone is.

End of.

TBH, I think they just want to create work for themselves so as to justify their jobs. I don’t think they care where I am one iota.

 

As for deterring criminal elements, they do realize that any old false information can be filled in and there is no check that it is correct other than the details already shown on the passport. I just don’t see the deterrence 🤷‍♂️

[LoudHailer]

I  recently returned from Japan. I initially struggled to complete the online immigration form to enter Japan because I couldn't upload my passport photo page plus a selfie, trying over and over. It worked when I entered my passport details manually and ignored the request for the selfie. It worked. I received a QR Code in response. 

 

The lines were long. I exposed the QR Code to their reader device. I was then subjected to questions by the Immigration Officer which had already been answered in the online process. It didn't speed up the process of entry! Passengers who hadn't done the online form  were completing the paperwork and progressed through immigration at much the same pace. 

 

Completing the required online reservation for the Airport Bus back from the hotel to Narita airport was  more complex. I had the obliging hotel Concierge do it for me, well practiced as he had become by necessity. Everything is going online. We have no choice but to accept and to become adept at it.

[AAArdvark]

I already thought they were complimenting an e-arrival which sounds like the same thing. 

[dick turpin]

Thought they gave up on the TM6 some time ago.

 

Still have one from last entry in 2918, asked IO

if needed to retain, first she said no then said

best to keep it.

[CLW]

Should make it with a QR code output and self service gates at major airports. Every human interaction (not only at Thai immigration) is going to slow down the processing time. 

[StayinThailand2much]

42 minutes ago, Guderian said:

You know the way these things go in Thailand, they'll have this nice shiny new online TM6 system, yet will still want all the usual paperwork as well. 

 

Exactly. I wouldn't be surprised if they required travellers to have printouts of that online TM6 ready.

[Hawaiian]

3 hours ago, redwood1 said:

 Thailand's efforts to enhance the visitor experience and bolster tourist tracking for safety, amid ongoing concerns about the country serving as a conduit for illicit activities.

 

 

 

Has anyone here had their travel experience enhanced by the  TM6?

Has anyone here felt safer because of the TM6?

Has anyone here enjoyed being tracked?

Does anyone here think the TM6 has stopped so much as one illicit activitie?

 

 

Not me, to all 4 questions. 

[Hawaiian]

2 hours ago, SiamAndy said:

Yet another example of the Thai Bureaucratic State trying to prove their worth or value added to their government heads. Other examples: TM30, 90 day reports,fees already built into airfare departure tax, arrival tax (to come within the year). ETA system (to come within the year), proposed revised/reinterpreted income tax rules., foreigner pricing in national parks, dual pricing in hospitals.

 

These pathetic Thai bureaucrats just can't help themselves. Their actions will continue to drive people away in drips and drabs over time.

 

 

Right.  They keep shooting themselves in their(the) feet(foot).

[thurian]

3 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

The number of people using a VPN on their smartphone is so small as to be insignificant. 

 

you didn't meet me yet

[NoDisplayName]

3 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Let me guess, now, either,

 

(1) Each tourist has to hand out the phone to the IO, so that he/she can check the TM6 on the phone (similar to airlines checking ETAs on your phone), or

 

(2) If it is in the system, IOs will spend five minutes to locate each TM6 on the computer... 🧐 

 

(3) Tourists will be required to download and activate the immigration department's "SMART TM-6" app into their phone which will track the crim....oops....will track the tourist's movements via "SMART-GPS" and will report to the immigration department's online "SMARTBASE" hourly.

 

(4)  Any attempt to disable the "SMART TM-6" or failure to report will result in the release of a fleet of BMW "SMART-CARS" to detain the offender and place them in "SMART-LOCKUP" for persecution.

[watchcat]

3 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Sometimes a headache, if you're at the airport, without wifi, or own internet, and staff at the check-in counter want to read visa/ETA emails, and won't accept screen shots.

 

Tell them that you don't use/have a phone.

[NoDisplayName]

1 minute ago, watchcat said:

 

Tell them that you don't use/have a phone.

 

I often cycle tour through China, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.  Throw the cellphone in the sockdrawer and travel free of interruptions.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, HuaHinHim said:

 

not sure Thai immigration will be too happy to have their jobs taken over by automation though, especially if it means reducing the immigration workforce 

 

Wasn't it mid 2022 when they cancelled the TM6 requirement ?.

 

Re-introducing a digital format has actually created employment !

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Maybe they should consider equipping every visitor with a GPS-enabled ankle monitor!

Amazing how AN posters so quickly spin in to a tizz and overreact to everything and everything.

How will this be any different to Singapore, Ireland, Greece, Australia or any one of dozens of countries that require an online declaration before travel? Do they strap ankle tags on you?

Probably fill it out 48/72 hours before travel on a computer (no phone required, luddites). Print out confirmation if it makes you less "detectable".  Simple. Why all the crying in this thread about phones, data roaming, tracking, tourists leaving in droves etc. People need to get over themselves.

There's also every logical chance that once this is implemented you'll be able to use e-gates on arrival.

[watchcat]

6 hours ago, lamecn said:

So, now it's become compulsary for tourists to have a mobile phone

 

No it's not.

[Hawaiian]

5 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

No it's not.

Not yet.

[watchcat]

7 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

How will this be any different to Singapore, Ireland, Greece, Australia or any one of dozens of countries that require an online declaration before travel?

 

Email is on line?

[Hawaiian]

15 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Tell them that you don't use/have a phone.

Which is true for me.  My girlfriend has a smartphone while old-fashioned me uses a flip phone.  Upon arrival she buys a 30 day sim card.  I use a pocket wifi for my laptop.

[digger70]

Thailand Introduces Online TM6 as Tourism Fee Faces Delays 

 

Why? Imm doesn't need that they have the Passport info if they have to.

So online for Every one in How may Languages would that be or just in ones Own country Language.

Nothing Can go wrong hey.  🙏

 

[TTSIssues]

4 hours ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

 

And of those likely either broke, technology-phobic or extremely paranoid.  Not exactly the high value tourist categories Thailand is seeking.

My mother is exactly the type of tourist they should want: wealthy, well travelled, loves eating out, always stays in lovely hotels, enjoys shopping and high quality trips. But can she work a smartphone? Not a chance. Different generation. 

[Hawaiian]

3 minutes ago, TTSIssues said:

My mother is exactly the type of tourist they should want: wealthy, well travelled, loves eating out, always stays in lovely hotels, enjoys shopping and high quality trips. But can she work a smartphone? Not a chance. Different generation. 

They rather have cheap charlies from China.

[watchcat]

44 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Wasn't it mid 2022 when they cancelled the TM6 requirement ?.

 

Something like that, but they soon realized that they lose money on the printing business.

[kuzmabruk]

4 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Utter rubbish.

Thailand is a police state and they want to know where everyone is.

End of.

Nothing wrong with knowing where visitors to your country are.  And our countries know where we live by our tax returns and drivers licenses.  Why is everyone so negative to Thailand?

 

my only issue is they need to provide Apple devices to their app testers because first few weeks their new releases almost always break/crash.  

[suzannegoh]

4 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

The number of people using a VPN on their smartphone is so small as to be insignificant. 

Also small and insignificant is the number of people who get hacked just by connecting to a public wifi network.  By now all traffic that matters is SSL encrypted,