The Thai government is taking measures to prevent the spread of the corona virus. Below you can read the answers to the most frequently asked questions about these measures. Also read the travel advice for Thailand
Update: June 2, 2020
Help stranded travelers
Are you currently in Thailand and need help? Then call +31 247 247 247 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). NB. Due to busy times on the phone, the waiting time can increase.
What is the current situation in Thailand?
An emergency ordinance was introduced on March 25, 2020, which will provisionally apply until June 30, 2020. Most places have now reopened, including shops, restaurants and parks. Open locations have taken measures to comply with government regulations. For example, you may be asked to register when entering a shopping center or supermarket. In addition, there is a curfew, which means that you are expected to stay indoors between 23:00 PM and 3:00 AM, with exceptions. Ignoring the curfew can result in a large fine or imprisonment.
Thailand has extended the closure of all borders to inbound travelers until June 30. Travel to or via Thailand is not possible, except for people with Thai nationality and people with professions in the transport sector such as pilots. For persons who can travel into Thailand, a 'fit to fly' statement is required.
Foreigners with a work permit for Thailand are allowed to enter the country, but keep in mind that you must be in state quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Contact the Thai Embassy in The Hague for information.
It is possible to enter and exit Phuket by land and water. It is not yet possible to travel in and out of Phuket via the airport. Prior to entering or leaving Phuket you must reserve a time slot, see here for more information. If you are traveling from Phuket to Bangkok, there are no quarantine measures that you must comply with upon arrival in Bangkok. Please note that if you are traveling to Phuket from Bangkok, you will need to self-quarantine for 14 days. More information about entering and leaving Phuket and the province-bound arrival measures can be found here.
Declaration of health
If you are in Thailand and you want to travel to Bangkok, you have not health certificate required.
Local measures
Several airports have reopened for domestic and international flights since May 1, 2020. Upon arrival, the local authorities may require you to be quarantined. For an up-to-date list of open airports and the conditions to be met upon arrival, we recommend that you read the following page keep an eye on it and contact your arrival airport.
Stay Informed
It is important to keep abreast of the latest developments through the media and local authorities. We recommend that you keep an eye on the following websites: PR Thai Government, Office of International Cooperation DDC MOPH, Tourism Authority of Thailand Newsroom and Civil Aviation Authority Thailand.
I am now in Thailand, do I have to return to the Netherlands?
No. But we do advise you to consider whether a longer stay in Thailand is necessary. KLM operates several flights a week to Amsterdam.
I want to return to the Netherlands, what should I do?
You already have a ticket for the return journey
Please contact your airline even if your flight has been cancelled. Perhaps your airline can offer an alternative. It's very busy, but be patient and keep trying.
You do not yet have a ticket for the return journey
Book a ticket for a flight to the Netherlands. There are fewer flights, but it is still possible to fly from Bangkok to Amsterdam. KLM still flies directly, for an overview of flights see the KLM website. Lufthansa and Qatar Airways offer daily flights with connections. NB! Tickets can be expensive.
Read the latest information about changes in air traffic on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) English website.
I'm not in Bangkok
Get to Bangkok as soon as possible, from where almost all international flights depart. Please note that it may be more difficult to travel to the Thai capital from your location due to the corona measures. Showing a valid flight ticket makes it possible to travel overland to Bangkok.
I live in Thailand but am abroad. Can I still travel?
Thailand has closed all borders to inbound travelers at least until June 30, except for people of Thai nationality and those with professions in the transport sector such as pilots.
Foreigners with a work permit for Thailand are allowed to enter the country, but keep in mind that you must be in state quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Please contact the Thai embassy in the country where you currently reside for information on the procedure and documents you will need.
Do you have questions about the conditions you must meet in order to travel to Thailand? Then call the International Office of the Department of Disease Control (OICDDC) of the Thai Ministry of Health: +66 9-6847-8209. The English-language helpline is available daily from 08:00 to 20:00 local time (GMT+07.00).
I have a connecting flight in Bangkok. Can I still transfer in Bangkok?
No. The previous temporary exception for transit travelers has expired.
Will there be a repatriation flight?
As long as it is still possible to travel with regular flights from Bangkok to the Netherlands, it is advisable to use this. Please contact your travel organization or airline. A repatriation flight is not an option at the moment.
Can I join a flight from another EU country?
Usually, repatriation flights from other EU countries are primarily intended for the citizens of that country. If there are places left, they can be filled by EU citizens. If places are available, this will be announced on the Facebook page of the Dutch Embassy in Thailand.
Can I still extend or apply for a visa or passport?
(Tourist) visa
A visa amnesty was issued on 9 April by the Thai immigration authorities. Do you have a visa that expires after March 26, then it will be automatically extended until July 31. This applies to all visa types and also the 90-day notice. You do not need to go to the immigration office for this extension and the Covid-19 visa support letter from the embassy is also no longer necessary.
The main points of the amnesty scheme are:
- Foreigners who have permanent Thai residency status and are now outside Thailand can enter Thailand even if their period outside Thailand is longer than a year.
- Foreigners whose visa expires after March 26, 2020 will receive an automatic visa extension until July 31, 2020. This includes all types of visas. For foreigners who are subject to the 90-day reporting obligation, which expires after March 26, the deadline will also be extended to July 31, 2020.
- Foreigners with a border pass [neighbouring countries] who entered before March 23, 2020 will automatically receive a visa extension until the land border reopens. Once the land border reopens, they must leave within 7 days.
- Until July 31, it is not necessary to extend your visa in person at a local immigration office.
Apply for (emergency) passport
The embassy remains available for Dutch people in acute need:
a. if your passport expires,
b. if you need a new (emergency) passport to apply for a residence permit,
c. if you cannot postpone your trip for medical or humanitarian reasons.
The other non-urgent consular services have been partially resumed from 2 June, see here for more information.
How can I stay informed of further developments?
Stay informed via the Facebook page of the Dutch Embassy in Thailand.
All Dutch citizens in Thailand are requested to register via the Foreign Affairs Information Service.
When you are in the country, choose the option 'Apply + register at the embassy'. You can update your contact details from the same page.
Do not forget to deregister when you have left the country. You thereby help the Dutch embassies enormously to keep the database of Dutch nationals abroad up to date.
Is there anything else I need to do when I return to the Netherlands?
Don't forget to unsubscribe from the Foreign Affairs Information Service and/or Special Assistance Abroad as soon as you have left the country. You help to keep the file of Dutch people abroad up to date.
How can you unsubscribe from Special Assistance Abroad? Call 024 7247 247 (or +31 247 247 247 from abroad). You cannot unsubscribe yourself from the services of Special Assistance Abroad via the website.
You can register yourself for the Information Service unsubscribe.
Also check the frequently asked questions about corona and traveling back to the Netherlands.
It seems that many of the things listed here have already expired. I now have an appointment at the German Embassy for next Tuesday for my income statement. My annual visa expires on June 11, but according to this article, only on July 31?
Year extension can simply continue to be extended as before, ie submit your application 30 (45) before the end of the year extension.
This extension until July 31 only concerns the periods of stay obtained with an entry, i.e. 30, 60 days for a Tourist Visa or Exemption. 90 days or one year for Non-immigrant visas.
There is no guarantee that you will still receive the annual extension on July 31. So don't take the risk and renew before June 11th.
Could this delay apply to non-immigrant visa holders currently outside Thailand? My extension itself expires in June.
Fear it, because your re-entry period also ends in June.
I am currently not aware of any rule that has been taken for people with annual extensions and who are currently abroad. I'm afraid you'll have to start from scratch.
But you never know, of course, that they will come up with something for that group somewhere, but I think that chance is small.
As for that extension until July 31.
I don't think you should really see that "extension" as an "extension" of the period of residence.
More like that when someone leaves Thailand before July 31, he / she will not be charged overstay for the period that his stay normally ended and July 31.
Fine… If nothing comes up, I will receive confirmation of my income tomorrow and on June 10th my annual entry at the immigration service of Hua Hin.
I've been trying to find a direct flight to Amsterdam via the klm site for 2 weeks now.
However, I only see a few and exclusively via (long) transfer in Paris.
@Sake
Search in English on the Thai KLM site under “single flight” to Amsterdam
https://www.klm.co.th/search/open-dates?connections=BKK:A%3EAMS:A&pax=1:0:0:0&cabinClass=ECONOMY&activeConnection=0
Flights between 17000 and 20000 Thb (from price )
Hi Sake,
Call the KLM office in Bangkok. Please note, you can only book a one-way ticket to Amsterdam
I am in the Netherlands. I still have a BKK-AMS ticket that has been canceled and in theory still valid until September or something like that, otherwise request a voucher. But yes, KLM does not allow it to be “given” to someone else.