Thai Cabinet approves 9 month visas for foreigners.
The Thai Cabinet has approved a proposal of issuing long-stay visas for foreigners visiting Thailand.
Deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Tuesday (September 15) that the Cabinet has agreed to allow foreigners to live in Thailand for up to nine months per trip, provided they can prove they have spent 14 days in quarantine.
The first visit will allow 90 days of stay, which can then be extended twice totalling nine months.
This measure will start from next month, and up to 1,200 tourists per month will be granted this extended visa.
The Immigration Bureau has issued a reminder to foreigners in Thailand ahead of the end of the visa amnesty period.
An announcement shared on the Immigration Facebook page on Saturday urges people to renew your visa now, rather than wait until 26 September, in order to help reduce overcrowding.
Long term expats, such as those who stay in Thailand on a marriage or retirement extension, who have used the amnesty period to delay renewing their extensions of stay are urged to renew as soon as possible. Long term expats should also be completing their 90 day reports as they would do normally.
Immigration offices throughout the country are quiet at the moment and the process of renewing is taking a fraction of the time it normally would.
However, immigration offices may get noticeably busier in the coming weeks in the run up to the 26 September deadline.
Tourists who still remain in Thailand under the visa amnesty need to clarify their status or be prepared to leave the country.
However, earlier this week, Immigration did say that any tourists who are unable to travel due to illness can apply for a 30 day extension at their local immigration office.
In order to do this they must present a medical certificate that proves they are not fit enough to fly.
In addition, tourists who are unable to leave Thailand due to a lack of flights or other circumstances related to the COVID-19 situation in their home country can also apply for a 30 day extension.
In order to do this they must obtain a letter from their embassy requesting permission to stay temporarily in Thailand.
For everyone else, from 27 September, the usual overstay fines and penalties will be applied.
The Thai government recently announced a final Visa Amnesty Extension finishing on September 26th 2020.
Immigration also clarified the situation for tourists and those staying in Thailand on tourist visas. As well as expats who are required to complete a 90 day report.
According to the announcement, short term visa holders – those staying in Thailand on tourist visas, visa exempt or visa on arrival – “have to prepare for departing the Kingdom within September 26, 2020”.
There are a few exceptions to this, however. Namely on medical grounds or not being able to get a flight home due to the COVID-19 situation. But any other tourist should now be making preparations to leave Thailand by 26 September.
For long term expats and those wishing to apply for an extension of stay, such as it being based on retirement, marriage or being a parent to a Thai child, you should apply for the extension at your local immigration office between now and 26 September.
Immigration also states that anyone who was due to do a 90 day report between 26 March and 31 July needs to complete one before 31 August if not already done so.
Foreigners in Thailand should be aware that the penalties for overstay will come into effect on 27 September.
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