@London ****

No such thing as official details in Thailand - ever. But at one point (hopefully soon), there will be different versions of details popping up on various channels (like consulates).

@E. *****************

The SMART visa unit of the Board of Ivestment BOI is working on this. Contact them. I did. They are trying to be very helpful, and they fully understand the need for this initiative. But they won't have the last say on it.

Either what

@Bra****

says, or, on a more optimistic note, it may be launched some time this month. There is supposed to be a new visa category referred to as LTR, with 4 sub-categories. One of which is designed for "Work-From-Thailand Professional (remote worker)". The exact requirements are not known yet. There will likely be requirements such as proven minimum earnings, work experience and (bad news for many remote workers) a contract with reputable (big) companies. At least that is what the SMART visa unit of the Board of Investment BOI told me.

Get a new tourist visa before you come back and all will be fine. Even entering on visa exemption would probably be fine.

Costa Rican passport holders are not (yet) eligible for electronic visa. Thus, they would need to go to the nearest embassy or consulate to get a visa. It would seem that the Royal Thai Consulate in Costa Rica is no longer allowed to issue visa, though. They state on their website ( that the nearest embassy to do so would be in Santiago de Chile. What a mess.

No visa exemption of regular passport holders of Costa Rica either. Seems like quite a hassle to be coming to Thailand in this case.

@Maxim **********

You don’t provide any sources to your claims. I in turn will give you an additional, more reputable one. Long story short: Yes … home isolation is possible now. IF IF IF the authorities (and doctors) decide one is eligible for it and meets the requirements - I.e. milder symptoms AND a suitable “home” to isolate in. Even in home isolation they will regularly check and you and provide you with medication and food. What you are not allowed to is just shut up about it and quietly crawl into an hotel room or similar. That is the law. Though I am sure quite some people risk that given a rather slim likelihood of being caught. That is everyone’s individual choice. Just don’t spread unsupported false information.

@Helen ************

Sorry. Wasn’t my intend to scare you or anyone. Just wanted to challenge what Maxim commented before (about being allowed to ride covid out without reporting that to officials), which I believe is not correct.

@Maxim **********

Source? Since when? Before everyone who tested positive (even with a self taken ATK test) was required to inform the officials under penalty of up to 40,000 baht or imprisonment.

„To undergo home isolation, those who test positive must still report their positive ATK result to Thai health officials. Patients must consult with a doctor to determine if they are eligible for home isolation. Those who have mild to no symptoms with living space where they can isolate from others should be able to isolate at home.“

„Those who refuse to quarantine or get treatment for Covid-19 under the government’s guidelines can face a penalty of up to two years in jail and an up to 40,000 baht fine.“

I sympathize with you. You got caught in the ill-communicated, permanently and always-last minute changing and never coherent Thai immigration mess. Add extra bad luck to this with you getting covid.

I am not really sure what to advise in this special case / what the best course of action is. Usually, overstay is never a desirable option.

Then again, the question is: Did you notify the officials when you tested positive for COVID? I am asking, as not doing so is illegal in Thailand and may come at additional problems and fines.

If you did report covid: I would go to immigration now and settle it.

If not, one could consider sitting it out on overstay.

I hope someone can give you more helpful advise. Maybe

@Stu***

?