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.

 

[JohnK]

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.

And what happens when they ask for proof? What do I give them?

This is all about knowing where you are located at any point in time.

(This is Thailand, where logic is optional)

 

[drron]

Though I have done a dummy run with the entry certificate. OK I say I am in a hotel but they don't ask me to prove it.

 

[Pushka]

And what happens when they ask for proof? What do I give them?

This is all about knowing where you are located at any point in time.

(This is Thailand, where logic is optional)

But you are staying there. Proof of what? They don't care if you own it or not. You are a tourist. I think you are overthinking.

 

[clifford]

And what happens when they ask for proof? What do I give them?

This is all about knowing where you are located at any point in time.

(This is Thailand, where logic is optional)

Indeed. It is all a bit random. On entry a couple of weeks ago I presented my AU passport and was asked if I had previously entered on a British passport. Yes, I said, and was good to go. Never had this happen to me anywhere else.

 

[JohnK]

But you are staying there. Proof of what? They don't care if you own it or not. You are a tourist. I think you are overthinking.

Maybe overthinking but certainly cautious.

The whole point of the online TDAC is very clear. It's designed so they keep an eye on you. (I've already started how this is not a good thing waiting for someone to hack).

I'm staying in 2 different hotels and home in Sanpatong.

Thai Customs/Immigration : Passport please
JohnK : Here you go!
ThaiC/I : You recorded an address in a "moo baan" in Sanpatong
JohnK : Yes
ThaiC/I : Who owns the house? And how are you getting there?
JohnK : My wife owns the house and here are my tickets to Chiang Mai!
ThaiC/I : But this flight is not for 9 days. Where are you going now and where are you staying
JohnK : I'm going to Pattaya and I'm staying in Hotel A and Hotel B
ThaiC/I : Why didn't you mention this in your online TDAC declaration?
JohnK : Shrugs
ThaiC/I : Come with us please....

I would hate my holiday to be ruined. Plus I'd have to carry a whole lot of print outs of everything related to my stay. A whole lot of headache.

 

[drron]

You should put hotel A as the place you are staying first not your home address which is after the hotels.You would be like the majority of Australian tourists who will be staying in more than one place in Thailand.
Just like Singapore I put down CP Changi and didn't mention the next day I would be moving to the IC. No problems