[UPDATED] Thailand Visa Policy Changes Due to Coronavirus

Thailand canceled granting of Visa on Arrival for 18 countries and visa exemption for three other countries to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

13 March 2020 UPDATE

Cancellation of Visa on Arrival & Visa Exemption

It’s now almost official. Thailand temporarily suspended issuing of Visa on Arrival and also visa exemption for nationals of Italy, South Korea and Hong Kong, from 13 March to 30 September 2020. All visas and entry stamps already in passports remain valid. The announcement can be found on the website of Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi.

The official decision is on its way to the Royal Gazette.

Until now, citizens of 18 countries could apply for Visa on Arrival at Thai immigration checkpoints at the country’s international airports and border crossings but now they must get Thailand visa in advance. Countries affected of the decision to cancel Visa on Arrival scheme include:

  1. Bulgaria
  2. Bhutan
  3. China
  4. Taiwan
  5. Cyprus
  6. Ethiopia
  7. Fiji
  8. Georgia
  9. India
  10. Kazakhstan
  11. Malta
  12. Mexico
  13. Nauru
  14. Papua New Guinea
  15. Romania
  16. Saudi Arabia
  17. Uzbekistan
  18. Vanuatu

Pay attention that Thai Government’s decision to temporarily suspend visa on arrival for 18 countries DOES NOT affect Russian passport holders. Russians can still visit Thailand for 30 days without visa.

Visa exemption is also be canceled for the most affected countries:

  • South Korea (so far it should affect only other travel documents as passport holders should be able to use the bilateral agreement and enter Thailand without visa for up to 90 days)
  • Italy
  • Hong Kong (so far it should affect only other travel documents as passport holders should be able to use the bilateral agreement and enter Thailand without visa for up to 30 days)

Citizens of those countries will now also have to get Thailand visas at Thai embassies and consulates. When applying for visa, you may also be asked to present a health certificate indicating that you are free of #COVID19.

Additional measures for citizens of China, Macao, Hong Kong

All nationals from China, Macao and Hong Kong who wish to travel to Thailand from 12 March 2020 are also subjected to the following measures:

1. Travelers with symptoms will have to undergo mandatory quarantine measures at the airport upon arrival in Thailand;

2. Travelers without symptoms must undergo self-quarantine at their accommodation for a period of no less than 14 days without leaving until the end of the infectious period or reasonable suspicion. Travelers must record their own symptoms in the reporting system and strictly monitor their symptoms as required by the Ministry of Public Health;

3. All passengers arriving from these countries are required to present health certificate certifying that they are not infected by COVID-19. Such certification must be accompanied by lab result and be valid no more than 48 hours prior to check-in. Otherwise, a boarding pass will not be issued by air operators.

Further updates

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