IMMIGRATION UPDATES
The Notification on Conditions for Aircraft Permission to Enter Thailand (No.2), effective from 3 July 2020, eases restrictions for entry into Thailand for 11 groups of people:
(1) Thai nationals.
(2) Exempted persons, persons invited by the Prime Minister, and other persons overseeing the resolution of state of emergency issues. Entry by such persons may be subject to specified conditions and time limits.
(3) Persons on diplomatic or consular missions or under international organizations, or representatives of foreign government performing their duties in the Kingdom, or persons from other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as deemed necessary, including their spouses, parents, or children.
(4) Carriers of necessary goods, subject to immediate return after completion.
(5) Crew members who are required to travel into the Kingdom on a mission and have a specified date and time for return.
(6) Non-Thai nationals who are spouses, parents, or children of a Thai national.
(7) Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid certificate of permanent residency in the Kingdom, or permission to take up residence in the Kingdom.
(8) Non-Thai nationals who have work permit or have been granted permission from government agencies to work in the Kingdom, including their spouses or children.
(9) Non-Thai nationals who are students of educational institutions approved by Thai authorities, including the parents or guardians of the students, except for students of informal educational institutions under the law on private schools and of other similar private educational institutions.
(10) Non-Thai nationals in need of medical treatment in Thailand and their attendants (excluding those seeking medical treatment for COVID19).
(11) Non-Thai nationals who are permitted to enter the Kingdom under a special arrangement with a foreign country.
Members of these 11 groups must comply with the following disease prevention measures under Clause 11 of the Regulation issued pursuant to Section 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation B.E. 2548 (2005) (No. 1):
Disease prevention measures: There shall be disease prevention measures prescribed by the government as follows:
(1) clean areas by wiping frequently touched surfaces prior to the organisation of activities and dispose of garbage on a daily basis;
(2) the staff, business operators, visitors, participants, employees and service users shall wear a surgical mask or fabric mask;
(3) the persons under (2) shall wash their hands with soap, alcohol gel or disinfectant;
(4) the persons under (2) shall sit or stand at least one metre apart to prevent touching or transmitting the virus via saliva droplets;
(5) control the number of participants to avoid crowding or shorten the length of the activity to the extent necessary, adhering to the principle of avoiding contact between people.
The officials may add the measure of using a tracking application via mobile phone and impose the measure of keeping under observation or quarantine for at least 14 days under the communicable disease law on certain people or groups as necessary.
ENTERING TO THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND
Thai nationals or foreigner who would like to enter Thailand under the emergency decrees (including those who are part of the 11 groups above) must contact the Thai embassy/consulate in their country and provide the information and documents (we will provide – upcoming) to get a Certificate of Entry (COE).
Step 1: contact Thai embassy/consular to know the available flight schedule. It may be advisable to contact via email or hotline number as some Thai embassies/consulates are under lockdown.
Step 2:
- foreigners must book the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) and provide a Fit to Fly certificate from a healthcare facility. They must also obtain a COVID19 free certificate (RT-PCR) within 72 hours before departure and health insurance covering the treatment costs of COVID19 and other diseases for at least 100,000 USD.
- Thai nationals must provide the fit to fly certificate.
Step 3: submit the documents and give information and reserve the seat on the flights.
Step 4: practice self-protection when waiting for the departure date.
Step 5: upon arrival in Thailand, foreigners who booked the ASQ will be separated from Thai nationals for screening and will then be sent to their ASQ by ASQ transportation. Thai nationals will be sent to state quarantine.
Step 6: on day 3-5 of the quarantine period, be tested for COVID19. If the results are negative, the individual will then get a second test on day 11-13 of the quarantine period.
Step 7: at the end of the quarantine period, the individual is free to leave, but must provide residence information and download the tracking application. During their stay in Thailand, all travellers must follow all of the instructions on social distancing and hygiene to prevent the spread of COVID19.
Please note that
- The Thai embassy/consular in each country will consider Thai nationals as the main priority (such as those Thai nationals whose visas have expired or have an urgent need to return).
- Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid certificate of permanent residency in the Kingdom, or permission to take up residence in the Kingdom and Non-Thai nationals who have work permit or have been granted permission from government agencies to work in the Kingdom, including their spouse or children, are eligible to apply for permission to enter the Kingdom. Processing time at the Thai embassy/consulate will take longer than usual.
PROSPECTS FOR SAME-SEX UNION PARTNER VISA
On 8 July 2020, the cabinet endorsed a bill allowing partnership registration of same-sex unions, along with legal amendments to guarantee that they would have most of the rights of married couples.
We believe that once the bill is published in the Royal Gazette and comes into effect, the Immigration Bureau will issue a notification allowing visas for same sex couples where at least one partner works in Thailand.
We will update you in due course on any further updates.