BANGKOK, 9 April 2020: Thailand’s Prime Minister on Wednesday signed off on a proposal that provides foreigners with a stay extension until 30 April.
Visitors whose visas expired after 26 March (tourist visa, visa-on-arrival or visa-free stay) are now eligible for an automatic extension of stay up to 30 April. The deal was approved by the Ministry of Interior Affairs and signed by the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha late Wednesday.
The concession up to 30 April could be reviewed and the standard visa process reintroduced at the discretion of the authorities or when the situation returns to normal.
The bureau was responding to complaints of overcrowding at its branches and the accompanying risk of contracting the virus as tourists clamoured to renew tourist visas. Many of them are stranded in Thailand following travel and flight bans and their stay authorisations are about to expire.
Details of the concession emerged Wednesday after a well-known blogger and longtime British expatriate, Richard Barrow, wrote on his social media platform that the bureau had proposed plans to allow an automatic 30-day visa extension.
In addition to the automatic extension of stay for tourists, Thailand’s permanent residents will not lose their status if they are not able to return to the country within the one-year deadline. However, they will have to comply with Immigration Bureau announcements on any extension privilege.
The 90-day reporting requirement for foreigners holding one-year visas remains unchanged. (Not mentioned in any of the official documents (Ministry of Interior and Royal Gazette)*. They must either complete the process in person at the nearest immigration office or online using the bureau’s app.
*Please see an immigration bureau notice from its home page posted at the end of this report that suspends 90-day reporting for the time being.
(Source: Khao Sod and Richard Barrow tweet)
Main page > Notification of the Ministry of Interior Re: Permission for Certain Aliens to Stay in the Kingdom in Special Cases dated 7 April 2020
Immigration Bureau notice posted on its home page 9 April following the publication of the visa concessions published on the Royal Gazette.
? Announcing the latest visa relief measures on 7 April 2020
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?♂️ The person whose visas has expired from 26th of March 2020 will be automatically extended to 30th of April 2020. There is no need to apply for a visa extension at the Immigration Office for this period and will not be fined THB 500 per day for this case.
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?♂️ Aliens who are due for 90 days reports between 26th of March 2020 and 30th of April 2020 are temporarily exempted from reporting in this period until further notice.
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?♂️Aliens who are holding Border Passes will be allowed to stay in Thailand for now. However, Aliens with Border Passes must depart Thailand within 7 days of the border crossing points opening date.
Aliens are advised to follow announcements regarding Immigration measures closely for updates. (Currently, measures announced until 30 April 2020 or further updates)
I am holding Swedish passport and a residence of UAE living in Dubai can I travel to Bangkok on 3rd of May 2020 and stay there for 30 days ..
You should check with the Thai embassy in the UAE. The current rules restrict travel to the country and could if a tourist visa is issued involve mandatory quarantine once you arrive. Not worth the risk until there is more clarity and restrictions are lifted. Plus the airline services are also
very limited.
I just painfully got my official extension till 1 may and paid 1900. 🙁
Yes, after I been up there three times and was fined 1500 baht.
You guys have made a mistake in your main article about the 26th March which you should correct immediately as it is misleading and wrong.
“All visitors who arrived in Thailand on 26 March or later on a visa” should say All visitors who’s visa expires after the 26th March…..
Thanks for that, we have changed the wording
so i dont need to go for 90 days notification because i as suppose to be there on the 26 april so i dont need to go to the immigration right.
According to the Immigration Bureau website if your 90-day reporting falls before 30 April you don’t need to do it. It has been temporarily postponed But I would always be on the safe side and call in or check the home page of IB to be doubly sure.