Hua Hin Forum

Thailand has 'relaxed' criteria for issuing tourist visas
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has relaxed the criteria for issuing visas to foreigners, hoping to revive tourism.

TAT executive director for tourism products, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, said that the tourism situation in Thailand is recovering. She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had relaxed criteria for tourist visas, to allow foreigners to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days, and up to 90 days in the case of an extension.

For a Special Tourist Visa (STV), the applicant has to come from a low-risk country, while the target countries, mostly in Europe and Scandinavia, are categorized as medium-risk countries. So, Thai consulates have relaxed the regulations for applicants from these countries when applying for a tourist visa.

There are, however, several requirements. The applicant has to have savings of at least 500,000 THB, a medical certificate, must take a COVID-19 test 72 hours before travel, acquire health insurance cover of 100,000 US Dollars and acquire out-patient insurance to cover 40,000 THB. 14 days quarantine on arrival is still mandatory.

As of November 5, the ministry had issued certificates of entry to 1,465 foreigners. The top three types of visa granted include retirement visas, special tourism visas, and privileged entry visas.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-h ... ist-visas/

If that is 'relaxed criteria', I'd hate to see what restricted criteria involves.

Is this a relaxed criteria for tourist visas if you are required to have 500 000 THB, which was not necessary before?

To me they are building additional barriers to dissuade any future 'regular' visitors to Thailand. Once the 500K has been set as the yardstick, will it be removed? I can see them reducing it, but I feel it will be here for the duration.

I presume that everyone is hoping that once a vaccine becomes generally available, even the Thai bureaucrats will come to their sensess and return to pre-Covid day regulations - we can only


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Tourists from everywhere are now welcome to visit Thailand, irrespective of their countries' Covid-19 situation, under a newly amended Special Tourist Visa (STV) long-stay programme.

However, these travellers still need to comply with Thailand's 14-day mandatory quarantine, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Tuesday.

The more liberal policy represents a government U-turn and is designed to help the ailing tourism industry.

STVs were previously only available to people from low risk-countries but that stringent condition was blamed for the low number of tourists taking advantage of the programme, with only 825 people from 29 countries and only six luxury yachts using it, said Ms Rachada.

The cabinet has also resolved to extend the stay period for yacht visitors holding an STV for another 30 days, or 60 days in total, she said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted on Tuesday that Thailand was not experiencing a second wave of the pandemic, nor dealing with any challenge of super-spreaders, as rumoured.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... hole-world

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted on Tuesday that Thailand was not experiencing a second wave of the pandemic, nor dealing with any challenge of super-spreaders, as rumoured.

Nearly everyday, cases are reported from the Myanmar Ladies Association.