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What does the new travel tax in Thailand mean for tourists?

Nov 7, 2024
a year ago
Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Here comes the much-anticipated travel tax

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TLDR : Answer Summary
The new travel tax for entering Thailand has sparked a lively debate among expats and tourists. While some view it as a negligible addition to the flight cost, others see it as a potential hindrance to tourism. The conversation highlights differing perspectives on the principle of such fees, comparisons to taxes in other countries, and the need for clearer communication about visa requirements and problems. There are also comments addressing the need for resolutions surrounding existing visa issues that tourists face.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

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The official TDAC form is available at tdac.immigration.go.th, which uses the official .go.th government domain.

The services by AGENTS CO., LTD. does NOT charge any fees for arrivals within 72 hours. If you need to book more than 72 hours in advance, there is a service fee of $8.

Do not trust other sites pretending to be a trustworthy agency. Pay attention to delivery time - the service operated by AGENTS CO., LTD. has 1 minute delivery time for arrivals within 72 hours.

Don't fall for sites pretending to be agents.co.th or the official government tdac.immigration.go.th website. Always double-check the exact domain in your browser.

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Please watch out for TDAC misinformation spread by fugitive Jesse Nickles and his many fake accounts on Quora, TripAdvisor, Reddit, and other platforms.

TRUSTED TDAC LINKS:

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Tom ***********
Just testing the waters on the amount of push-back first
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tom **********
Haha! Doubt that very much. It's becoming an international trend.
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Andy ************
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Bent *************
It has to be published in the Royal Gazette!
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Andy ************
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@Bent ************
January!!!! Read the article!!!!!!
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Andy ************
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David *********
thats nothing they need to fix their stupid visa problems
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ********
Visas are fixed with the DTV!
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David *********
if you get a retirement visa in Cambodia or Philippines renew every 12 months no reporting
***
rd off the amount needed in your account unlimited multiple reentries without reporting
***
rd of the cost for a agent to do retirement visa so the DTV does nothing for these problems
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David *********
lol retirement visa is not fixed
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David *********
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Carey *********
$13 dollars wont even buy you lunch in the USA Bahahahahahaaa
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Cliff *********
What a joke crying about $13…
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Mark ********
@Cliff ********
It's the principle.
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
But it's ok for western countries to charge hundreds of dollars to Thai people for the benefit of visiting their countries! πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
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Mark ********
@Andy ***********
I wont waste my time explaining as you know everything already. Typical Ocker. πŸ˜‚
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
Yep. Typical Cheap Foreigner. Thai people pay a hundred dollars or more for a visa, and the Septic Tank complains about 300 baht. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
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Andy ************
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Tim *********
@Cliff ********
People who complain about taxes are basically narcissists
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Tim *********
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Lynnette *******
Good grief. If it's such a huge financial issue for people, they should not be travelling. I've just paid to enter USA with an esta. I will have to pay to get the same sort of thing to enter Europe. It's not a travel tax. It's a form that pre-advises details of your entry and wheedles a few who aren't permitted.
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Todd *********
@Lynnette ******
if people are ambivalent about silly fees taxes you end up as you did…. Wanting to leave the shitty country you came from.
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Lynnette *******
@Todd ********
I'm not ambivalent about taxes. But a couple dollars isn't going to make me lose any sleep.
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Todd *********
@Lynnette ******
Its not gonna make me lose any sleep either, but that doesn’t make me ambivalent about the slow, insidious creep of fees, surtaxes and user fees. Not a fan
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Lynnette *******
@Todd ********
you're entitled to your opinion. And be outraged at every country that has the same type form that costs a small fee. But avoid telling other people what and how they think or that they come from shitty countries.
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Todd *********
@Lynnette ******
indeed I am. Try not to let silly exaggerations about β€˜outrage’ πŸ˜‚ get in your way. There is zero β€˜outrage’. Just a little common sense. And the shitty country was also an observation. And a good one. You are also entitled to your opinion.
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Lynnette *******
@Todd ********
your observation was not a good one. Perhaps it was for whatever country you hail from, but not mine.
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Todd *********
@Lynnette ******
no. Definitely for yours. I can see why you left. But mine also. Just the reality of it all πŸ˜‚
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Lynnette *******
@Todd ********
what are you on about now. . what country have I left? Lol. You've no idea. Please stop making stuff up. Not everyone hates their country.
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Todd *********
@Lynnette ******
not everyone accepts the obvious very well either. What are you on about. Understandably you seem keen to hide it… as is nobody can figure it out πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
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Lynnette *******
@Todd ********
for some bizarre reason you keep saying you know why I left my country🀦. Think there's something wrong with you.
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lynnette ******
Whatever happens let's not discuss the national park entry fees for foreigners! πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜†
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Andy ************
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Lynnette *******
@Todd ********
best you not make assumptions. I live in 2 countries. Own property in 3. None are shitty.
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Lynnette *******
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James *********
Not a done deal yet.
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Lucky ******
How to kill tourism
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Bonnie *********
@Lucky *****
We can only hope so. Cheap Charlies aren't good for the Thai economy.
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Ron ******
@Lucky *****
What...for 300 baht??? The equivalent tax here in NZ recently went up to $100 (approx. 2000 baht).
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Ron ******
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Garrett ***********
Andy, don't turn off commenting in this group please.
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Michael ********
This is not new news almost same article was in Bangkok post a few weeks ago
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
Correct. The reason I posted this latest news release is because I mentioned the 300 baht tourist tax would be tagged onto the ETA in a post a couple of weeks ago, and got the usual round of abuse from other members in the group, and unfortunately I couldn't find the Bangkok Post article which mentioned this
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Michael ********
@Andy ***********
Its all still subject to change just wait till its made law. Seen this idea of sorts for many years.
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Michael ********
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Pui *****
You won't notice it even if implemented. It'll just be added as a fee to your plane ticket cost, same as all the various fuel charges, airport fees, and many other taxes and fees already added to every ticket.
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pui ****
It'll be part of the ETA application process. It only applies to tourists, not to Thai citizens or non-immigrant visa holders. Hence the "tourist tax" label
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Stephan ***********
@Pui ****
Yep... same as the 700 Baht departure tax... included since 2007.
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephan **********
I don't think you read the article. You pay the 300 baht when you apply for the ETA, which only applies to tourist entries
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Stephan ***********
@Andy ***********
And I think you didn't read my comment to someone else either... nothing to do with your post... ;-)
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephan **********
I did. Your comment agreed that the 300 baht will be included with the airline ticket, which it won't
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Lynnette *******
@Andy ***********
obviously you would be outraged to pay for an ESTA to enter USA. If it's too expensive for some people then they can't afford to travel.
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Andy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lynnette ******
It doesn't bother me in the least. This post is for information purposes, not to complain. Furthermore I have a non-O visa in Thailand so the ETA is not relevant for me
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Andy ************
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