BANGKOK, 22 April 2020: Thailand extends permission to stay in the country until 31 July for thousands of foreigners on various kinds of temporary-stay visas.
The Thai Cabinet approved a second extension of an earlier concession that automatically extended visas until midnight 30 April. It applied to visas that had expired on 31 March or afterwards.
A notification of the Ministry of Interior detailing the latest extension was attached to the Thai Cabinet meeting notes 21 April. The notice will become law once it is published in the Royal Gazette probably by the end of the week.
The notification said the automatic extension safeguards the health of foreigners by ending the need to queue at Immigration Bureaus premises to extend their visas in person.
Thailand introduced in March strict social distancing rules and orders all residents and visitors to wear a protective mask to reduce the risk of infection from Covid-19.
Travel bans and flight cancellations stranded thousands of international travellers in Thailand. They faced horrendous queues at Immigration Bureau offices when they applied for a visa extension.
Media reports pointed out that the queues constituted a health risk that contravened the government’s instructions on social distancing prompting the initial decision to approve an automatic visa extension to the end of April.
Now, under the latest concession, all temporary visa holders will be granted an automatic visa extension granting them permission to stay in the country until 31 July. Also, the 90-day reporting rule for foreigners holding a one-year visa has been suspended until 31 July.
Once the Ministry of Interior ruling is published on the Royal Gazette the Immigration Bureau will post details of the auto extension until 31 July on its website.
However the core elements of the concession were presented during the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration daily update at 1130 this morning.
The government spokesperson confirmed the extension of the visa stay to 31 July is automatic for all visitors on temporary visa stays.
There are no fees and no need to present documents or visit an Immigration Bureau.
The 90-day reporting is also suspended until 31 July
See the following link to the video in English.
22 April 2020 — An update from the Thai government regarding #Thailand‘s #COVID19 situation, reporting from CCSA at Government House Speaker: Mr. Natapanu Nopakun, MFA >>> bit.ly/2zlYCDj <<<
