THAILAND OPENS ITS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS, PRIORITISES SAFETY FIRST
The Voice of Canada/Chandigarh News:
The Government of Thailand announced the opening of its borders for tourists from across the globe with stringent visa policies thereby strengthening safety measures. Thailand is now allowing visitors to apply for the Tourist Visa (TR) or ‘Special Tourist Visa’ (STV) with a mandatory 14-day quarantine at Government-approved quarantine facilities.
According to the new protocols, travellers who wish to enter Thailand must have 1 of the aforementioned valid visa and the Certificate of Entry (COE).
Tourist can opt for the visas as per the nature of their stay. At present, there are two type of visas applicable for leisure travellers – Tourist Visa (TRV) and Special Tourist Visa (STV). TR visa caters to the tourist visiting Thailand for a short-term stay, while STV caters to tourist planning for a long-term stay. However, COE certificate, health insurance covering COVID-19 and a 14-day quarantine is mandatory for both. One must apply for the COE certification post receiving the visa.
Cholada Siddhivarn, Director Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mumbai office commented “We are now strategizing our efforts towards rebuilding tourism. The new visa rule and procedures will act as a catalyst to ensure uttermost safety is maintained while we open the country for international tourists”. She further added, “We will work cohesively with our travel trade partners and continuously aid them with revised product offerings. Together we will adapt to the new normal and slowly but steadily, we will see more and more tourists visiting our country”.
Vachirachai Sirisumpan, Director Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi office added that “Thailand is gradually opening up for international tourists including Indian travellers and we hope that regular flights between the two countries will be starting soon. Once tourists arrive in Thailand they should ensure to follow all safety measures of “Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration Certification” or SHA which covers every touch points of tourist experience in Thailand. Tourist can be confident on safety and have a good experience while travelling in Thailand as well.
The ‘Land of Smile’ is waiting to welcome you all. Please refer to the below table to understand the type of visa and the procedures.
TYPE OF VISA
| TOURIST VISA (TRV) | SPECIAL TOURSIT VISA (STV) (LONG TERM VISA) | |
| VISA VALIDITY | 60 DAYS – SINGLE ENTRY | 90 DAYS– SINGLE ENTRY |
| VISA TYPE | VISA CATEGORY CANNOT BE CHANGED ONCE APPLIED FOR | |
| LENGTH OF STAY | UPTO 60 DAYS | UPTO 90 DAYS |
| MINIMUM STAY REQUIREMENT | NA | 30 DAYS |
| EXTENSION OF THE VISA | ONE TIME FOR 30 DAYS ONLY | TWICE FOR 90 DAYS, PER EXTENSION |
| TOTAL LENGTH OF STAY | MAXIMUM 90 DAYS | MAXIMUM 270 DAYS |
| VISA FEE | INR 2500/- + applicable taxes | INR 5000/- + applicable taxes |
| PROCESSING TIME | 5-7 WORKING DAYS | 5-7 WORKING DAYS |
VISA PROCEDURE
| TOURIST VISA (TRV) | SPECIAL TOURSIT VISA (STV) | |
| APPLICATION FORM | SUBMIT A COMPLETE VISA FORM | |
| PASSPORT | AT LEAST TWO EMPTY PAGES AND VALIDITY OF NOT LESS THAN 6 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF PLANNED ENTRY INTO THAILAND | |
| ITINENARY, RETURN TICKETS, HOTEL BOOKINGS MUST FOR BOTH VISA TYPE ALONG WITH ONE RECENT PASSPORT SIZED PHOTOGRAPH (4X6 CM) | ||
| BANK STATEMENT | 6-MONTH BANK STATEMENT WITH FUNDS NOT LESS THAN INR 500,000 MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT SIX MONTHS WITH BANK ATTESTATION | |
| PROCESSING TIME | 5-7 WORKING DAYS | 5-7 WORKING DAYS |
| HELATH INSURANCE | A MINIMUM COVERAGE OF USD 100,000 COVERING TREATMENT AND MEDICAL EXPENSES RELATED TO COVID-19 DURING STAY IN THAILAND. OR TO PURCHASE AN INSURANCE FROM A THAI INSURER APPROVED BY THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE COMMISSION OF THAILAND, https://longstay.tgia.org/home/companiesstv | A MINIMUM COVERAGE OF USD 100,000 COVERING TREATMENT AND MEDICAL EXPENSES RELATED TO COVID-19 DURING STAY IN THAILAND HAVE OUTPATIENT BENEFIT IN THAILAND OF NOT LESS THAN 40,000 THB (OR 100,000 INR) HAVE INPATIENT BENEFIT IN THAILAND OF NOT LESS THAN 400,000 THB (OR 1,000,000 INR) TO PURCHASE AN INSURANCE FROM A THAI INSURER APPROVED BY THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE COMMISSION OF THAILAND, https://longstay.tgia.org/home/companiesstv |
| COVER LETTER | THOSE WITH EXISTING HEALTH INSURANCE ARE ADVISED TO ASK THEIR INSURER FOR ‘COVER LETTER’ CONFIRMING THAT THE INSURANCE COVERS COVID-19 WITH MINIMUM COVERAGE OF USD 100,000 | |
| MEDICAL CERTIFICATE | NA | ISSUED FROM THE COUNTRY WHERE THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED SHOWING NO PROHIBITIVE DISEASES AS INDICATED IN THE MINISTERIAL REGULATION NO.14 (B.E. 2535) (CERTIFICATE SHALL BE VALID FOR NOT MORE THAN THREE MONTHS AND MUST BE DULY NOTARISED). |
| CRIMINAL RECORDS | NA | VERIFICATION SHOULD BE VALID FOR NOT MORE THAN THREE MONTHS AND MUST BE DULY NOTARISED |
TR Visa/STV holders must apply for COE online https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/regis/step?language=en
