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Will US tourists need authorization to visit Thailand starting December 24, 2024?

Thailand Visa RulesUS Tourists AuthorizationVisa Exempt CountriesNon-O VisaETAOnline Travel RegistrationTourism RegulationsImmigration Process
Sep 8, 2024
2 months ago
Randy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is this for real ? Starting December 24, US tourists needs authorization to visit Thailand?
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TLDR : 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.
THAILAND ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (ETA)
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 .
2 months ago
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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!
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@Greta ****
 hope so !
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
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Jeff ********
Hopefully this will cut down on the number of sexpats.
2 months ago
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John *******
@Jeff *******
 it's a massive part of The economy and The oldest Trade not To mention many need That money

Not just black and white
2 months ago
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John *******
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David **********
Maybe. A soft rollout for yet unnamed

Countries may begin in December.

The full implementation scheduled for middle of next year.
2 months ago
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Randy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David *********
I already called my Congressman and two Senators about it…
2 months ago
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Randy ******
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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.
2 months ago
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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.
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@Fred *****
 👍👌
2 months ago
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Neil ******
The government is trying to move to electronic gates. It's the people in this post who are complaining about it.
2 months ago
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Randy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@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
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@Randy *****
 very true .. seems like an irritating annoying step backwards
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
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Tony *********
Same rumors as with Autralians coning as well . I think it's all visa-exempt countries will need
2 months ago
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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 .
2 months ago
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David ***********
In the press theyre saying it will start anytime between dec 24 and june 25 which is helpful !
2 months ago
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Irvin ******
They finally found the way to charge THB300 (or more) tourism tax with this system without any new issues anymore.

Bwa hahaha!!!
2 months ago
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Jeff ********
Hopefully this will cut down on the number of sexpats.
2 months ago
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Henrik *****
RUMORS RUMORS RUMORS

Not been through Parlament yet, and it may never happend.
2 months ago
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Cameron *******
It's not a Visa, but an online registration to speed up immigration.
2 months ago
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Michael *********
Go to Cambodia instead
2 months ago
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Carlos *********
If it's not in the royal Thai gazette, it's all scuttlebutt and hear say.
2 months ago
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Randy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Weak administration in the WH… !
2 months ago
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Tim ********
Funny to enter Europe and the uk you just need a rubber dingy and you’re in
2 months ago
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Bonnie *********
Not everyone you don’t like, or are racially profiling, are criminals. Maybe European countries shouldn’t have colonized for centuries.
2 months ago
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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 sense
2 months ago
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Tim ********
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Bonnie *********
@Tim *******
 Poor xenophobic baby.
2 months ago
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Tim ********
@Bonnie ********
 just simple facts , I’m happy with checks to keep criminals out of countries abviously you’re ok not having them checks !!!
2 months ago
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Tim ********
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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.
2 months ago
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Thomas *********
So what?
2 months ago
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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!
2 months ago
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Ivan ************
how can they do this to Americans, it must be against the 1st amendment
2 months ago
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Vijay *****
@Ivan ***********
 ...whose Amendment?
2 months ago
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Randy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
does thailand have southern open borders like America?
2 months ago
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Randy ******
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Ricky ********
Digital Finger prints, facial recognition photos, and now pre authorization. Soon there will be GPS tracking for tourists.
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@Ricky *******
 yep by 2028 🤣
2 months ago
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Rancy *******
@Ricky *******
 World Economic Forum!!!!
2 months ago
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Rancy *******
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Ivan ******
About time. Americans should also be accompanied by adults the whole time if you ask me
2 months ago
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Bob **********
It will be a simple online travel form the same as the Philippines if it really happens
2 months ago
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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.
2 months ago
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Gareth ********
@Matthias *******
 exactly this.
2 months ago
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Gareth ********
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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
2 months ago
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John *****
@David ********
 they're not wanted anywhere else either
2 months ago
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Frank **********
@David ********
 STFU stupid.
2 months ago
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David *********
@Frank *********
 that's why there not wanted in Asia no sense of humor lol
2 months ago
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Frank **********
@David ********
 yeah nobody wants us but they like when they get foreign aid from the US.
2 months ago
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David *********
@Frank *********
 and if you didn’t know the King of Thailand is 6 times richer then the entire English royal family
2 months ago
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David *********
@Frank *********
 you mean like the foreign aid your sending to Gaza in the form of weapons to Israel lol
2 months ago
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David *********
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John *******
Pointless and The opposite of makeing travel easy
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@John ******
 that's been happening for years now with proof of onward travel very annoying inconvenient and frustrating
2 months ago
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Cissi *********
@John ******
 I disagree - it will make arriving at airports much faster and you wont have to que for immigration.
2 months ago
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John *******
@Cissi ********
 until computers go down
2 months ago
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Cissi *********
@John ******
 well then most things about flights will be chaotic...
2 months ago
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Cissi *********
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Jo **********
@John ******
 i agree
2 months ago
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Jo **********
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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.
2 months ago
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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?
2 months ago
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Brook ********
@Alex ********
 it depends.
2 months ago
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Brook ********
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Leighton ********
@Br***
 which they shouldnt. If people want to act like they have no civility, then they should be treated as such.
2 months ago
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Leighton ********
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Robin ********
USA have been doing this for years - and charging for it
2 months ago
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Bonnie *********
@Robin *******
 The US charges for everything.
2 months ago
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Bonnie *********
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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
2 months ago
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Randy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@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.
2 months ago
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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 🤔
2 months ago
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Michael *******
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Michael *******
That’s the plan as I understand it
2 months ago
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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.
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@John ******
 if that's true I will accept the inconvenience of having to fill out additional information.
2 months ago
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Michael *******
@Andrew ******
 it’s what we used to put on the old arrival cards
2 months ago
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Michael *******
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Chris *********
Yeah need an ETA first. It’s just like an ESTA but it’s free.
2 months ago
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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
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@Jared ********
 why are we going backwards ....surely they have enough info on us already!!!!
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
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Marnix *********
That is what's coming ........,as a u.s. citizen returning to the u.s.
2 months ago
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Borune ***********
@Marnix ********
 🙏
2 months ago
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Shane *****
@Marnix ********
 nah. No auth needed for a us citizen to return. Ever.
2 months ago
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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.
2 months ago
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Shane *****
@Steve ******
 they already know you’re coming by manifest and facial recognition.
2 months ago
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Shane *****
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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
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@Steve ******
 just another additional annoyance
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
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Pete *******
What’s the issue? It only the same info you have to enter online to book your flight tickets. Not a big deal.
2 months ago
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Andrew *******
@Pete ******
 just another minor additional annoyance
2 months ago
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Carlos *********
@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.
2 months ago
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Matthew *******
@Carlos ********
 how about you have a good hard think about that ridiculous comment
2 months ago
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Pete *******
@Carlos ********
 I’m very familiar with ETA’s, you fail to grasp the difference between a commercial operation and a governmental requirement.
2 months ago
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Pete *******
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Jim ********
No big deal even if it is. Just a simple register and away you go
2 months ago
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Terary **********
They already finger print all guests. I suspect your article is only click bait.
2 months ago
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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
2 months ago
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Paul ********
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Ricky ********
If it gets approved its every country
2 months ago
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David *********
@Ricky *******
 it won't be Australia the King went to school in Australia
2 months ago
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Matthew *******
@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 ADFA

In saying that nothing has changed since he took the throne so it’s possible the story is a phurfey
2 months ago
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Kim *********
@David ********
 it actually begins with Australians - read that yesterday
2 months ago
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Cissi *********
@David ********
 they will actually start with Australia as a pilot project and continue to add countries.
2 months ago
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David *********
@Cissi ********
 no the Thai people are ask all the time who they dislike its Indians and Americans
2 months ago
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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.
2 months ago
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Cissi *********
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Sam **********
@David ********
 well the princess went to school in the US
2 months ago
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David *********
@Sam *********
well there is a lot of princesses in America lol
2 months ago
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David *********
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Todd *********
@Ricky *******
 it’s less than half of countries
2 months ago
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Ricky ********
@Todd ********
 a lot of conflicting info . Il wait and hopefully get all proper info before my trip in january .
2 months ago
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Ricky ********
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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?
2 months ago
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Peter ****************
@Craig ******
😜
2 months ago
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Peter ****************
Same bul* as your country already do for years.
2 months ago
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Craig *******
@Peter ***************
 not my country but nice try
2 months ago
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Craig *******
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Brian ********
@Craig ******
It's not just the EU, it is already in place in many countries including USA
2 months ago
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Łukasz *********
@Craig ******
 It's what people from visa-free countries have to do to fly to the US.
2 months ago
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Craig *******
@Łukasz ********
 well lucky I don't go there ,never had to do for anywhere I've flown before
2 months ago
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Arguro **********
@Łukasz ********
 exactly
2 months ago
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Arguro **********
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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
2 months ago
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Randy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anton Škápiksome people like me don’t plan months ahead before travel. It is spur of the moment. Affluent single people that is.
2 months ago
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Jack ****************
@Randy *****
 so sad for you
2 months ago
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Randy ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jack ***************
?? Sad for being affluent, jet setting from country to country, city to city? Please !
2 months ago
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Sheen ************
@Randy *****
 arrogance is not attractive
2 months ago
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Sheen ************
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Anton ********
@Randy *****
 confirmation should arrive in 24hours
2 months ago
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Anton ********
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Stuart *********
At this point nothing is official. It’s just purely press speculation. It may happen come December but it may not.
2 months ago
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Stuart *********
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