Do you need to pay to enter Thailand at immigration currently?

@Andy ***********

We'll see if both get introducex

@Graham *****

I think they will. Thailand is hungry for money and this is one way to ship in a stack of foreign funds. If the estimated 36 million tourists this year is repeated next year it will net the Thai government 10.8 billion Baht. Nothing to be sneezed at. Even the UK is bringing this in. Within a few years it'll be a worldwide trend. Most interesting to see if the ETA has an expiry, or whether a new one will be needed each entry. It'll certainly upset the border bouncers!

@Michael *********

21 years and counting

@Daren ********

well, nobody told u to do that and nobody asked for your advice. I was answering the question that op made, op is an adult and he/she knows what do to.

@Michael *********

yep you are 100% right ….

I heard many things in Thailand

And 99.9% is bullshit

Pay your 1000 baht good luck

Stop suggesting bribery to other people….

Remember your phone or whatever you’re using isn’t private once you make comments like this …. Good luck

@Jason ******

um, yeah, I was just kidding about bribing the agent if they are reading this. I would never do that!

@Jason ******

oh, I didn't know you are special. OP asked a question and I replied to it. Nobody asked for your opinion. NOBODY. As I stated, it's something that I've heard and read about it and that's why I replied the OP. I'm not suggesting anyone to do that, I'm not giving away any contacts, I'm not asking for money. I heard many things in thailand, the only one that is 99.9% bs is when a married foreigner says that has found her wife while on holidays in phuket/pattaya/soi cowboy....

@Michael *********

and if you think how much you will have to pay for that crime just to stay out of jail - yhey will get more from you and you’ll probably have your picture posted with fingers pointing

@Jason ******

the legend says there are folks who have been living in thailand for years doing this trick. The legend says that you can also get in jail without doing anything, being at the wrong place at the wrong time might lead u to jail. If you have been in thailand long enough then you should know that you got no rights when u have to deal with the cops, even just for a stupid traffic stop...

@Eric *****

as I said, it's a legend.

@Michael *********

can I get the name of your agent? I'd like to bribe him too. 😁

@Cissi ********

unlikely Cissi, it was collected at the airport in the 1980’ and 90’s but then added to the flight costs so it was easier for the Government to collect, in those days it was 500 baht and I met a few people at BKK airport who didn’t have 500 left to buy the exit ticket

@Andy *******

@Cissi ********

these things are either rumours or proposals at the moment. Up until now, Government Officials have said that the ETA will be free, so whether it will be free, it remains to be seen, If it is introduced later this year or early next year as rumoured. This ETA was apparently supposed to be introduced last year, when the Government wanted the cost to be included with airline tickets. It didn't go ahead at the time, apparently because the airlines refused to collect the 'tax' for the Government.

@Colin ********

I am fully aware of that it is all rumours or proposals atm.

@Andy *******

I remember when it was collected in the airport... However it is now said to be 300 thb and there is some that claim that the delay of the ETA-implementation is due to get this included in the system. I guess we will just have to wait and see...

@Peter ********

you book in advance and go through official channels - the Phuket is a money making scheme by some crafy officials.

THere is a possible ramification if it is stopped - all the entry stamps handed out could be invalid!

@Billy *****

Where do you buy fast track at Suvarnabhumi or arrival? fast track you book in advance and costs about 50 quid.

@Eric *****

THat's not the same - Yu can for instance pay for fast rack on London eye. You pay to have the checks and everything done before hand and some capsules have spaces allotted. However with Thai arrivals everybody has to go through exactly the same process as each other - so the only way they can do that is take someone off the regular city and take away from ordinary arrivals and deliberately create a slow lane to make money for the officials operation the system.

@Will ********

And why does that bother you so much? If you don't like the way they do things in Thailand why do you live there!

@Greta ****

- When an expat criticizes a country, there are always some people seem to think that responding with the old cliché "If you don't like it, why live there?" is a valid response....

This question of course misses the point of the criticism and is little more than an uneducated attempt to shut down valid observations. It is in reality a false dichotomy. The concept of "Living somewhere means you can't criticize it is absurd. No country is perfect, and recognizing flaws doesn't mean I don't appreciate the positives. Criticism and appreciation aren't mutually exclusive.

I lived in Thailand because I had a full-time job and saw a lot of potential, but I think it's important for anyone with a modicum of intelligence to speak up when they see things that can be improved. My criticism comes from a place of wanting betterment, not resentment. I have a sense of awareness that you seem to be missing out on yourself.

The idea that people should leave every time they have an issue with a place is just facile. Criticism is often the first step toward making a place better. Constructive criticism can coexist with living in and contributing to a place. Living here doesn't mean I have to agree with everything. Healthy societies thrive on open dialogue and debate. Again something your comment does nothing to help with. If you have a problem with my OP, then I’d suggest you refer the content, rather than letting it turn into a debate about anyone’s personal choice to live in the Kingdom.

@Greta ****

great to know. Thankyou