Answered2 years ago
Will US tourists need authorization to visit Thailand starting December 24, 2024?
Is this for real ? Starting December 24, US tourists needs authorization to visit Thailand?
Answer summary
There are discussions in the community regarding a new requirement for US tourists to obtain authorization before traveling to Thailand starting December 24, 2024. This requirement is not yet confirmed and is mainly based on speculation. Some commenters believe it may apply to several countries, while others suggest it could streamline the immigration process, similar to systems used in other countries. The consensus is mixed, with some expressing concern over potential requirements like background checks, while others see it as a manageable online form.
111 repliesnewest first
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Claude **********
Cuba use it Dominican to and and in a couple year it will be like that in all destination You fill it online or on your phone you take a screen shot or print the sheet and that is it .No more paper to fill on the plane .I have been doing it for the past 3years in Cuba much easier that way very easy and fast at the imigration once you get their they already have it on line .This is the best .
Greta *****
It's just online registration before you arrive to speed up immigration. Once you get the digital ETA you will not need to go through immigration officer. Will simplify the process. No need to panic!
Andrew *******
@Greta ****
hope so !
Jeff ********
Hopefully this will cut down on the number of sexpats.
John *******
@Jeff *******
it's a massive part of The economy and The oldest Trade not To mention many need That moneyNot just black and white
David **********
Maybe. A soft rollout for yet unnamed
Countries may begin in December.
The full implementation scheduled for middle of next year.
Countries may begin in December.
The full implementation scheduled for middle of next year.
Randy ******
OP@David *********
I already called my Congressman and two Senators about it…
Neil ******
The people complaining must love standing in the long immigration lines. They want Thailand to live in the past. To not develop. They want to treat the country like their own personal playground.
Fred ******
@Neil *****
Thailand will always live in the past. Deeply engrained xenophobic paranoia. As an example, I arrived in Singapore and went through the automated gates and it takes 15 seconds, no lines. With my passport details they can do all the required security checks instantly without a pointless arrival authorization. Last year I had a 5hr stopover in Changi. I entered and exited the country twice. Each time it took 15s and no lines at all.Andrew *******
@Fred *****
👍👌Neil ******
The government is trying to move to electronic gates. It's the people in this post who are complaining about it.
Andrew *******
@Randy *****
very true .. seems like an irritating annoying step backwardsRandy ******
OP@Neil *****
No. Reread Fred post. All the information is already included in the Biometric passport. Why ask for more? Is it to keep bad hombres outside? It takes 24 hours minimum to get to Thailand from US air. They already know we are coming. They can be prepared. Reminds me of the white forms we used to fill on arrival: All info was already available to thai immigration
Tony *********
Same rumors as with Autralians coning as well . I think it's all visa-exempt countries will need
T ****************
Incorrect, in fact can enter from the USA and MANY other countries now for 60 days without a visa, with a 30 day extension if desired .
David ***********
In the press theyre saying it will start anytime between dec 24 and june 25 which is helpful !
Irvin ******
They finally found the way to charge THB300 (or more) tourism tax with this system without any new issues anymore.
Bwa hahaha!!!
Bwa hahaha!!!
Jeff ********
Hopefully this will cut down on the number of sexpats.
Henrik *****
RUMORS RUMORS RUMORS
Not been through Parlament yet, and it may never happend.
Not been through Parlament yet, and it may never happend.
Cameron *******
It's not a Visa, but an online registration to speed up immigration.
Michael *********
Go to Cambodia instead
Carlos *********
If it's not in the royal Thai gazette, it's all scuttlebutt and hear say.
Randy ******
OPWeak administration in the WH… !
Tim ********
Funny to enter Europe and the uk you just need a rubber dingy and you’re in
Bonnie *********
Not everyone you don’t like, or are racially profiling, are criminals. Maybe European countries shouldn’t have colonized for centuries.
Tim ********
@Bonnie ********
I’m simply saying people entering countries with no back ground checks is wrong , using history as a defence is poor at best , I’m sure you be happy with a house full of none vetted men living next door to you ? I’m happy to have a back ground check any where I visit , same rule should apply for all those entering any country , saftey of citizens should be a countries priority nothing racist at all just conmen senseBonnie *********
@Tim *******
Poor xenophobic baby.Tim ********
@Bonnie ********
just simple facts , I’m happy with checks to keep criminals out of countries abviously you’re ok not having them checks !!!
Craig *******
It's good. Should speed up entry and improve efficiency. They are merely leveraging technology, anyone who struggles with this shouldn't be travelling.
Thomas *********
So what?
Tom *******
No problem ! Mai pen rai Krap! I came during the height of covid about 4 times.. now that was stressful and difficult to be sure. This Travel Authorization will be no big deal! Everyone jai yen yen! Oh.. and enjoy your visits!
Ivan ************
how can they do this to Americans, it must be against the 1st amendment
Vijay *****
@Ivan ***********
...whose Amendment?Randy ******
OP@Ivan ***********
does thailand have southern open borders like America?
Ricky ********
Digital Finger prints, facial recognition photos, and now pre authorization. Soon there will be GPS tracking for tourists.
Andrew *******
@Ricky *******
yep by 2028 🤣
Rancy *******
@Ricky *******
World Economic Forum!!!!
Ivan ******
About time. Americans should also be accompanied by adults the whole time if you ask me
Bob **********
It will be a simple online travel form the same as the Philippines if it really happens
Matthias ********
So what? The Americans want all my data just because the plane I'm on is flying over American soil. That's crazy! What the Thais want is simply legitimate.
Gareth ********
@Matthias *******
exactly this.David *********
only for Americans that's how it should be there not liked in Asia lol because that's LIV country, so no Americans is right lol
John *****
@David ********
they're not wanted anywhere else either
Frank **********
@David ********
STFU stupid.David *********
@Frank *********
that's why there not wanted in Asia no sense of humor lolDavid *********
@Frank *********
and if you didn’t know the King of Thailand is 6 times richer then the entire English royal familyDavid *********
@Frank *********
you mean like the foreign aid your sending to Gaza in the form of weapons to Israel lolFrank **********
@David ********
yeah nobody wants us but they like when they get foreign aid from the US.John *******
Pointless and The opposite of makeing travel easy
Andrew *******
@John ******
that's been happening for years now with proof of onward travel very annoying inconvenient and frustratingCissi *********
@John ******
I disagree - it will make arriving at airports much faster and you wont have to que for immigration.John *******
@Cissi ********
until computers go downCissi *********
@John ******
well then most things about flights will be chaotic...
Jo **********
@John ******
i agree
Brook ********
People with violent misdemeanor and felony criminal charges worry that they will no longer be able to freely enter Thailand. That and globalization are the main complaints.
Alex *********
@Brook *******
will this new program require criminal background checks from your home country in order to enter Thailand? Or criminal background checks from Thailand?Brook ********
@Alex ********
it depends.
Leighton ********
@Br***
which they shouldnt. If people want to act like they have no civility, then they should be treated as such.
Robin ********
USA have been doing this for years - and charging for it
Bonnie *********
@Robin *******
The US charges for everything.
Michael *******
Singapore do it, and it makes arrivals seamless you don’t even see an immig officer, prints photo and away, ETA takes 5 mins to complete on line - if it reduces queue‘s at immig it will be great don’t understand what the fuss is about
Randy ******
OP@Michael ******
Thailand is a socialist country. You can’t just replace people jobs with automation without politicians losing elections. The immigration officers will still linger there.Michael *******
@Randy *****
it’s called declining birth rate , Singapore and Australia are effectively socialist and they have fully automated immigration, UK is now socialist and I don’t see them getting rid of e-gates - reality is jobs like this will disappear due to lack of people to fill them it’s called progress 🤔Michael *******
That’s the plan as I understand it
John *******
@Michael ******
my understanding is if it does happen, we would be able to then use the electric gates at immigration. So immigration would be super quick.Andrew *******
@John ******
if that's true I will accept the inconvenience of having to fill out additional information.Michael *******
@Andrew ******
it’s what we used to put on the old arrival cards
Chris *********
Yeah need an ETA first. It’s just like an ESTA but it’s free.
Jared *********
If it goes into effect it's basically the same thing as filling out the immigration cards that we used to do before. No big deal
Andrew *******
@Jared ********
why are we going backwards ....surely they have enough info on us already!!!!
Marnix *********
That is what's coming ........,as a u.s. citizen returning to the u.s.
Borune ***********
Shane *****
@Marnix ********
nah. No auth needed for a us citizen to return. Ever.
Steve *******
@Shane ****
they will. The purpose is security screening. They already do it based on the airlines providing ticketed information before you depart. They will extend that to everyone having to do a simple online authorisation before a ticket is issued.Shane *****
@Steve ******
they already know you’re coming by manifest and facial recognition.Steve *******
Honestly as long as they keep it relatively simple and on line no big deal. Don’t know why people get all twisted about it. Don’t like it? Don’t travel
Andrew *******
@Steve ******
just another additional annoyance
Pete *******
What’s the issue? It only the same info you have to enter online to book your flight tickets. Not a big deal.
Andrew *******
@Pete ******
just another minor additional annoyanceCarlos *********
@Pete ******
then why should you need to do it twice? Truth is, you don't know what it is yet! It's just a rumor, so far.
Matthew *******
@Carlos ********
how about you have a good hard think about that ridiculous commentPete *******
@Carlos ********
I’m very familiar with ETA’s, you fail to grasp the difference between a commercial operation and a governmental requirement.
Jim ********
No big deal even if it is. Just a simple register and away you go
Terary **********
They already finger print all guests. I suspect your article is only click bait.
Paul ********
@Terary *********
it’s been on the radio here and the way they are putting it is to speed up immigration as you have approval before you land
Ricky ********
If it gets approved its every country
David *********
@Ricky *******
it won't be Australia the King went to school in AustraliaMatthew *******
@David ********
yes he did but some say he’s dirty on us because he got a hard time (they didn’t put up with his shit) at ADFAIn saying that nothing has changed since he took the throne so it’s possible the story is a phurfey
Kim *********
@David ********
it actually begins with Australians - read that yesterdayCissi *********
@David ********
they will actually start with Australia as a pilot project and continue to add countries.Cissi *********
@David ********
my reply was not about that. My reply was to your statement "It wont be Australia..." since it WILL be Australia. They are the first to use ETA when coming to Thailand.David *********
@Cissi ********
no the Thai people are ask all the time who they dislike its Indians and Americans
Sam **********
@David ********
well the princess went to school in the USDavid *********
@Sam *********
well there is a lot of princesses in America lol
Todd *********
@Ricky *******
it’s less than half of countriesRicky ********
@Todd ********
a lot of conflicting info . Il wait and hopefully get all proper info before my trip in january .
Craig *******
Sounds like that EU bullshit* authorization you have to do soon,I'm guessing they want to link to the EU system so they can catch all the drug dealers etc that seem to end up in Thailand?
Peter ****************
Craig *******
@Peter ***************
not my country but nice try
Brian ********
@Craig ******
It's not just the EU, it is already in place in many countries including USA
Łukasz *********
@Craig ******
It's what people from visa-free countries have to do to fly to the US.Craig *******
@Łukasz ********
well lucky I don't go there ,never had to do for anywhere I've flown before
Arguro **********
@Łukasz ********
exactly
Anton ********
In Thailand you are never sure, it's not for only US, but 94 countries. Aaaand you just register before you fly, so what's the issue? Same works in many other countries as well
Randy ******
OPAnton Škápiksome people like me don’t plan months ahead before travel. It is spur of the moment. Affluent single people that is.
Jack ****************
@Randy *****
so sad for you
Sheen ************
@Randy *****
arrogance is not attractiveRandy ******
OP@Jack ***************
?? Sad for being affluent, jet setting from country to country, city to city? Please !Anton ********
@Randy *****
confirmation should arrive in 24hours
Stuart *********
At this point nothing is official. It’s just purely press speculation. It may happen come December but it may not.
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