What are the estimated costs associated with the new Covid-19 requirements for traveling to Thailand?

@Kevin ****

you do not need the test to apply for CoE.

@Barry ******

not apply but to get it issued you do:

While Thailand still puts in place travel restriction, work permit holders who wish to return to Thailand can apply for the Certificate of Entry. The decision will be made in Bangkok by a committee comprising relevant authorities and this process takes time.

Required documents, which must be submitted by email to :

Your passport copy

A copy of your Thai visa (if already expired, you have to apply for a new one)

A copy of your work permit (even if it is already expired, which you have to extend in Thailand), or a copy of letter of permission to work in Thailand from a Thai government agency

A copy of letter from your employer (or yourself if you own a company) that you need to return to work in Thailand

Declaration form, duly completed and signed

A copy of your health insurance policy with coverage including COVID-related treatment in Thailand in the amount no less than 100,000 USD (or a company letter certifying that they will pay for your medical expenses including COVID-19)

All non-Thai passengers will be subject to a 14-day quarantine at their own expenses at one of the facilities for Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) that have been approved by the Thai authorities. The reservation can be made later and need not be submitted at this stage.

"Once approved, you will be duly notified. Then, you would need to (1) book a flight, (2) book an ASQ hotel, and (3) prepare a fit to fly health certificate within 72 hours before departure that you are free from COVID-like symptoms, and send a copy to the Embassy to issue a certificate of entry to Thailand."

So you can apply without it but to get the certificate you need the Covid test result and fit to fly. Which means you are at the whim of the embassy dependant on how long their turnaround time (with so many expats trying to get back to their families and teachers trying to get back to their schools) is going to be. So it is wise to budget for a second test because if the CoE takes more than 60 hours turnaround you then have to face immigration officers on arrival in the kingdom with a Covid and fit to fly over the 72 hour limit because most of the flights from London are currently around 34 hours.

@Jennifer ***

mike Connolly

@Chris *****

I estimated about 150,000 too. But which insurance did you get for 850 pounds?! (33k thb) All of the ones I’m looking at are around 50-60,000 thb (full medical with Covid coverage)

@Chris *****

, still too much money. I will be waiting for a vaccine or meet my family in Vietnam.

@Rick ******

your choice

@Rick ******

agreed. This is just what the Thai media has been reporting on the “Bubble Countries” regarding opening of the tourism market has been stating. Along with the “High End Tourist” that will be able to make up the money lost in the tourism market quickly. China is included on that list 🤔

That is all a pipe dream. It will be reported that the countries Thailand wants to come visit have little or no Covid cases and all others they don't want have high case rates and are a danger to Thailand. All BS.

@ChrisCho ***********

thanks appreciate quick reply

Just read a post saying that Chang Mai immigration were refusing overseas insurance policy with a $2,000,000 cover. Again, this can all boil down to which office and which officer you see. It was mentioned that soneone in BKK had sent a letter out saying foreign policies were okay if they had the $100,000 inpatient and 40,000 baht outpatient cover but apparently not all immigration points and officers are accepting that.

@ChrisCho ***********

international insurance.

@St**

Idk what that means, but I'd never buy an animal. There are so many stays that need a home in Thailand.

@Garrett **********

It's a British expression for somewhere very small or confined -

@St**

Hahahaha, I've definitely never heard that one before. Learned something new.

@Garrett **********

Or there again it could be a tune from one of my favourite oddball bands, Penguin Cafe.

@Michael *******

. And yet people are desperate to come back! You cannot measure stupidity of this scale

@Bobby *******

oh i am coming back but then the company is paying my quarantine costs (lot cheaper than paying me on standby)

What really irritates me is i have a house and a condo and could do proper isolation in either. But understand half the numpties would abuse that.

@Michael *******

. Good stuff! Get someone else to pay. I've been suggesting that to teachers, but the schools won't pay. By the time the teachers have paid air fares, insurance and quarantine, they'll be working three months for nothing! Cannot imagine what the attraction is to do that! Australia tried the self-quarantine and it failed miserably. Unless a country is prepared to establish a tough line it's not going to work.

@Bobby *******

yes my son did it in Singspore and they are strict lots of people jailed deported and banned from country.

Yes my son if contacted had to send picture where he was or google map screen shot and he had about two visits.

One numpty came back went straight out for favourite food and posted on facebook. Got 3 months jail and fine.