Integrity Legal - Law Firm in Bangkok | Bangkok Lawyer | Legal Services Thailand Back to
Integrity Legal

Legal Services & Resources 

Up to date legal information pertaining to Thai, American, & International Law.

Contact us: +66 2-266 3698

info@integrity-legal.com

ResourcesVisa & Immigration LawVisa NewsTraveling to Thailand from the USA

Traveling to Thailand from the USA

Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing traveling to Thailand from the USA. We are specifically discussing this in the POST-COVID response period here at the beginning of 2021. We are currently dealing with not a lockdown apparently but more stringent measures associated with attempting to deal with the COVID-19 situation. 

Long story short, this is a video for those who are in the United States and they are looking to come to Thailand. It is a very general video but to start off, it is not like trying to travel to Thailand as it was a year ago, so let's start there. 

At the beginning of 2021, January 2021 and the process of getting a Visa and getting to Thailand is not the same by a long shot as it was in January 2020. Now we are certainly hoping that that reverts back at some point in the near future but for now we have to deal with the circumstances as they are. Getting to Thailand can be a bit difficult. It is definitely more cumbersome than it was in the past. First of all yes Visa Exemptions are back but all folks who are looking to come to Thailand are required to get a Certificate of Entry. This is in addition to whatever Visa status they are getting. The thing to take away from this video is this is separate and apart from a Visa and although you can come in and get 45 days, with an exemption stamp to come into Thailand, it is a good idea in my opinion to possibly just look at going ahead and processing a Visa, Tourist or otherwise, rather than simply looking at an Exemption Stamp because using a Visa, you have got to process a Certificate of Entry anyway, you might as well go through the process and get more time for lawful status here in the Kingdom. 

The other thing to understand is the overall process of getting here is very much different than it ever has been in the past. Once you are done dealing with your travel documentation, you also have to deal with Alternative State Quarantine, getting that set up. You have to quarantine for 14 days once you arrive here in Thailand. You also have to deal with getting "fit to fly" documentation and COVID-19 testing done before even being able to board a plane for Thailand. So again, it is a much more cumbersome process than it was in the past. We will keep you updated on the situation as the situation progresses.