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

ETA Thailand visa tourist visa visa exemption immigration rules Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel updates

Dec 18, 2024

3 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone, I understand that the ETA general rollout has been delayed. Does anyone knows when it will be in place? The Thai government site doesn't provide any info. It looks like ETA is now available for now for travelers from a limited numer of countries. 

Any details is appreciated. 

Thanks in advance.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The rollout of Thailand's Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) has been delayed, with partial availability for select countries currently. According to comments sourced from community discussions, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on August 23, 2024, that the ETA system is set to launch in December 2024 and become mandatory for all travelers by June 2025. The ETA will apply mainly to visa-exempt tourists, while those with valid visas and stay permits will not be required to complete it. The system aims to streamline entry and is tied to the collection of a tourist tax, which has faced delays in implementation.

THAILAND ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (ETA)

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Michael *******

It’s the only way they can collect the tourist tax that they have been talking about for several years, airlines and hotels have refused to co-operate. So there is a significant financial incentive to make this happen, not to mention the ability to prevent folks gaming the system, with multiple border hops.Even the UK is about to introduce it, so only a matter of time I guess.

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Jim ********

@Michael ******

Correct. Parliament is voting on this in January

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Jim ********

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Steven *******

Why do people worry about this?

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Jan ******************

POSTPONED WITH NO DATE

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Greta *****

The ETA of the ETA is still unknown

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David **********

I see what you did there 😉😂

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Greta *****

David E Moore Well that makes 2 of us. So far...

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Greta *****

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Greg ***********

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

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Jan ******************

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

was only supposed to be a six months pilot program for Aussie’s first.

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Greg ***********

@Jan *****************

yes, and it is back in the drawers until further notice

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Greg ***********

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David ***********

Found this on a site called Siam Legal

While announced in June, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reported on August 23, 2024, that they were accelerating plans to implement the ETA system. It is expected to go online in December 2024 and be fully rolled out and mandatory for all travelers in June 2025.

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Greg ***********

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

"fully rolled out and mandatory for all travelers in June 2025." . . . . . . this is complete and utter nonsense. The ETA is only mandatory for tourists who plan to fly to Thailand without a visa. Definitely not for "all" travellers. Siam Legal is known for posting wrongly worded and outdated info

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Kim *********

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

incredible Siam lawyers can say such nonsense

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Greg ***********

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

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Kim *********

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

yes thank you Greg - I know that 😊

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Kim *********

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Greg ***********

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

SIAM LEGAL is widely known for posting obsolete and outdated info

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Greg ***********

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

AGAIN: the plans to finally roll out the ETA until June 2025, got DEFINITELY binned until further notice

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David ***********

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

maybe they are trying to emulate the EU.

Bottom line it is just another tax and I do not send it has any function.

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Kim *********

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

nonsense - it has nothing to do with extra money,

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David ***********

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.

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Kim *********

@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.

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David ***********

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?

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Kim *********

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

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

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Greg ***********

@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

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Jim ********

@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.

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Greg ***********

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

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Jim ********

@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!

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David ***********

@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.

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Greg ***********

@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

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Greg ***********

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

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

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David ***********

@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

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David ***********

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Terary **********

What is the ETA?

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Greg ***********

@Terary *********

"Electronic Travel Authorization" . . . . the plan went back into the drawer, and there it sits. It is not going to happen very soon

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Greg ***********

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Bobby *******

Not available and not required now

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Bobby *******

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