Proposed Thailand ETA Visa

[JohnK]

Thailand is proposing to introduce an ETA visa (similar to ESTA) by end of year and fully in use by mid-next year. (Nothing is confirmed and dates may change)

You need to upload proof of return ticket details, where you'll be staying, proof that you have at least 10,000 baht to cover your trip etc

Personally I have a huge concern of having these details stored somewhere waiting for someone to hack.

There's also talk about taxing foreign funds sent to Thailand to combat money laundering but they may end up catching innocent bystanders too.

The push to control everything is well and truly in action. This will not end well.

 

[JohnK]

So this is now reality and bordering on the ridiculous. This is not going to increase tourism.

Show proof of at least 20,000 baht in bank account for at least 3 months. (So I now have to have a bank account that I do not use to pay bills and have at least AUD1000 sitting there as proof for Thai government)

Show return ticket

Show proof of hotel stay (I have hotels booked for part of stay but I'm staying in home the rest of Time, so I would need some sort of statutory declaration from my wife as house is not in my name or provide copy of marriage certificate)

Recent passport photo (so I'm guessing that I cannot re-use passport photos and would have to pay for new photos every 6 months?)

And here's the killer. Show proof of residence such as utility bills or rental agreement. (FFS why is this relevant)

Thailand reinstates financial proof requirement for tourist visas

Thailand is reinstating financial proof requirements for tourist visa applicants starting May 2025, demanding evidence of 20,000 Thai Baht. This reverses a temporary suspension from November 2023. While 93 countries enjoy visa-free entry for up to 60 days, this policy is under review...

m.economictimes.com

Luckily wife and daughter fine as they are Thai citizens.

P.S. This change in Thailand visa looks like a test case for the beginning of restricting world wide travel by 2030. These are no longer conspiracy theories. They are reality.

 

[drron]

But @JohnK Australians don't need a visa so those conditions don't apply to us. Yes you might get a rogue Immigration officer but that has always been the case. Those things you are worrying about is only if you need a visa.
The only thing new for Australians i the Thai arrivals card. Not so onerous.

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[anat0l]

But @JohnK Australians don't need a visa so those conditions don't apply to us. Yes you might get a rogue Immigration officer but that has always been the case. Those things you are worrying about is only if you need a visa.
The only thing new for Australians i the Thai arrivals card. Not so onerous.

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Anyone entering Thailand - including tourists that don't need a visa - can be asked those questions, rogue or not immigration officer. It would be a bit odd and coughbersome to prepare to prove that you have sufficient funds for your trip, unless you can access bank statements from your phone on the spot. I wonder if they would accept pulling out a wad of cash or credit cards as proof.

Some of those checks might (should) be applied when checking in, e.g. proof of onward or return flight. After all, the airline that got you to Thailand foots the bill if you get rejected.

It would be interesting (not in a good way) to see if visa / visa-free stay periods for countries - including Australia - will be reduced in time (as alluded to by the news article), or even some countries removed from visa-free entry. That may hurt Thai tourism but it seems those in charge are ambivalent to this and "seem to know what they are doing".

 

[drron]

The application form The Thai Arrivals Card only suggests you need 6 months on your passport, proof of accommodation in Thailand and a ticket out of Thailand.Those things are common around the world including Australia if you watch Border Security.There is no mention of bank accounts or copies of utility bills.
The visa free time was increased from 30 days to 90 days just 6 months ago so even if reduced again it is only going back to what was the situation 6 months ago.
I will be filling my TAC out in a weeks time and will let people know

 

[JohnK]

Yes @drron I was given wrong information and I don't need to apply for e-visa only the TDAC.

Again I'm in unique situation in that I am staying in my house for part of the trip and I cannot prove it is my house as I'm not listed on the house register, only my wife and daughter. I would then have to book accommodation for the duration of my trip and cancel after providing TDAC which I am not comfortable doing in case I'm asked for proof on entry to Thailand.

 

[Pushka]

Yes @drron I was given wrong information and I don't need to apply for e-visa only the TDAC.

Again I'm in unique situation in that I am staying in my house for part of the trip and I cannot prove it is my house as I'm not listed on the house register, only my wife and daughter. I would then have to book accommodation for the duration of my trip and cancel after providing TDAC which I am not comfortable doing in case I'm asked for proof on entry to Thailand.

Why can't you just give the address you are staying at? That's all they want. An address to contact you at. Every country asks for this.