New Immigration Regulations For Yacht Crews

[george]

New immigration regulations for yacht crews?

An amazing thing happened today as we were checking in at the one-stop shop for yachts in Chalong. The very pleasant Immigration officer gave the skipper a white immigration card because she had a visa in her passport. I waited until we were in the next room to check, and all was in order, just like a normal tourist.

Remembering the old system that required that a 20,000-baht bond be paid by or on behalf of any crew member wanting to land in Thailand, this was a pleasant surprise. I went back into the office to check that there would be no problems for the skipper at the airport and was told, “Yes, no problem, just go to the airport.”

It seems that the new rule, as of a few weeks ago, is that everybody on board a yacht, including captain and crew, who has a visa will be given the period of stay indicated by the visa.

If you do not have a visa, you will get a 30-day stay in port, just like with the old system.

This obviously fixes a long-standing problem about coming to Thailand on a yacht for an extended stay. I certainly do not know why the rule was changed but, Happy Days! Have I got this right?

Monday, July 17, 2006

Rowdy, Chalong.

“As of February 15 this year, if you are aboard a yacht and have a visa, you do not need to pay the 20,000-baht bond. You will be allowed into the country [as a normal tourist] and may leave any way that you wish.

But if you do not have a valid visa you must either leave on the yacht after your stay, or put up the the bond as before. ”

Monday, July 17, 2006

Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen, Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO).

Source: Phuket Gazette

[sabaijai]

New immigration regulations for yacht crews?

An amazing thing happened today as we were checking in at the one-stop shop for yachts in Chalong. The very pleasant Immigration officer gave the skipper a white immigration card because she had a visa in her passport. I waited until we were in the next room to check, and all was in order, just like a normal tourist.

Remembering the old system that required that a 20,000-baht bond be paid by or on behalf of any crew member wanting to land in Thailand, this was a pleasant surprise. I went back into the office to check that there would be no problems for the skipper at the airport and was told, “Yes, no problem, just go to the airport.”

It seems that the new rule, as of a few weeks ago, is that everybody on board a yacht, including captain and crew, who has a visa will be given the period of stay indicated by the visa.

If you do not have a visa, you will get a 30-day stay in port, just like with the old system.

This obviously fixes a long-standing problem about coming to Thailand on a yacht for an extended stay. I certainly do not know why the rule was changed but, Happy Days! Have I got this right?

Monday, July 17, 2006

Rowdy, Chalong.

“As of February 15 this year, if you are aboard a yacht and have a visa, you do not need to pay the 20,000-baht bond. You will be allowed into the country [as a normal tourist] and may leave any way that you wish.

But if you do not have a valid visa you must either leave on the yacht after your stay, or put up the the bond as before. ”

Monday, July 17, 2006

Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen, Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO).

Source: Phuket Gazette

Good news for yacht tourism.