When will the ETA system be fully rolled out in Thailand?

@Greg **********

yes thank you Greg - I know that 😊

@Kim ********

ETA only for visa-exempt travellers. Why is this so? Because people who applied for a visa or already hold a valid stay permit, have already given their personal detail to the Embassy or Consulate via the E-Visa online system. This makes an ETA obsolete

@David **********

me? not at all - not relevant for me since I live here permanently - at least until my wife kicks me out 🥺

@Kim ********

I like it as it is. The IO uses discretion, computers do not. If there is a problem, you can talk with the IO. Problem with ETA?

@David **********

the intention is to make it free - but let's see what happens. I consider it a bit like the Thailand Pass we had to endure during Covid.

@Kim ********

sorry but the nativity is strong in this one. Previously it cost nothing to enter on visa exempt. Now it will. The USA it's $21, EU and UK about £10. The departure tax in the UK is always a target at the budget.

@David **********

nonsense - it has nothing to do with extra money,

@Greg **********

at least I tried to be helpful as there is not much info out there. But some say Dec 24, others first quarter 25 and other June 25. So Siam Legal info is similar to others.

Aldo the fee, it has not yet been announced so there could be a fee.

But you need to DYOR. Sorry for using capital but it's an acronym

@Greg **********

Yes. It's good to see Thai government finally embracing electronic payments. My first OA a few years ago, I had to get a friggin' money order from Australia Post because the Sydney Consulate wouldn't accept credit card payments!

@Jim *******

not unlike the E-visa system, in which you can only pay using a "real" credit card. This will have an effect on tourism, because nor every traveller has a credit card

@Greg **********

Except the delay is because the government will be voting in January whether to include the tourist tax as part of it, so although the ETA itself is free, there will be a 300 baht levy for tourists. Good news is it will be paid online.

@David **********

you already pay 500.- THB airport fee in Thailand (which is included in the ticket price) and soon to be implemented Thailand will levy a 300.- THB tourist tax. However until today they are not clear on HOW and in which currency and WHERE they are going to let you pay

@David **********

yes, many other countries ask for a fee. Thailand did not intend to levy a fee on the ETA

@Greg **********

oh good, UK, USA and EU charge. Remember the UK already has a tourist/departure tax and those have NOTHING to do with the ETA. So it is not unreasonable to expect the ETA will not be free for long.

@David **********

the ETA will be for free!!! The ETA originally is meant to be mandatory only to tourists who plan to enter Thailand visa-exempt. Tourists or expats on valid visas and stay permits are exempted from filling out an ETA. The ETA was supposed to be implemented into the online E-Visa system, but this has been delayed - due to technicalities, I presume. . .It has NOTHING to do with the planned Tourist Tax