Foreign tourists can now stay in Thailand for up to nine months without the need to travel abroad and have their visas extended, three months on the initial visa with two extensions of three months each.
Thailand’s Ministry of Interior says the new rules came into effect on October 1st, and are valid until September 30th next year, in a bid to boost the tourism industry.
Foreign tourists will, however, have to meet certain requirements to qualify as long stayers.
First of all, they must agree to a period of quarantine, as part of the Public Health Ministry’s measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, and must show booking receipts from the hotels in which they will isolate.
This is despite Thailand claiming they are lifting quarantine requirements for all visitors on November 1st.
Then, they must show evidence of payments for their lodgings during their stay in the kingdom, which can be a rented house, a rented condominium room or a title deed of a condominium room.
Meaning, you must pay in advance for your nine-month’s accommodation and if you are denied entry at the border then good luck in getting that back.
They are also required to have health insurance, with a minimum of US$ 100,000 cover for COVID-19 treatment valid for the entire period of their stay in the country.
They must also have health and accident insurance coverage of 40,000 baht for out-patient treatment and 400,000 baht for in-patient treatment.
Having met the requirements, tourists will be granted a special tourist visa (STV), which is for single use and will allow them to stay in Thailand for 90 days, which can extended twice by 90 days per extension.
The visa extension fee is 2,000 baht (US$60) each time.
Still want to go to Thailand…?
