We're almost there (but not quite yet...)
A few days ago I wrote about the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ). I have now taken some steps again and given the many reactions to my contribution, I think it would be good to share my further experiences with you.
If you have not read it, you can still do so by clicking on
The procedure goes smoothly. Late Monday morning I saw that my Certificate of Entry (CoE) application – which I had sent out Sunday afternoon – was 'pre-approved' and I took the next step - 'uploading' a ticket and a booking confirmation from could make an ASQ hotel. Incidentally, you will not receive an e-mail message of this provisional approval, but you must check it yourself with the assigned code number.
In the next phase, it seemed logical to me to book a ticket first and only then to book a hotel. The choice of flights is limited, often there are not daily flights, so you cannot simply assume a certain arrival date to start booking a hotel.
In the meantime I had already looked at tickets. My aim was to fly on Saturday December 12, with a strong preference for premium economy as I was used to with EVA Air. That was only possible on Saturday with Singapore Airlines, for just under 1500 euros - for a return ticket - and waiting more than 9 hours in Singapore. On Sunday it turned out to be possible with Lufthansa with a smooth transfer in Frankfurt, for a good 900 euros, incl. 2x 23 kg luggage.
With that, Monday the 14th was fixed as arrival day and I was able to book one of the 108 available hotels. Of course I had already done the necessary preliminary work via the websites I mentioned in the previous article. I had a few wishes: I wanted a balcony, a spacious room and payment and change/cancellation conditions that were acceptable to me. I also didn't want to lose more than 50.000 baht. The location of the hotel was less important to me; you can't leave the house anyway, so whether you're on Sukhumvit Road just around the corner from Nana Entertainment (like the Landmark hotel for example) or in a distant suburb doesn't make any difference.
Based on positive experiences of others shared via social media, and the subsequent excellent communication, I finally booked at the Chor Cher hotel in Samut Prakan, a reasonable distance from Suvarnabhumi. On 40 square meters and the accompanying balcony I will therefore have to last 15 nights. Should be OK!
My credit card details have been verified by the hotel and the amount due will be debited shortly before arrival.
Mind you, this is not a recommendation, just my choice. Whether that's a good one: I'll tell you later...
After the booking I received a written confirmation, which I 'uploaded' with my CoE application with the ticket. That was around half past nine on Thursday morning and the Embassy confirmed receipt by email. Around eight o'clock in the evening I received an email that my application had been approved, with a link to download the CoE. Done immediately, checked the content and there appeared to be a typo in the departure date: 2029 instead of 2020. Knowing that, with some bad luck, an official on arrival at Suvarnabhumi could cause problems about this, I immediately sent a message back with the request for correction. I think that in these weeks the Thai Embassy is working overtime, because despite the fact that it was in the evening, I had a new, improved version in my electronic mailbox within half an hour. All I can say is that this online process is well set up and works well.
Steps still to be taken: fit-to-fly certificate and the RT-PCR Covid test. That 'RT-PCR' is crucial, any test method other than that – such as the various rapid tests available – is not accepted. This test must take place within 72 hours before departure (from the country of origin, i.e. not from any connecting flight from another country).
I already had the reference to MediMare in reader reactions on this blog
(www.medimare.nl) and it turned out that I could go for both. Those Covid tests are taken between 9 and 11 a.m. and around 10 p.m. you will receive the results and, if negative, the required test certificate in English in your mailbox.
That certificate states – I expressly requested this – the time when the test was administered to you and that is also the start of those 72 hours. That already meant a line through my plan to go for the test on Thursday: I fly 3 days later at 10.55 am and that would leave a very tight margin: 5 minutes if I tested at the latest possible time - 11 am. become…. Friday then? And is it absolutely certain that I will get the test result that evening? Well, they couldn't actually give that absolute guarantee. It is true that in 99% of cases the result comes within 36 hours, but usually the same evening.
Well, I'm not sure yet. Friday morning at, say, 10 hours of testing, plus – possibly – 36 hours and then it is now Saturday evening at 10 am. Then I start to squeeze it anyway, knowing that I won't get on the plane on Sunday morning without the test certificate. Suppose I'm in that 1% where it doesn't work, can I still reach someone?
I'm sure there are readers who have already come across this and can point me to other possibilities. What are your experiences on this point?
Dear Cornelius,
If all goes well, I will also be in the same hotel at that time.
I have chosen to fly on Friday and then take the Covid Test on Wednesday, then I will have a statement to the hotel within 72 hours on arrival. Hopefully everything goes smoothly enough..
I have to leave some time to extend my extension of stay, because it is valid until December 27. I will be in the hotel from 5th Dec to 20th Dec.
Maybe we'll meet there.
You have to stay in the hotel, but I think you can go to the gym after a while.
And the rooms have a balcony, so you can also sit outside.
The hotel where I stayed the GYM was closed and you were allowed to step around the pool but not swim in it.
Regarding the PCR test, I had myself tested at 2 places to be sure to receive the result on time.
That last one is a great idea, Fred. That indeed reduces the risk of things going wrong.
Yes, after the first negative test you will be 'vented', indeed. Maybe we'll see each other there! I plan to share my experiences there on the blog as well.
Boy what a mess. Then I'll just wait a few months until I've had the vaccine and maybe enter the country without quarantine.
Are there any Belgians who have experience with this procedure of applying for a CoE, obtaining Fit to Fly and having a Covid test done?
I have gone through the entire procedure. I had the PCR test done at the Antwerp Tropical Institute and another one at Brussels Airport to be sure. UZ Gent also conducts tests in its travel clinic. I had all results within 24 hours.
Fit to Fly certificate means nothing. You can download it (the embassy even forwarded it to me) and have it completed by your doctor. It is simply a statement dated and signed by the doctor stating that you are fit to fly.
Came myself with a NON IMM O (am married).
The test may only be taken 72 hours before departure. For example, if you leave on a Thursday at 11 a.m., you can have yourself tested on Monday from 11 a.m.
Now that's how it was when I went through it all and that was late September early October. Currently it changes almost daily.
Useful information, thank you.
Can you tell us a little more about the insurance that should cover $100000 and with an explicit mention that covid-19 is covered? Which society? How much (per year or month)?
Thanks in advance.
I'm in quarantine now, day 4 in Western premier holel at Nana Plaza, what you say doesn't matter, you can't leave anyway.
cost me 35000 bath, food is ok and good internet.
covid test done at medimare Amsterdam you can also go there on Saturday between 10 and 11, Saturday evening already results, fit to fly Monday morning, fly in the afternoon.
if you want to be sure of your flight, fly with Emirates via Dubai almost every day, fly on to Hong Kong, 1024 euros.
everything straight forward…
good luck everyone
Can the test result (certificate) be a scanned copy that they send to you by email, or must it be an original document (original signature and stamp etc)?
scanned ok
Good clear story, but I still miss something about the Covid insurance. How did that go?
I have submitted an English statement from the Silver Cross. It does not mention maximum amounts, but it is explicitly stated that Covid cover is included. That statement was accepted without any problem by the Embassy when assessing the application for the CoE.
Circle (underline or indicate with arrows) the essential words of some documents, this can save time.
The embassy may have approved the CoE even though the 100,000 concerning covid was not mentioned, but what happens at the check-in counter???
Is there perhaps something along the lines of “unlimited” coverage? Circle relevant text!
Ohra listed Unlimited for Covid-19
Dear Cornelius,
At the moment I am also in the Netherlands with my girlfriend.
I had booked two return tickets Bangkok-Amsterdam with KLM, our return date to Bangkok is 02-01-2021. I want to apply in December to return with my girlfriend and then stay together in a quarantine hotel, then I will Of course I also have to pay for my girlfriend, where it is otherwise free for Thai.
Do you know if I can just use those tickets and if I have to do the application at the embassy for each of us apart. And is a statement from the health insurance still required.
Regards,
According to
“Together with girlfriend…”
If you cannot provide proof of marriage, you will have to take 2 separate rooms…
Theo, you will of course be able to use an existing ticket, KLM is on the list of permitted airlines. In the 2nd phase of applying for the CeO, you must enter your travel details and digitally enclose your ticket. Concerning medical expenses: in the 1st phase of the CoE application, you must prove the requested insurance coverage.
And yes, as Stef says: without proof of marriage you are not allowed to share the same room …….
KLM only flies repatriation flights I read on the website of the embassy and is therefore not available for non-Thai. The companies that have permission are listed on the site, KLM is not listed.
KLM does fly to Bangkok every day, so I think you can also use KLM, but I will ask at the embassy.
You can only book KLM through the Thai embassy. If you send them an e-mail you will be put on the list and you will receive instructions on how to purchase the ticket.
I'm flying myself (I'm farang) next Friday with KLM to Bangkok. This flight could not be booked via KLM reservations and it was not available on the internet either.
Why would you book with KLM with only 2 passenger flights via the embassy per month? KLM does not have permission from the airport authorities in Thailand and even if they fly daily with cargo, you are still not allowed to fly. With Lufthansa or Swiss you can go to Bangkok every day and it costs a few extra hours, but you can leave from Amsterdam with a stopover and you will save a lot of money because I looked at various dates and an economy ticket from Amsterdam one way to Bangkok is you lost about 230 euros. Either you take Emirates or another one, you can fly every day and then limit yourself to KLM with only 2 flights per month and then the risk of a Covid infection on the plane or before and after because the Thai passengers in these repatriation flights do not require a Covid test. If you get an infection during this flight or before and after, you will lose your stay in your hotel and the money you pay for it. And I read that some insurance companies, AXA, do not reimburse your stay if you have no symptoms of a Covid infection but you are admitted, well then it can be a high bill that you have to pay yourself. I heard from the GGD that you can still test positive 6 to 8 weeks after infection and this can mean that you stay in a hospital for that long, at your own expense if you have no or almost no symptoms and that is the case with the majority of the infections.
KLM is on the list of permitted airlines. See
https://thaiembassy.ch/files_upload/editor_upload/VISA/1604497641_list-semi-commercial-flights-4-nov-2020.pdf
Yes, but the Dutch embassy does not mention them; they do not fly passengers from Amsterdam to Bangkok except for the 2 monthly repatriation flights. You can view it on the KLM website because no bookings to Thailand are possible until January 2021. I think it plays a role in the fact that the cargo flights are profitable and that, given the current situation, KLM expects that there will be little interest from passengers, simply a commercial consideration of 2 things, in which it plays a role in the fact that there is much less flying during the corona period and therefore the freight by air yields more than normal.
KLM does fly with passengers every day to Bangkok, said it with very little, I heard from a stewardess friend who flew to Bangkok last week, no repatriation flight, that there were only 5 passengers on the entire plane. My return scheduled for January 2 booking is also still open as a flight.
Thank you Cornelis I have also seen at a hotel that you can book two connecting rooms, you have to pay double anyway for 1 or two rooms.
I also initially wanted to book Chor Cher, but it was demanded that there should be a maximum of 72 hours between the PCR test and ARRIVAL at the hotel…. So not between the time of the PCR test result and departure from NL. If you didn't make it to 'their' for 72 hours, you had to do a new test immediately upon arrival: over 6000 baht.
They have since changed that. It is stated in the booking conditions I received with my confirmation
'
**The Covid-19 test must be done within 3 days or 72 hrs before departure to Bangkok. These 72 hrs. are counted by the testing date, not the result reporting date. For example, if your departure date is 8th August, the test should be taken on 5th August. If any dispute on this or doctor asking for a new test before check-in, there will be an extra charge of THB 5,990 per person.
It also seems logical to me that those 72 hours start at the time of testing, because the test result - whenever it comes - can only confirm that you were negative at the time of the test. You could be infected a few hours later, in theory.
Hey Steve,
I also booked with Chor Cher today and have the same text as Cornelis for the PCR test, so 72 hours before departure to Bangkok.
So it won't be that fast.
Groet
Ferdinand
Okido, then that was edited by Chor Cher. It is strange that they did not tell me, despite the fact that I explicitly asked to adjust this in accordance with the rules of the Thai government. Unfortunately, I did not receive a response to that email…
My PCR test at Medimare arrived the same evening (it doesn't say RT-PCR but PCR. That's okay, though. I received the FtF immediately when I took the test.
Then the stay in quarantine:
Most of the food is quite bland in my hotel (which I won't name - in the 40.000 baht category...) almost exclusively Thai food and it is almost completely cooled by the time it is delivered to your door. Rarely eat vegetables.
Sometimes fries, but they are thin, limp, cooled down, tasteless, no salt to polish up the taste.
Usually rice, but in the well-known Thai way: plain white rice. I wish I had brought some bags with sauces from the Netherlands (must be prepared in the kettle)… and a few cans of vegetables. Plus a knife to peel apples. Own cutlery is also recommended if you don't always want to eat with silly plastic cutlery (probably will be fine in the more expensive hotels).
Rooms fine, staff helpful and friendly, but for the food a 5 on a scale of 10.
Thanks, Stef, for the reassurance about the test!
I read that in some hotels you can ask to place a microwave (ehh… microwave), if it was not already part of the inventory.
I am now lowering my rating for food from a previous 5 to a 3 or 4.
Tonight, dry rice and a container of watery gravy with something called pork.
Unfortunately, these were just bits of pork skin and a piece of bone. I wouldn't want to give it to my dog (who I don't have overignes) yet! It may be similar to the food in a Thai prison.
The picture on the menu also showed pieces of broccoli, but they were also missing.
Just an insult!
Now I rarely get angry, but today I do. Promptly I was given another choice, for me about the only item on this hotel's menu that is acceptable.
I understand your displeasure. Those meals should be something to look forward to during solitary confinement.
Of course I know if the moderator allows that, but it seems to me that those looking for an ASQ hotel would like to know which hotel this concerns.
Correction: I don't know, of course... etc.
Hi stef i think we are in the same hotel.I think two hotels have the same menu. Try calling room 7314.
Rob
I just arrived in the cheapest ASQ hotel there was, the Cotai Luxury Design Hotel.
Flight was with Etihad, which goes almost every day and is incredibly cheap (under 500 euros) with a short stopover in Abu Dhabi.
Great flight and because the plane was so empty we had our own line available per original so stretch out and sleep. Good service and the food was also ok. Then wait 3 hours and then to Bangkok.
That flight only had 15 people where it is normally 150 or so.
Really a sad sight but nice to sleep on a row of 4 chairs.
When you arrive in Bangkok, you will be personally accompanied and if your papers are in order, everything will go very smoothly, even more smoothly than before with its long waiting times. You will be outside again within 30 minutes and will be met by a driver who will take you to your hotel and depending on the price, the quality is also the same.
So in a cheap hotel the internet connection will not be too fast as is the case with me and the same goes for the meals.
But I compare it to a stay in a luxury prison and then it is bearable.
A requirement is that your papers are in order. So CoE, PCr test and Fit to Fly statement are important as well as your insurance statement in which the word COVID-19 must certainly appear, otherwise it will really be refused. The amount of $100.000 or equivalent was also considered important.
And I do not understand some complainers that their Dutch insurance does not issue this. Go immediately to a Thai insurer (eg, AXA) who insures you for a low amount and the statement is ready for you with all important statements (in CAPITAL LETTERS)
Tickets are also widely available, albeit with a stopover. I think Etihad flies almost every day and the prices are very competitive.
So in my opinion some handlers were difficult about it. the amount.
If someone wants a telephone number of a good insurer and not too expensive, he should call or email AXA, possibly you can also email me.
Good luck!
As for that Thai insurance, for an over-100.000s who plans to stay in TH for at least half a year, a policy that covers at least USD XNUMX during that time won't be a bargain either – plus you have to bring your Dutch health insurance are already (practically unlimited) covered.
My rather extensive statement from the Silver Cross is accepted by the Embassy problem for the CoE.
Forgot to mention that that statement also does not mention any amounts, but it does explicitly state that the Covid risk is included in the cover.
Problem = problem-free, of course…..
you write that everything goes smoothly and that you are already in tax to ASQ hotel within 30 minutes. Is your visa and 90 days of admission already in your passport or will the stamp only be added when you have successfully completed the quarantine?
if you still want to be sure with mention of Covid-19 and I lost the amount at AXA for 3 months in total. And ok the embassy accepts that no amount is shown but is now in quarantine and heard asking for the amount at every counter,
All that bullshit and you're done with a simple AXA statement
Received stamps immediately
John, when you enter Thailand you simply go through Immigration at the airport and there you also get your entry stamp in your passport.
Thanks for this information. My O visa expires when I am in Quarantine. I therefore applied for an OA visa. This Friday I have an appointment at the Thai embassy. If everything is in order, I will apply for my c0e. My doctor is willing to complete the Fit To Fly certificate which I downloaded from Thaiest.com. My question is: Do the authorities accept this test? Or do I have to go to Medimare for that too?
I just received an OA visa myself. I've got all the papers ready and I'm leaving for Thailand next week.
Yes, your GP can complete the health declaration. However, it must be legalized. Just like the extract from the birth register, the personal register and the certificate of good conduct.
You also need a balance statement from your bank for the OA visa. The Thai embassy wants an original signature, while Dutch banks believe that a pre-printed signature is also legally valid. I solved that by also legalizing the balance statement from the bank. Legalized documents are the gold standard in diplomatic traffic, so they are accepted by the embassy without further ado.
For your OA visa, you also need Thai (Dutch is not accepted) health insurance with a minimum annual cover of THB 440000. You can find the permitted insurance policies at http://longstay.tgia.org/ . I have taken out one myself with LMG with a deductible of THB 200000 per event and exclusion of pre-existing conditions. This insurance is of no use to me at all, but on the other hand it only costs THB 6000 per year. I just see this amount as an extra cost for the visa.
I have outsourced the visa application and legalization to VisumPro.nl, which I can highly recommend. (I used Visum.nl alias CIBT four years ago, but they pimp their costs too much.) If you are not very well versed in this world, you should not want to do all those legalizations yourself.
In the end it took me 4 weeks to get this visa. That is not so much about the time at the embassy, but about arranging all documents and Thai health insurance. From your post I estimate that you underestimate what is involved in that OA visa. It took me more time four years ago, but I didn't know the way back then.
The OA visa costs EUR 175. I have to add about EUR 700 for all legalization stamps, the insurance and the costs of VisumPro.nl.
For the Certificate of Entry you also need a COVID insurance that covers USD 100000. My Dutch insurance did not want to issue a statement because Thailand is orange. So I also took out that insurance in Thailand via http://covid19.tgia.org/ . Costs THB 23040 for half a year.
I fly directly with the KL815 from AMS to BKK. You can only book that flight through the Thai embassy, not directly with KLM. A direct flight is so nice in these times.
From your post I estimate that you underestimate what it takes to apply for the OA visa. There is a lot more to this than a tourist visa. If you want additional information, you can contact me. Text your e-mail address to my Thai phone number +66-6-18723010 (I prefer not to leave my Dutch contact info public).
Frits, John asks about the fit-to-fly certificate, and that does not need to be legalized. And indeed, as you write, the medical statement for the OA visa does.
Frits, You state: “For your OA visa, you also need a Thai (Dutch is not accepted) health insurance with a minimum annual cover of THB 440000.”
Strange, for the first year a normal expat insurance (your Dutch or international insurance - so a non-Thai insurance) is sufficient. Only when extending after 1 year in Thailand, you are obliged to take out a Thai insurer.
My international insurance was sufficient for my OA at the Thai Embassy in The Hague.
Before I applied for the visa I called the embassy. From them I then understood that Thai insurance was necessary. Perhaps this answer is also the result of how I formulated my question exactly. Their website says “Apllicant may consider buying a Thai health insurance online at longstay.tgia.org”, so I actually assumed I wouldn't get out of it.
Last December I bumped my nose in Chaeng Wattana when extending my previous OA visa. At that time I had with me statements in English from both my Dutch travel insurance and my Dutch health insurance. They were not accepted. They then showed me a document that explicitly stated that the insurance had to be taken out via longstay.tgia.org.
With the 6000 THB/year LMG insurance via http://longstay.tgia.org/ At least now I have insurance that won't get me anywhere. Applying for this insurance was done via e-mail and took 2.5 weeks.
Thank you Frits for your detailed response. A huge support. Could I ask you something else?
My email address is: [email protected] best regards, John
John, I sent you an email. Check your spam box.
i fly saturday nov 21 with qatar air year return 640 euros
Dear, I read that you booked at Chor Cher in Samut Prakan Bangkok. Is this one of the hotels listed on the “Alternative State Quarantine” list? Smack Patrick.
Patrick: Yes, that hitel is in the list, along with 107 others. Otherwise, the Thai Embassy would not accept the booking for the Certificate of Entry either. Haven't found that list yet? The references to that list and other relevant websites can be found in my previous article about the ASQ:
https://www.thailandblog.nl/reizen/inreisvoorwaarden-covid-19/alternative-state-quarantine-asq-waar/
By the way, this is the hotel's website: https://chorcher.com/
what a hassle to book a holiday in Thailand for a lot of money and quarantine for 14 days when I only want to spend 4 weeks in Thailand. I can wait a while. But nice to read the information about this. Nice for people who want to stay in Thailand for half a year that there is a possibility. Then 14 days of quarantine is still an option. Not really an option for the average low budget traveler. I'm thinking about Schiermonnikoog there are no infections yet and it's much cheaper. Haha.
I think it's so wonderful to read that the first pioneers with a non-O are successfully quarantined. It feels very positive that there is a little bit of progress in the matter and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I don't like the procedure and especially the quarantine requirement, so I will wait until early 2021. Let's see if it gets even better 🙂 But I'm very happy with all the positive news.
Hello everyone,
Maybe a stupid question, but don't you have room service in your room in your quarantine hotel where you can order a few things for a fee (and pay extra)? Everyone wants to grab a beer once in a while or if the food is too bad order something else….
Ruudje, that beer doesn't make sense in any case, unfortunately. No alcohol allowed during quarantine. However, it is possible at many hotels to have groceries done at a nearby 7/11.
Sorry, typo: 'sentence' = is there
Alcohol absolutely forbidden during your quarantine. Junks have been notified.
No booze, no women – for some it will really feel like a prison…