There has been a lot of talk about Thailand opening its borders again to tourists. With quarantine in mind and in a desperate search to get people to return, immigration has introduced two measures to make travel to the Kingdom more feasible. The first measure is an extension of the Visa on Entry which has now been extended to 45 days, instead of the previous 30 days to allow for quarantine. The second is arguably the more attractive option, a Special Tourist Visa, which will enable tourists to stay for up to nine months.
Requirements for an STV
Applications for an STV must be made to a Royal Thai Embassy at least two weeks before your intended travel date. Applications will need to be made online, and you will, of course, need to submit copies of your passport (with at least 12 months remaining and two free pages), a recent color photograph that is taken against a white background. You will also need written confirmation of a booking at an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel in Bangkok or an Alternative Local State Quarantine (ALQ) hotel in a city such as Pattaya.
Quarantine
Anyone entering Thailand must stay in government-approved quarantine for 15 nights which will be affiliated to a hospital. You must also have a negative COVID-19 taken by the PCR, no more than 72 before departure, and have insurance with cover of no less than $100,000 which is valid for the duration of your stay in Thailand.
Accommodation
When you apply for your visa, you will need to produce evidence of where you will be staying. It can be a hotel booking, a rental agreement, or a copy of the title deeds of a property you or a family member own. If you are renting, proof that the deposit has been paid will also need to be shown.
Certificate of Entry (CoE)
Once you have been granted the STV, you will then need to apply for the CoE when you again need to upload copies of your visa, proof of an ASQ or ALQ, flight tickets, medical insurance along with various declaration forms which are subject to change but can be downloaded from the Thai Embassy’s website. The CoE, (in most cases) will be emailed to you although, in some countries, applicants are being asked to collect it in person.
Arriving Thailand
When you arrive in Thailand, all documents will be checked by airport officials prior to proceeding to immigration. Assuming everything is present and correct; you will then collect your baggage as normal and be met by teams who will point you in your driver’s direction who will take you directly to your ASQ or ALQ. No stops will be made on the way to visit an ATM or 7-Eleven.
During quarantine, you will take another COVID-19 test on days 3-5 and again on days 10-13. If a positive result is recorded, you will be transferred directly to a hospital regardless of if you are displaying symptoms. If all the tests are negative, you will be free to leave on the morning of Day 16.
