What steps should South African and Latvian nationals take to enter Thailand for teaching jobs amidst travel restrictions?

July 14, 2020
4 years ago
Jayce **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi guys, this is my first post on this page. I have run out of options and would really love for someone to just steer me in the right direction.

I am a South African and I'm traveling with my friend who's Latvian, we started traveling before the pandemic and is currently stuck in Jakarta Indonesia (been here 4 months). We have a English teaching job in Thailand and we're trying our best to get there asap. We have an invitation from the educational department of Thailand etc. But we can't get a flight from here to Thailand, even though there are departures going out every second day. The airport aren't very helpful and I'm guessing it's because we aren't Thai nationals, which I understand - they get first preference. The advice I'm seeking basically : do we need to go through a travel agent who will be able to get us on a flight to Bangkok and if so any recommendations? Or should we just wait it out until the 1st of August? After following the Thai updates stating that they are allowing Teachers among others in. How can we go about? I've been going back and forth to the airport trying to get a ticket but to no avail. Any advice will be absolutely appreciated!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A South African and a Latvian national are seeking guidance on how to travel to Thailand for their English teaching jobs while currently stuck in Jakarta, Indonesia. They have received an invitation from the Thai educational department but face challenges booking flights. Commenters suggest contacting the Thai embassy for a Certificate of Entry (COE), obtaining the necessary COVID-19 tests and insurance, and considering the costs and requirements of quarantine upon arrival in Thailand. Some advise waiting until late July when travel restrictions may ease.
Chanin **********
Maybe try rebooking another flight
Kimberly ************
Teachers with contracts and visa should be able to enter under category 6, but 2 week quaranteen if coming in from different country
Terary **********
Bali to Bangkok before July 31, $250 one way, 48 hours travel time

Bali to Bangkok after July 31, $150 one way, 4 hours fly time.

Although -I have no estimate about Non-Thai nationals
Sean ******
I think the best advise you could get would be to being your invitation to the thai embassy and get ur details from there. This way if something gets f**ked up along the way you have a point of contact. Imagine how stupid it will sound if you get held up at the airport of either country and when the officer asks you why u dont have something or whatever, you reply with “some random farang told me this on fb”
Anthony ********
it's surely not worth trying to get back. I'd stay where you are. cost you about 5-6 months salary and all that effort.
Bobby ********
You need to weigh up what it's going to cost you to get in (assuming the embassy will give you a COE). With testing, insurance and quarantine, you will not get much change from 60,000 baht. I don't know what teachers are paid these days, but you need to do a CBA to see if it's viable
Alex *************
Better you wait untill 1 August, or your school has to send ur name to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with all ur details, personal stuff allowing you to go in, by the way u gonna have to stay in their very expensive quarantine hotels, which the cheapest costs 32.000 for 16 days .. 🤦🏻‍♂️
Tony ******
Go see Thai embassy you need to get on list and get insurance and test done see embassy first
John **********
Stay where you are!! The Thai authorities are exploiting this to the Nth degree, despotic, beurocratic, xenophobic..you will pay through nose if you do eventually get in!! This government and the elite dont give a shit about their own people, even less about you, go to Cambodia or Laos when you can
Greg ********
@John *********
I hope you showed them and voted with your feet. If not you are just a hypocrite hanging around on a Thai board
John **********
@Greg *******
im not in Thailand!!
Greg ********
@John *********
So why are you commenting then? Did some bar girl take you for a fool and you are bitter?
John **********
@Greg *******
go steady mate!!!
Greg ********
@John *********
You sound very bitter though. What did Thailand do to you? How are Thai authorities exploiting this. They could have charged everyone for monthly extensions?
John **********
@Greg *******
not bitter just frustrated that the Thai Government only do what benefits them, not for the populace or visitors (who over the last few years have been hounded and villified)
Greg ********
@John *********
How have visitors been hounded and vilified over the last few years?
John **********
@Greg *******
Anutin "dirty farrang" comments, TM30, So called discretion of IOs! OA visa health insurance requirements, (Thai approved companys only!!) No interest bank deposits, dual entry prices! Et al, et al!!
Greg ********
@John *********
You call that vilification FFS. So glad you have decided to avoid the place then - you will not have to suffer such humiliation and utter contravention to your farang rights. You get yourself over to Thai Visa forum and make your indignation heard in that echo chamber - it will make you feel better. For the record I have never needed to do TM30, my insurance is not through a Thai company, I get interest on my bank account (not much but same as a Thai). Are we talking about the same country?
John **********
@Greg *******
sure are, the one with more Admirals than ships, more Generals than USA, 2 submarines but no where to dock them,
*****
deaths a year on the roads that nobody gives 2 fckc for, 12 million in Issan who earn 300bht a day when they can get work!! 600 bht a Month pension!! For old people, a political system that crushes dissent, an education system that crushes debate!!!! But your OK Jack!!
Greg ********
@John *********
You are just a professional misery gut. Howling here. Victor Meldrew has been found whinging about Thailand. Do you get out of bed every morning the same? I bet you were like this at 20 too.
Greg ********
@John *********
I never took you for a Thai voter- amazing. I take it you are a true red socialist back home then - always voted labour. a salt of the earth guy - fights for human rights wherever they are abused. One minute you are squealing like a stuck pig about farang rights in Thailand and the next donning your Red Shirt for Isaan. What a guy!
John **********
@Greg *******
very observant !!!
Steve *******
You need to obtain a certificate of entry from the Thai embassy in Jakata. To get that you'll need a negative covid test no more than 72hrs old, $100,000US medical insurance covering covid, a Non Imm B visa. If the Embassy approves your application you'll need to book an alternative state quarantine hotel and pay for the re-pat flight the embassy books you on.
Jayce **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you so much 🙏
Wendy *******
@Annie *****************
Annie, your school should’ve told you about the certificate of entry that you need from the embassy. You need that in addition to your visa. For you to get your visa and be allowed to fly you should have all of the things mentioned above.
Geoff **********
You need to contact the Thai Embassy in Indonesia and ask how to apply for permission to enter Thailand. There are many requirements which you can find by searching is some of the FB groups focusing on foreigners stranded outside Thailand. However every embassy has a slightly different process so you need to talk to them.
Geoff **********
Basic requirements are (for teacher): Letter from school saying why it is urgent for you to come to Thailand, work permit, $
*****
0 US medical insurance covering COVID and COVID tests showing you do not have it. You can currently only fly on repatriation flights coordinated by the embassy and you have to pay for a 14 day quarentine at a government specified hotel upon arrival.
Frank ******
Go thru RTE to get COE
Gabí **************
Sorry but are you sure that is the only amount available for the compulsory quarantine? It is actually more expensive than China whereas the life cost in China for expats is way higher than in Thailand...
Frank ******
Must also Quarantine 14 days at your expense
*****
k
Jaye ********
@Frank *****
what is the 40,000 for?
Frank ******
@Jaye *******
quarantine
Jaye ********
@Frank *****
Sounds like a functional amount for a hotel in Bangkok I guess if you get a pool and your food included.
Roy ***********
@Jaye *******
Expensive, but it also includes testing for Covid etc. So not just a hotel stay including meals.
Jaye ********
@Roy **********
unless half of the money goes to a worthy police commissioners pocket for time it took to nominate the hotel in the first place. What I have found in this beautiful country is as soon a foreigner wants something there is a queue of people waiting to offer you a service and everyone of them will get their piece from you so that you line around 4 pockets. The guy at the top , the guy 2nd from top, the next guy who organizes the whole thing to give to the guy who executes the whole plan. I call this the Bangkok bubble.
Jaye ********
@Roy **********
there needs to be a lot more of the e.t.c...😃
Greg ********
@Jaye *******
As far as I know you are not using the pool. Allowed out of the room alone for a short period to stretch your legs is all.
Jaye ********
@Greg *******
ah! So it's a police. cell,disguised.
Ken ***********
@Jaye *******
the hotel cost for 2 week quarantine
Jayce **************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *****
Thank you Frank, this might sound stupid, but I have no idea what that means.. 😄
Frank ******
@Annie *****************
you will need Certificate of Entry

Go to RTE website and get documents needed
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