New travel rules: Thailand’s ETA to shake up visa-free visitors

[avereste]

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/new-travel-rules-thailands-eta-to-shake-up-visa-free-visitors

 

 

[Singto]

My question is if I get there in November but stay till January will I have to do this for this time around? 👀

[hormone]

Quote

set to launch between December this year and June 2025.

#1 - "set to launch" : this it Thailand, so ... it could also be Jan 1st 2026...
#2 - if it does go into application in December but you entered BEFORE that, I don't see why you would need to do it, as you will already have entered Thailand... 

[amor_uk]

On 15/09/2024 at 19:32, Singto said:

My question is if I get there in November but stay till January will I have to do this for this time around? 👀

Highly unlikely IMHO, they're only talking about a pilot launch in December.  Will take some time to get this fully in place.

[1992]

Why is the wider community freaking out about this? Doesn't seem like a big deal at all. 

[Kandinski]

19 minutes ago, peppermint said:

Why is the wider community freaking out about this?.......

To some any changes has that effect 😋

[Wiley Coyote]

Personally ,I am hoping it is delayed ...I travel January + June.

ETIAS has been delayed again ,so some hope that the similar Thai scheme will be delayed 

[Billy Shears]

If you use automated passport gates, do you still get a stamp in your passport?

[Firewood]

1 hour ago, Billy Shears said:

If you use automated passport gates, do you still get a stamp in your passport?

Yes, if IRCC. The gates record a number of things the Imm Officers used to ask so they still make the whole process much quicker.

[KyleReading]

On 19/09/2024 at 04:53, Fired Up Paul said:

 The gates record a number of things the Imm Officers used to ask so they still make the whole process much quicker.

Scratching my head slightly. What do immigrations officers ask ?  Cant ever recall one asking me anything on arrival

Edited in...maybe some 1st world nationals are viewed as no problem in general hence no questions

Edited October 5, 2024 by KyleReading

[Firewood]

9 minutes ago, KyleReading said:

Scratching my head slightly. What do immigrations officers ask ?  Cant ever recall one asking me anything on arrival

Edited in...maybe some 1st world nationals are viewed as no problem in general hence no questions

Now I think about it, I'm not sure they ask anything. But presumably, their job is to assess you and ask questions or pull you out of the line if they sense something is off.

[shagwell]

Don't see what the big deal is, Philippines introduced something similar during Covid and decided to keep it going. It takes 5 minutes to do and effectively  replaces the paper slip that you used to have to fill out on the plane. Difference in Philippines is you still have to pass through a real live immigration officer to get your passport stamped, but they already have everything on the computer as soon as they enter your passport number in the system.

I think Thaiger is reading to much into it, probably just a way of modernising and moving into the digital age - you enter the required info before you arrive rather than the immigration officer needing to do it when you arrive.

[momo5]

19 minutes ago, shagwell said:

Don't see what the big deal is, Philippines introduced something similar during Covid and decided to keep it going. It takes 5 minutes to do and effectively  replaces the paper slip that you used to have to fill out on the plane. Difference in Philippines is you still have to pass through a real live immigration officer to get your passport stamped, but they already have everything on the computer as soon as they enter your passport number in the system.

I think Thaiger is reading to much into it, probably just a way of modernising and moving into the digital age - you enter the required info before you arrive rather than the immigration officer needing to do it when you arrive.

In Philippines, the biggest deal are the morons who hold up the line because they didn’t complete the online form and then proceed to argue with the IO … just like the fools who don’t have their boarding pass when passing through immigration in Bangkok.  

Edited October 5, 2024 by momo5

[shagwell]

16 minutes ago, momo5 said:

In Philippines, the biggest deal are the morons who hold up the line because they didn’t complete the online form and then proceed to argue with the IO … just like the fools who don’t have their boarding pass when passing through immigration in Bangkok.  

They actually refused entry to a guy who did exactly that, sent him back home again and blacklisted, he'd flown all the way from the States to! It made the news there.

[ricktoronto]

6 hours ago, KyleReading said:

Scratching my head slightly. What do immigrations officers ask ?  Cant ever recall one asking me anything on arrival

I've never been asked anything.

[jaynewcastle]

They can ask for proof of funds, proof of onward travel, and I'd imagine other things too such as number of arrivals in short period of time etc

I'd imagine the vast majority of people don't get asked any questions at all however

 

 

[andrew19]

On 05/10/2024 at 13:59, momo5 said:

In Philippines, the biggest deal are the morons who hold up the line because they didn’t complete the online form and then proceed to argue with the IO … just like the fools who don’t have their boarding pass when passing through immigration in Bangkok.  

On my last trip I misplaced my boarding pass. However the immigration officer wasn't really bothered. I was worried because I definitely didn't want to be turned back for this! 

[momo5]

20 minutes ago, andrew19 said:

On my last trip I misplaced my boarding pass. However the immigration officer wasn't really bothered. I was worried because I definitely didn't want to be turned back for this! 

I did see a couple of entitled Russian ladies argue with the IO and they were told to go back somewhere … not sure what happened after that, but it held up the line for a few minutes longer than necessary.  

[lixianan]

My worry would be the system being as annoying to use as the online visa system.

Currently the process for entering Visa-exempt is to turn up with a return flight booked.

If that becomes "turn up with a pre-approved ETA via the thai visa online system", it could easily end up being equivalent to being on the visa-required list.

Would be nice if it sped up immigration though I guess

[Jasontrott]

Hi everyone, is there any further information on the E-visa stuff happening?  I have a trip planned for February so I'm trying to get a handle of any new info.  I'm an American, never had to do anything before (except for the short Covid time)

[Gonetothedogs]

It’s been delayed, possibly permanently 

[Kandinski]

On 05/10/2024 at 10:20, KyleReading said:

What do immigrations officers ask ? 

Telefon number is all i can remember being asked.

[Wide_western]

On 05/10/2024 at 05:20, KyleReading said:

Scratching my head slightly. What do immigrations officers ask ?  Cant ever recall one asking me anything on arrival

Edited in...maybe some 1st world nationals are viewed as no problem in general hence no questions

They can ask for an onward ticket and proof of accommodation.

Furthermore I have been asked how long I am planning to stay, where I am going and if I have a Thai wife. And of course, why I visit Thailand so much?😅 

If the new system will work the same as Malaysia I'm all for it! Faster, more efficient and much less hassle than Thailand.

Edited December 28, 2024 by Wide_western

[momo5]

5 hours ago, Jasontrott said:

Hi everyone, is there any further information on the E-visa stuff happening?  I have a trip planned for February so I'm trying to get a handle of any new info.  I'm an American, never had to do anything before (except for the short Covid time)

E-visa is currently available, though as an American you don’t need one for a stay of less than 60 days under the visa exempt scheme.  

The ETA, which is the subject of this thread, is not an e-visa or visa of any sort, but as noted, has been delayed with no notice of when it will be applied.  When, if ever, it is in force, it’ll be an online form much akin to what is currently done to enter Philippines, Colombia and others with basic information similar to what was previously required on the physical entry forms … but again, not a visa.  

[thainet]

5 minutes ago, momo5 said:

E-visa is currently available, though as an American you don’t need one for a stay of less than 60 days under the visa exempt scheme.  

The ETA, which is the subject of this thread, is not an e-visa or visa of any sort, but as noted, has been delayed with no notice of when it will be applied.  When, if ever, it is in force, it’ll be an online form much akin to what is currently done to enter Philippines, Colombia and others with basic information similar to what was previously required on the physical entry forms … but again, not a visa.  

At last a person @momo5 who understands that an ETA is NOT the same as an e-visa.

Many countries now require an ETA (online) before landing (ie..NZ. Aust. UK). They are normally good for a 2 year period, and all data is in the system for the passport/face scan gates for the country applied for.

Important.....As the ETA is in conjunction with your current passport, then if you change your passport for any reason, then a new ETA application is required.

(eg: at the moment I have active ETA's for 4 different countries).