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Do I need to complete the Thailand Pass requirements if I have a resident visa and get a re-entry permit to return from Malaysia?
Apr 17, 2022
4 years ago
Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTERI am in Thailand on a resident visa. If I ge a re-entry permit and go to Malaysia in the new VTL system, do I need to do the whole Thailand Pass rigmarole to come back, or does my current visa remove the need for that?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The Thailand Pass requirements apply to everyone, regardless of visa status. Even with a resident visa, you will need to fulfill the Thailand Pass entry requirements when returning to Thailand from Malaysia, including potentially needing travel insurance.
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Isabella ************
Sorry BUT if you realy have a resident permit YOU don't need any extension of stay (of you original visa). so i don't see why you will need a reentry permit ???
Bobby ********
@Isabella ***********
. She's already said she only has a standard retirement visa, so she needs the whole kit and caboodle to re-enterReply to
Bobby ********
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Claus ******
what is a resident visa
Claus ******
so just a NON O.
Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Claus *****
All I know is that I need to apply for permission to leave, and pre-COVID I did NOT need to apply for permission to enter.John **********
@Jenny *****
you don't need to apply for permission to leave, you can leave any time. What you apply for is a re-entry permit, this keeps your current permission to stay alive. If you leave without one then your permission to stay expires when you leave and you have to start over when you return.John **********
To come back in as well as the re-entry permit you will also need to fulfill the requirements of the Thailand Pass (you won't be able to board a flight without that) assuming it's in place when you return.
Reply to
John **********
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Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Claus *****
One which allows you to open a bank account, get an ID card, etc, and is renewed annually or every 5, 10 years.Reply to
Jenny ******
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Bobby ********
Are you a permanent resident or citizen? I'm not familiar with a "resident visa". Although it makes little difference with Thailand Pass, but you might be exempt the insurance requirement.
Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
I am not a citizen. I am resident on a retirement visa. I need to apply for permission to leave any time I want to go outside Thailand.Dan ********
@Jenny *****
so just a foreigner on a non O immigrant visa based on retirement. I think the nonsense you spout in your day job has gone to your head, sounding like you have a visa superior to everyone else's, we just know the limitations of them.Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTERWow, I did not know that citizenship was even an option for non-Thai. I thought the best yu could hope for was permanent residency.
Bobby ********
@Jenny *****
. Ok, so you're on a temporary extension of stay. That's a non-immigrant visa/extension. You would have to satisfy all the requirements of the Thailand Pass, the same as any other foreigner (or "alien" as Thai immigration refer to us!)Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
Temporary extension? I thought this was a pathway to permanent residency after 4 years. Nearly there now ...George *************
@Jenny *****
At the risk of going off on a tangent, your easiest path to citizenship is to marry a Thai. Otherwise, you basically need to be working for at least three continuous years in Thailand with a work permit (and earning above the minimum specified for your nationality). You must continue this until citizenship or permanent residence is granted. All the gory details are here (minus the misinformation that abounds on this subject):
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Bobby ********
@Jenny *****
. You can't get permanent residence from a retirement visa. But that's irrelevant at this stage. At the moment you're on a retirement extension which at most gives you 12 months permission to remain in the countryReply to
Bobby ********
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Brandon ************
Visas have nothing to do with Thailand Pass. EVERYONE entering Thailand must meet all entry requirements including Thailand Pass every single time they enter the country.
David *******
@Bobby *******
this time when I traveled back I just uploaded my company.policy with no cover letter quoting covid cover, previous times I uploaded cover letterJo ********
Just upload your docs . Are you flying back in ? Just pretend you are currently in MY and now select a date for return .
Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTERSorry to ask so many questions, but when my partner came back to Thailand last year it was so difficult he ended up using his second passport and buying a flight out f Thailand and 30 days of insurance that he wasn't going to use, just to be able to get home. I don't want to do that for TWO people for this trip. It's just too expensive.
Bobby ********
Jenny Hale. Nobody buys insurance intending to use it! The hope is that you don't need to use it!
Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
We already have insurance. We would need to buy an ADDITIONAL insurance with a fixed end date ust for the Thailand Pass, meaning that we are literally insured twice with two different insurers for a period of 30 days at a cost of 1300B.Bobby ********
Jenny Hale. If you already have insurance, you only have to show it covers US$20,000 including covid. Most travel insurances would cover this.
David *******
@Bobby *******
it does not state covid any more as a requirementReply to
Bobby ********
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Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jos***
Don't I need to have the actual flight booking for this imaginary return?Pauline *******
@Jenny *****
if on a non o based on retirement you only need one way ticket back into Thailand on return. You still need Thai pass and atm test&go 1 night but that could be changing next month.Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pauline ******
Oh, that's good to know. I wonder why that wasn't an option for my partner in October.Pauline *******
@Jenny *****
things have changed a few times over the months, let's hope it's moving further in the right direction for travellers.Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pauline ******
From your mounth to God's ear :)Brandon ************
@Jenny *****
yes. You need to have this all figured out before you leave and therefore before you return. So once you have your plans done, apply for your Thailand Pass.Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
I am talking about my imaginary "return" to Malaysia after I enter Thailand. The Thailand Pass system assumes a short stay and requires insurance that specifies and end date after the flight out of Thailand. I am nt going to have a flight out of Thailand, so there is no way to complete the forms.Steve **********
@Jenny *****
if you select “Returning to Thailand” as your reason for entering it won’t ask you for onward flight.Reply to
Steve **********
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Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTERHow do I get a Thailand Pass inside Thailand? Is there a form for people who are already in the country? Is that something they can do at an Immigration office?
Peng *********
@Jenny *****
I would like to add on that if you have a comprehensive global insurance policy that covers Covid you can ask them to issue a letter for ur thai pass application. A fellow expat just shared this with me from his experience. So I think this cuts down your costs of travel too 😬Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peng ********
Awesome!Reply to
Jenny ******
Reply
Michael ********
@Jenny *****
everyone has to apply onlineSteve *******
Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
Isn't this for people outside Thailand?Jo ********
@Jenny *****
when you leave , you will be outside . Just plan your entrance location and 1 day hotel booking .Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jos***
@St***
I have tried this, but I keep running into brick walls. The whole application process is based on a limited stay in Thailand. I live here. I am not going to have a flight out again after I come home, and I pay my insurance month by month - it doesn't have an end date after my flight out, because I don't have a flight out, and there is no end date on my insurance, so I can't complete the questions in this process.Ադամ ********
@Jenny *****
Same with many people. I already have insurance month to month, but it won’t be accepted. Forcing us to buy redundant policies for travel. All part of the grand rorting called covid-19Garrett ***********
@Jenny *****
Guess you're not going anywhere thenJenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Garrett **********
I was hoping that this VTL would actually make it possible for residents to take shrt trips into Malaysia, but it seems you are saying that is not the case.Peng *********
@Jenny *****
you could wait it out and see if they remove all the requirements in MayJenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peng ********
We can always hope 🤣🤣Peng *********
@Jenny *****
its a pain, even thai nationals have to apply for thailand pass when travelling. Looking at how things have been moving, i'm actually optimistic this time about the removal of requirements. My experience is just buying additional covid insurance and booking the hotel stays as required. Spent alot more that what i usually would when i was gonna go back home to visit, but its been 2years since i saw my family so no regrets =)
Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peng ********
In my case I would also need to buy a fliht out of the country that I won't use. :(Peng *********
@Jenny *****
maybe you're mistaken. the thailand pass system does not require your outbound ticket as part of the application. You can book a refundable outbound flight separately and then process the refund or buy one of those e-confirmations.Jenny ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peng ********
That sounds a bit less expensive. Thanks for the suggestions!David *******
@Jenny *****
no need just upload your ticket back to thailand, I returned on single flights several timesPeng *********
@Jenny *****
you actually don't need an outbound ticket at all, just confirmed this cuz my wife (thai national) just had to get short term covid insurance when we flew back in Feb.Steve *******
@Jenny *****
you are going to enter Thailand from another country, yes? So you will be outside of Thailand when you are coming to Thailand.The application is for the entry date. Not for where you are now.
Reply to
Steve *******
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