New travel provisions

As a result of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 outbreak abroad, announcements issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on banning incoming flights to Thailand are still enforceable except for state or military aircraft, emergency landings, landings for technical aircraft without any passengers disembarking, humanitarian and medical relief flights, repatriation flights, cargo aircraft landings, and certain passenger flights.

Keywords: Mazars, Thailand, COVID-19, CAAT, Work Permits, Visas, BOI, IEAT, AOT Airport, Certificate of Entry, Alternative State Quarantine, Royal Gazette, District Labour Office, Immigration Bureau, International, Domestic, Travel

Updated 24 July 2020    

The CAAT issued an announcement on 30 June 2020, effective 1 July 2020 onward, allowing passenger flights carrying the following people to enter Thailand:

• Thai nationals
• People with exemptions or people being considered, permitted, or invited by the Prime Minister, or the head of people responsible for resolving emergency issues. Certain conditions and time limits may be imposed in such cases.
• People on diplomatic or consular missions or with international organizations, or representatives of foreign governments performing their duties in the Kingdom, or people with other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including their spouses, parents, or children.
• Carriers of required goods, subject to immediate return after completion of delivery.
• Crew members who are required to travel to the Kingdom on a mission and have a specified date and time for return.
• Foreigners who are legally married to a Thai national or are the parent or child of a Thai national. *
• Foreigners who have permanent residence in Thailand.
• Foreigners who have a work permit or who have been granted permission from government agencies to work in Thailand, including their spouse or children.
• International students and the parents or guardians of such students, except for students of informal educational institutions under the law on private schools and other similar private educational institutions
• Foreigners who need medical treatment in Thailand, as well those accompanying them (except medical treatment for COVID–19).
• Foreigners who are permitted to enter Thailand under a special arrangement with a foreign country.

The people listed above must comply with the disease prevention measures for people entering Thailand to prevent the spread of COVID-19 annexed to the Order of the Centre for the Administration of the Situation due to the Outbreak of the Communicable Disease Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) No. 7/2563 issued on 30 June 2020.

The measures for the above persons of Clause (6) to (8) are as follows:

The Thai borders are not open to general travellers, and the travel bubbles scheme has been postponed until at least August 2020.

Visas

As set out in the notification of the Ministry of Interior, foreigners in Thailand affected by the COVID-19 outbreak have been granted the visa extension until the end of 26 September 2020.

Sources: Immigration Bureau

Work Permits

There is no change in the regulations. An applicant can apply to renew a work permit 30 days prior to the expiration date of the existing work permit at the Department of Employment of each area. We therefore recommend doing it as early as possible.

In Bangkok, the work permit application must now be submitted at the District Labour Office (rather than the Ministry of Labour).