Thailand’s visa amnesty period is expected to end on 26 September 2020, which means foreign nationals who do not have valid long-term stay visas will be required to either file for an extension of stay with the immigration bureau or book a return flight to their country of origin. Those who are unable to book a return flight before the end of the amnesty period may contact their embassy for a letter requesting a 30-day extension on their behalf; however, various embassies have previously declined to issue these letters.
Your options to stay in Thailand all have different requirements based on circumstances and the purpose of their stay.
Thai Elite Visa
Designed primarily for high-net-worth individuals, the requirements for a Thai Elite Visa are minimal and generally only require applicants to pay the fees, which vary according to the length of time they wish to stay in Thailand. Packages cost anywhere between THB 500,000 to THB 2 million and give applicants 5 to 20 year multiple-entry visa on top of numerous privileges such as airport limousine services and golf club memberships.
Thai Elite Visa holders who are currently outside Thailand are also eligible to apply for a Certificate of Entrance which will permit them to re-enter Thailand.
Non-Immigrant B Status Visa Holders
Silk Legal has worked on behalf of clients and successfully applied for numerous Non-Immigrant B Visas and certificates of entrance. Investors seeking to come to Thailand for business are able to do this, even from the early stages of their company formation. For further information, please use the contact form on this page.
“Special Tourist Visa” or “Long Term Tourist” Visas
The Thai Cabinet has approved, in principle, an initiative to bring in long-term visitors who are permitted to stay in the country for 90 days, which can be extended for up to 270 days. These visitors will still need to obtain a Certificate of Entrance as well as medical insurance worth USD 100,000 that covers COVID-19 incidents. They will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a government-endorsed quarantine facility. While this still initiative needs to be approved by the Ministry of Interior and the Covid-19 Management Center (SorBorKor), this is being seen as a first step towards tentatively restarting the Thailand Tourist Economy.
Notes to Expats in Thailand
The current advice if you intend on staying in Thailand is not to leave Thailand as only those who have been “stranded overseas for a long time” are being considered for return to Thailand. Those outside Thailand looking to return are required to obtain a Certificate of Entrance which are only granted to those with valid visas to enter the country. They must also be fully covered by medical insurance worth USD 100,000 and will be required to pay for the quarantine facility where they will be quarantined for 15 days (14 nights).
If you would like to explore the visa options available to you, please contact us at [email protected] or using the contact form provided on this page.
