visa

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Shorter quarantine, STV update, THAI jets for sale | November 6

    Thailand News Today | Shorter quarantine, STV update, THAI jets for sale | November 6

    Last day of the week and a day full of news about the STV, Chinese travel bubbles and the PM saying he’ll step aside if there’s someone better to take his job. Thailand News Today, with Tim Newton. Retired Thai official with Covid-19 dies after returning to Thailand A 66 year old retired Thai official, diagnosed with Covid-19, died yesterday…

  • Thailand NewsFirst group of Special Tourist Visa travellers complete quarantine

    First group of Special Tourist Visa travellers complete quarantine

    The first group of foreign tourists to enter Thailand after a 7 month ban due to the pandemic have completed the mandatory 14 day quarantine and are ready to travel the country. Some of them will be visiting beaches, but Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yutthasak Supasorn says their exact whereabouts are confidential. Thai PBS reports 33 tourists, who arrived…

  • ExpatsExpat says he was almost deported over Facebook posts

    Expat says he was almost deported over Facebook posts

    With the ongoing pro-democracy protests, some have raised question: What could happen to foreigners who get involved or speak out against Thai politics? Or post their thoughts on social media? Well, they could possibly get deported. Expat Yan Marchal says he almost got kicked out of the country for posts he made on Facebook. Many of Yan’s recent Facebook posts…

  • Visa Information100+ foreigners ripped off in education visa scam on Koh Pha Ngan

    100+ foreigners ripped off in education visa scam on Koh Pha Ngan

    A language school in Koh Pha Ngan has ripped off more than 100 tourists claiming that they were able to issue them with a 1 year education visa. A group of the victims have made an official report with the local police over the scam. The tourists were from the US, UK, Germany, France and Russia. Manager Online report that more…

  • Pattaya News“Pattaya Model” to focus on Special Tourist Visa visitors from China and Russia

    “Pattaya Model” to focus on Special Tourist Visa visitors from China and Russia

    Pattaya wants to cash in on the new Special Tourist Visa scheme and local officials plan to introduce the “Pattaya Model” to help boost the local economy after it took at beating from the lack of international tourists due to the pandemic. They’ll focus on drawing in Chinese and Russian tourists on the new long stay visa, according to Pattaya…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Big Bike licenses, Parliament latest, Zombie saleswoman | October 28

    Thailand News Today | Big Bike licenses, Parliament latest, Zombie saleswoman | October 28

    Daily TV news from The Thaiger, the most watched English-language news service in the Land of Smiles, and hosted by Tim Newton. Thailand to introduce separate test for big bike riders from next year From next February, motorbike riders in Thailand will be required to pass a separate driving test and training session if they wish to receive a licence…

  • Visa InformationReminder from Thai Foreign Affairs about staying in Thailand after October 31

    Reminder from Thai Foreign Affairs about staying in Thailand after October 31

    The following was sent by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reminding foreigners about staying in Thailand after the current visa amnesty expires… “Mr. Tanee Sangrat, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson reiterated that all stranded foreign nationals who wish to stay in the Kingdom of Thailand beyond 31 October 2020 need to submit an application for…

  • Visa InformationDon’t forget to extend your visa! Thai Immigration warns about fines for late applicants

    Don’t forget to extend your visa! Thai Immigration warns about fines for late applicants

    Still need to extend your visa? You have until Halloween, October 31. With the visa amnesty deadline approaching, Thai Immigration Bureau is reminding foreigners to get their visa in order by the end of this month. Late applicants will be fined, they say. No matter when the visa is extended, as long as it’s before the deadline, it will go…

  • Visa InformationChinese travellers CAN depart China and travel to Thailand on the STV

    Chinese travellers CAN depart China and travel to Thailand on the STV

    Another day and another day of confusing news and discussion about the Special Tourist Visa and, specifically, the Chinese arrivals. BKK Post posted this yesterday, without clarification. The headline said… “China says will maintain ban on outbound tours due to virus risk” The story, whilst not incorrect, confused a lot of readers who thought that meant ALL Chinese travellers and…

  • Visa InformationNegative Covid-19 results for first group on the Special Tourist Visa

    Negative Covid-19 results for first group on the Special Tourist Visa

    Surely, the most anticipated and followed tourists ever to grace Thailand’s shores. All 39 visitors who flew in from China this week on the new Special Tourist Visa have tested negative for Covid-19. While it’s a small group, they’re the first foreign tourists to arrive since travel restrictions were imposed in late-March. More international tourists are expected to arrive next…

  • Covid-19 NewsComplete Thailand Travel Guide (October 2020)

    Complete Thailand Travel Guide (October 2020)

    Latest update – October 21. If you are overseas and wish to come to Thailand your FIRST port of call must be the Royal Thai Embassy in your country before you make any bookings. Thailand Longstay is also a valuable resource of information at this time. First ‘tourists’ arrive in Thailand under the Special Tourist Visa In 2019, almost 40 million tourists…

  • Visa Information41 foreign tourists to arrive in Bangkok today on Special Tourist Visa after 7 month ban

    41 foreign tourists to arrive in Bangkok today on Special Tourist Visa after 7 month ban

    Just 41 foreign tourists are expected to arrive in Bangkok today, a small, yet major step forward after a 7 month ban on international tourists which was put in place in late-March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The visitors are said to be travelling on the new Special Tourist Visa, which allows a 90 day stay that can…

  • Visa InformationSo, how’s Thailand doing with Covid-19? – OPINION

    So, how’s Thailand doing with Covid-19? – OPINION

    OPINION by “Issan John” According to some, Thailand’s a leading success story, with minimal deaths and an equally minimal effect on daily life. According to others, it’s fudging the figures and on the brink of economic collapse, and the only solution is to “open the borders”, take a risk with Covid-19, and welcome back the tourists it allegedly relies on…

  • Visa InformationNow they’re coming… Special Tourist Visa flight set for Tuesday – Tourism and Sports Minister

    Now they’re coming… Special Tourist Visa flight set for Tuesday – Tourism and Sports Minister

    After much confusion and a few apparent ‘misunderstandings’, Chinese tourists on the Special Tourist Visa will actually arrive on October 20 and 26. At least that’s what Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says, according to the Bangkok Post. The first group is said to arrive 4 days from now in Bangkok (if they actually applied for the visa this…

  • Visa InformationNo one in Guangzhou applied for the Special Tourist Visa, Foreign Ministry

    No one in Guangzhou applied for the Special Tourist Visa, Foreign Ministry

    Not a single person from Guangzhou, China, actually applied for the new Special Tourist Visa. That’s the sad and bizarre truth, according to Thai media outlet Siamrath. Around 120 to 150 tourists had “planned” to arrive in Phuket on October 8 from Guangzhou, China, but “administrative issues” claimed to be the reason for the delayed flight. Those problems with administration…

  • Crime NewsWoman arrested for scamming 500 Burmese workers, promising visa extensions

    Woman arrested for scamming 500 Burmese workers, promising visa extensions

    A woman has been arrested after allegedly promising more than 500 Burmese workers that she could extend their visas, collecting a total of more 6 million baht from the workers for her apparent “services.” The more than 500 workers filed a report with police after the woman allegedly falsely advertised that she could issue the Burmese migrants new passports and…

  • Visa Information“Administrative issues” delayed Special Tourist Visa flight

    “Administrative issues” delayed Special Tourist Visa flight

    A senior tourism official told Reuters reporters that “administrative issues” are the reason for the delayed trip of foreigners on the Special Tourist Visa. Other officials claimed the postponement was done to help ease Covid-19 fears for Thai tourists planning on travelling to Phuket for the annual Vegetarian Festival later this month. A group of 120 to 150 foreigners on…

  • Visa InformationSpecial Tourist Visa flight postponed, National Security Council confirms

    Special Tourist Visa flight postponed, National Security Council confirms

    After much confusion about when the group of Chinese tourists will arrive in Phuket, the secretary general of Thailand’s National Security Council confirmed that today’s flight has been deferred to October 25. Officials decided to postpone the flight and reschedule it after Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is finished. The annual spectacle is known to draw large crowds. The council’s secretary general…

  • Visa InformationSpecial Tourist Visa flight to Phuket delayed, tourists to arrive after the Vegetarian Festival

    Special Tourist Visa flight to Phuket delayed, tourists to arrive after the Vegetarian Festival

    The country’s first tourists to arrive since April’s border closures are not arriving tomorrow as originally expected. Phuket ‘s governor now says they’ll be arriving after the island’s annual Vegetarian Festival which runs from October 17 to 25. He hasn’t clarified when he requested the delay for foreign tourists to start coming back to Phuket, and he hasn’t confirm exactly…

  • Visa Information60 day visa extensions, filed during amnesty, go into effect November 1

    60 day visa extensions, filed during amnesty, go into effect November 1

    Foreigners currently on visa amnesty, who didn’t make the initial September 26 deadline to file for extension, can extend their visa between now and October 31. The Immigration Bureau is trying to reduce overcrowding at local immigration offices and say that no matter what day the 60 day extension is made, it will go into effect on November 1. In…

  • Phuket NewsPossible delay of foreign tourists arriving to Phuket

    Possible delay of foreign tourists arriving to Phuket

    Thailand is lifting its 6 month ban on international tourists, allowing only those who are on a Special Tourist Visa to arrive on select charter flights, but there are conflicting reports on when exactly they will arrive. Many reports say the tourists should arrive on Thursday, but a recent report from a respected Thai media outlet claims the plans are…

  • Visa InformationThailand now accepting applications for permanent residency

    Thailand now accepting applications for permanent residency

    Thailand is now taking applications for permanent residency from now until December 30, 2020. The number of expats who can apply is capped at 100 per nationality plus 50 stateless individuals. But permanent residency isn’t easy to get in Thailand and applicants need to speak Thai. Local blogger and Samut Prakan school employee Richard Barrow posted on Facebook saying he tried applying…

  • Visa InformationThe Special Tourist Visa is now official and allows tourists in from October 1

    The Special Tourist Visa is now official and allows tourists in from October 1

    The Thai Government Gazette has officially recorded that long-stay tourists would now be allowed to come back to Thailand. The Cabinet approved the measure based on CCSA recommendation on September 15. Some people have already made early enquiries for the new Special Tourist Visa, or STV, which can be officially processed. Whilst the official announcement is the start of Thailand’s…

  • Visa InformationMan arrested for fake immigration documents operation at Bangkok grocery store

    Man arrested for fake immigration documents operation at Bangkok grocery store

    A Burmese man was arrested after he allegedly faked work permit documents and stamps, operating at a produce shop in Bangkok near the Myanmar Embassy. After a number of cases involving Burmese migrants with fake visa documents and bogus stamps, immigration officers investigated the grocery store, posing as customers. Many customers entering the grocery store didn’t buy vegetables and were…

  • Visa InformationGet a new stamp! Foreigners on a current 30 day visa extension can stay until November 30

    Get a new stamp! Foreigners on a current 30 day visa extension can stay until November 30

    Details are emerging about the new visa amnesty that was announced by the Thai PM and the CCSA yesterday afternoon. Foreigners who recently paid 1,900 baht for a 30 day visa extension are now clear to stay in Thailand until November 30 at no extra cost, but those foreigners need to report to immigration to get their visa stamp corrected.…

  • Thailand NewsForeign teachers checked by immigration at Sarasas school after alleged student abuse

    Foreign teachers checked by immigration at Sarasas school after alleged student abuse

    A foreign English teacher at a Sarasas private school in Nonthaburi was allegedly caught working without a proper visa and work permit after an immigration check. An investigation into all 42 Sarasas schools was prompted after a Thai teacher at the Sarasas Witaed Ratchapreauk School in Nonthaburi was allegedly caught on camera beating kindergarten students. A Filipino English teacher at…

  • Visa InformationThe first tourists to arrive next week on the Special Tourist Visa

    The first tourists to arrive next week on the Special Tourist Visa

    The first group of foreigners under the new Special Tourist Visa will be arriving to Thailand next week after a 6 month travel ban on international tourists. About 120 people are set to fly from Guangzhou, China and land in Phuket on October 8. As some would say, at least it’s a start! The new tourist visa scheme comes after…

  • Visa InformationWant to stay in Thailand? Get your visa figured out by October 31

    Want to stay in Thailand? Get your visa figured out by October 31

    In a very last minute decision, foreigners stuck in Thailand will have another grace period until October 31 to get their visa in order. The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, in announcing the new visa amnesty, recognised that travel restrictions are still in place around the world and the coronavirus continues to spread with global deaths surpassing 1 million. After rumours…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Rumours of amnesty extension, 22 new Covid cases | September 28

    Thailand News Today | Rumours of amnesty extension, 22 new Covid cases | September 28

    Daily TV news and updates from around Thailand on The Thaiger and on Youtube at Thaiger TV. 22 new cases of Covid-19 detected in Thailand Out of nowhere, the Thai government’s CCSA has reported 22 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours this morning, raising the country’s total of infections to 3,545. 22 cases is the largest number…

  • Visa InformationThailand’s Special Tourist Visa to be approved tomorrow

    Thailand’s Special Tourist Visa to be approved tomorrow

    The Special Tourist Visa will be ticked off and added to the Immigration department’s list of available visas on Monday. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration meeting at the start of the business week will pass the much-discussed STV which is hoped to be the first step of a wider re-opening to general tourism in Thailand. CCSA spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul…