Fee for visa on arrival doubled to 2,000 baht as of Sept 27

[snoop1130]

Fee for visa on arrival doubled to 2,000 baht as of Sept 27

 

 

Starting as of September 27, foreign tourists from 18 countries and one economic zone will be charged 2,000 baht instead of 1,000 baht if they apply for visas on arrival (VoA) at any of the 42 designated immigration checkpoints.

 

Tourists from the following countries are entitled to apply for VoA which will allow them to stay in the country up to 15 days. They include Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

 

The 42 designated immigration checkpoints are: Suvarnabhumi airport, Don Mueang airport, Chiang Mai airport, Phuket airport, Hat Yai airport, U Tapao airport, Mae Sai immigration checkpoint, Chiang Saen checkpoint, Chiang Khong checkpoint, Betong checkpoint, Sadao checkpoint, Samui airport, Sukhothai airport, Bangkok harbor, Si Racha checkpoint, Mab Ta Put checkpoint, Nong Khai checkpoint, Samui checkpoint, Phuket checkpoint, Satun checkpoint, Krabi checkpoint, Songkhla harbor, Chiang Rai airport, Surat Thani airport, Sattahip harbor, Klong Yai checkpoint, Pong Nam Ron checkpoint, Aranyaprathet checkpoint, Muk Dahan checkpoint, Tak checkpoint, Padang Besar, Su-ngai Kolok, Nong Khai, Bueng Karn, Phibun Mangsaharn, Tha Li, Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Ban Prakob, Tak Bai and Bukit Tal.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/fee-visa-arrival-doubled-2000-baht-sept-27/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-08-18

[DavisH]

The Chinese are gonna love this one!

 

This is like when restaurants don't have enough customers....they increase the prices!

[ezflip]

Is it me or am I getting the impression that they simply don't want tourists anymore...

[khwaibah]

The article says 42 designated check points they only listed 40.

[Ronuk]

23 minutes ago, ezflip said:

Is it me or am I getting the impression that they simply don't want tourists anymore...

I doubt the cost of Visas has any bearing on the number of Tourists. imo, the cost of a visa isn't the make or break decision to visit a country or not. It appears that most government Departments in most countries in 2016 now seem to be responsible for there own budgets. If immigration need to improve there financial status, then the raising of prices for visas is probably an easy decision for them to take. I doubt the VOA will be the only visa to see an increase in price over the coming months. They tend to raise the price on one type of visa and eventually the price filters through to other categories.
Take a look at the price of different types of visas to enter the UK now. The price increases have been incredible over the previous years.

Edited August 18, 2016 by Ronuk
spelling

[willyumiii]

This may reduce the cheap charlie and penniless backpackers who visit.

That would improve the tourist experience for those who can afford it and do spend money here.

Maybe not a bad idea.

[ChrisY1]

This adds $35us to their fare price......not too much, but some will balk.

[Pib]

Healthy fee increase....immigration must have consulted the Thai Bankers Association.

[willyumiii]

20 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

This adds $35us to their fare price......not too much, but some will balk.

about that yes, but if you read the post, the U.S. is not one of the countries with the increased fee,

[willyumiii]

1 hour ago, ezflip said:

Is it me or am I getting the impression that they simply don't want tourists anymore...

Fine with me.

I have no use for tourists.

Most are rude and disrespectful,

 and I  find most from my home country very embarrassing.

But I do not depend on tourists for my income, so I am biased.

Edited August 18, 2016 by willyumiii

[blackcab]

2,000 baht for 15 days VOA.

 

1,900 baht for a 1 year extension of stay.

 

Something has to change there.

[Pib]

1 minute ago, blackcab said:

2,000 baht for 15 days VOA.

 

1,900 baht for a 1 year extension of stay.

 

Something has to change there.

Don't give immigration any ideas....they'll might just double the extension of stay fee.

[blackcab]

Thats better than pro rata based on the VOA rate.

[lkv]

It's very simple to understand.

 

Last time, they said an increase to 2,000 baht would be done to encourage people to apply for a visa at the embassy.

 

The friendly Thai Embassy in Beijing requires copy of return/exit ticket, bank statement, and guarantee letter from the applicant's local guarantor. The letter must include official letterhead of the company/school and affix with official seal, or residence permit for people without regular work they say. For a tourist visa. So it does sound very encouraging for the Chinese.

 

Now, it seems that in 2015, there were 7.9 million Chinese tourists, or 27% of all international tourist arrivals, and 8.8 million are expected in 2016.

 

Let's conservatively assume 90% of them entered Thailand on a VOA. Call it 7 million.

 

7 million x 1,000 = 7 billion baht

7 million (or more this year) x 2,000 = 14 billion baht

Increase in profit 7 billion baht.

 

Just more milking, that's all.

 

 

Edited August 18, 2016 by lkv

[BigBadGeordie]

1 hour ago, willyumiii said:

This may reduce the cheap charlie and penniless backpackers who visit.

That would improve the tourist experience for those who can afford it and do spend money here.

Maybe not a bad idea.

Excellent post. I thought I was good a taking the piss. You have taken it to the next level.

Unless of course you are serious, nah, nah, can't be.

 

But then again.

[willyumiii]

Double the price and it is still cheap and easy to get into Thailand.

It cost me a few thousand dollars ( not baht ) to get my Thai wife into the U.S.

and we had to wait almost three years for approval.

Again, Thailand is cheap and easy!

[Cletus]

Thailand has so many tourists that Government really don't care, number of tourists (or at least the total amount of money they are making from) won't go down. They're actually going to make more money.

Same with visa restrictions.

[puukao]

when you wish bad on others (the cheap smelly backpacker hippies, still humans) your KARMA gets worse and worse....when you wish bad for no reason but to just be negative, you will not have as good as a life as you can.......i pity those....they usually have some bad insecurities.....

 

 

[american12bthai]

4 hours ago, DavisH said:

The Chinese are gonna love this one!

 

This is like when restaurants don't have enough customers....they increase the prices!

 

NOW you understand the housing market.   Crime will soon spike at an alarming rate.  

[gk10002000]

3 hours ago, willyumiii said:

about that yes, but if you read the post, the U.S. is not one of the countries with the increased fee,

yes, the fee increase is for the people that at the airport actually have to apply for the visa on arrival, which is different than the visa exemption on arrival that USA and dozens of other countries can get.

[JayBeeee]

3 hours ago, willyumiii said:

This may reduce the cheap charlie and penniless backpackers who visit.

That would improve the tourist experience for those who can afford it and do spend money here.

Maybe not a bad idea.

 

So, you're saying that people on a low budget don't have as much right go see the world as old people on pensions.

How will it improve anybody's "tourist experience", other than those who think that having more money tban the next person makes them something special, when they are clearly not.

Since opening my bar in 2014, I've got to meet many people, and I certainly know which of the above I'd rather talk to and welcome in, irrespective of how much money is in their pocket, and which I'd definitely rather didn't even walk through the door.

[IMA_FARANG]

While this information is correct, and it has ben posted on this forum before, it is about visas on arrival.

Most European tourists and Americans or Canaduans do not enter on a visa on arrival.

Those who are G-7 nationals enter on a visa exempt entry (non visa entries) or they  have tourist visas from Thai consulates or Thai embassies when they enter.

The majority of what yoi call the cheap-charkie back packers  from the EU do nor enter on visa on arrival visas.

Visa exempt entries, tourist visas, and visas on entry are 3 different things.

 

[NongKhaiKid]

7 hours ago, willyumiii said:

This may reduce the cheap charlie and penniless backpackers who visit.

That would improve the tourist experience for those who can afford it and do spend money here.

Maybe not a bad idea.

So you want to get the backpackers and budget tourists out,     is it so the   '  quality  '   ones can have Kao San Road and the likes to to themselves   ?

[Thechook]

7 hours ago, willyumiii said:

This may reduce the cheap charlie and penniless backpackers who visit.

That would improve the tourist experience for those who can afford it and do spend money here.

Maybe not a bad idea.

Oh yes a wonderful idea so we don't have to see and heaven forbid walk on the same streets as the lower classes.  It always spoils my day when I see someone who isn't of the same social standing as my good self.

[Thechook]

6 hours ago, willyumiii said:

Double the price and it is still cheap and easy to get into Thailand.

It cost me a few thousand dollars ( not baht ) to get my Thai wife into the U.S.

and we had to wait almost three years for approval.

Again, Thailand is cheap and easy!

That's a one time fee compared to Thailand where it is ongoing and your wife will be entitled to the benefits afforded a citizen.  Same in Australia.  Also I bet your wife won't have to report on bail every 90 days or have to have a tracking device.  What does Thailand give the farang husband for the fees he pays and the money he transfers to Thailand banks as part of the requirement

[khwaibah]

Not to many back packers in this group.

 

The list of countries eligible to obtain Visa on Arrival 

 

Andorra	Bhutan	Bulgaria	China
Taiwa	Cyprus	Ethiopia	India
Kazakhstan	Latvia	Lithuania	Maldives
Malta	Mauritius	Romania	San marino
Saudi Arabia	Ukraine	Uzbekistan

 

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/907-visa-on-arrival

[Jiggo]

11 hours ago, blackcab said:

2,000 baht for 15 days VOA.

 

1,900 baht for a 1 year extension of stay.

 

Something has to change there.

 

Shussssshhhhh

[mesterm]

THIS is how they want to make up for the drop in tourism since the attacks??

[dieseldave1951]

11 hours ago, blackcab said:

2,000 baht for 15 days VOA.

 

1,900 baht for a 1 year extension of stay.

 

Something has to change there.

shush you give them ideas 

[atyclb]

5 hours ago, Thechook said:

Oh yes a wonderful idea so we don't have to see and heaven forbid walk on the same streets as the lower classes.  It always spoils my day when I see someone who isn't of the same social standing as my good self.

 

how dare you? blasphemy. thou shalt not walk on or share the same hallowed ground that the select few tv forum elites walk on.