Dear readers,
Many questions arise regarding this new phenomenon. Thailand blog stated that a health certificate was required from someone on Koh Samui, to be drawn up by a hospital and not by a doctor in a clinic. This would involve blood pressure, X-ray of the lungs for TB, urine check (for drugs?), blood check for HIV.
Should this health declaration also cover current or existing ailments or conditions, such as heart, cancer, etc., or should the hospital declare that the patient's further health is in order? The key question is, what will Immigration do if something is wrong with you? Do you have to demonstrate that you are under treatment, that you have sufficient funds to pay for the necessary treatments and that you always evaluate this? Demonstrate that you have an adequate health insurance policy?
This seems like a slippery slope that Immigration is on and gives uncertainties for the time being, should you scratch if you have something wrong that threatens Thai Public Health?
Does the statement have to be submitted to Immigration with every action? Then every 90 days to a hospital and the fuss around it? Not healthy an X-Ray every 90 days.
I read as a motivation for requesting this statement that Thailand does not want to be hunted for health care costs by foreigners, meaning those who do not have a health insurance policy or sufficient funds to pay for the necessary care? Or should the conclusion be that you will have to leave, if not, then Thailand might have to pay for the healthcare costs of foreigners? Or don't leave, then you wonder why that explanation is being asked?
Many questions may arise, but at least as important, who has answers to these questions or has experience with regard to this health declaration?
Nobody cares about ambiguity.
Please comment so that there is more clarity.
Thanks in advance.
Nico B
I'm afraid no one really knows the motivations of that particular Immigration office. As a requirement, it is not specified in the Immigration Act with regard to extending the stay, and other regions do not apply this. I keep it that this is another local decision that benefits someone because that is the basis of a lot of things in Thailand. Ping pong between immigration and the local doctors/hospitals?. It's certainly not policy. The only time as far as I know that such a statement must be submitted is when applying for an OA visa, and that is outside Thailand. The entrant rightly wonders what the consequences could be. The answers lie with Immigration on Samui and I doubt they know it themselves. I don't think Immigration employs any doctors who could deny you an extension or anything based on not really defined rules.
When I asked for my Thai driver's license I had to hand in a health certificate. It was mainly about infectious diseases; I can imagine that.
The clinic down the street here still has that doctor with special eyes: he judged my position through a stone wall. I think that's great; also that the forms signed by him were already waiting for the assistants. For that reason I can imagine a note from the hospital.
But having a policeman assess my condition seems strong to me; the person is not trained for that and I wonder if he understands the numbers and the Latin words. I share the opinion of others that someone is once again too important, maybe he got a button on his nice jacket, and is coming up with something. Whether his back pocket is empty and would like to find some content for it…..
This is Thailand; grin and bear it.
When applying for or renewing a driver's license, a note from the doctor (50 baht) was sufficient.
At my last renewal, that note was not even necessary. I got it from an "expensive" doctor
(200 baht) but then my blood pressure was also measured 🙂 It was houtain, if not necessary, pushed aside.
But the health declaration, which Samui immigration is now asking for, is a different story. It has to be official
be prepared by a hospital. I don't know who else checks or assesses that at immigration.
Not many cases are known yet. But it is becoming increasingly difficult for us.
On the list of requirements from Samui immigration for an extension of stay, point 8 states Medical Certificate (hospital only valid for 7 days). It doesn't say it has to be the Government hospital. Here an extensive test is taken that Thais have to do when they change jobs (requirement of the employer). It is not surprising that people who came from Koh Phangan were sent to this hospital as it is within walking distance of Samui immigration. The four private hospitals on Samui also issue a medical certificate, eg Bandon hospital, which is no longer a form with some questions regarding infectious diseases, truthfully completed and signed by a doctor.
Since I don't have to do my extension of stay until next month, I don't know if this certificate is sufficient.
What surprised me was that I heard in my 90 day notification that an extension of stay cannot be requested more than 7 days before the end. I really thought this was 30 days. Someone who was standing next to me with the entire paper business had bad luck, not coming back more than 7 days before the end.
With the 90-day notification, or should I say was?, that you can make that notification 15 days early or 7 days later. The advice in Maptaphut/Rayong is not to let it get to those last 7 days.
What I don't know is whether those 15 days are working days or days. Several times I have successfully made use of the early notification within the margin of these 15 days, such as most recently in May.
The annual extension may be 30 (working?) days early, the extension will then continue to follow the soon to expire date.
Renévan, keep us posted on the events of your annual renewal next month.
Nico B
It's always days. No working days.
Thanks Ronny, clear, just to be sure I had been holding on for days and not working days.
Nico B
Dear Ronnie,
As agreed a few days ago, I would update you on my experience at Immigration Sakon Nakhon.
Yesterday, July 12, I went with my Thai wife for my year extension.
What my wife said earlier that an application within 30 days before the due date will cost me a fine has been confirmed.
An application that is less than 30 days before the expiration date of an extension will be considered overstay by Immigration Sakon Nakhon. A 500 baht fine must be paid for each overstay day.
What surprised me was that the chief Immigration officer tried to make it clear to me that if I was caught for this overstay by the police on the street, I could run the risk of being deported from the country with all the consequences that would entail.
What I should mention is that this senior officer is a good acquaintance of ours. We also have contact with each other on LINE. Despite!!
I would say call Immigration Sakon Nakhon and try to get him on the phone.
Maybe you will get more clarity.
Looks like every Immigration Office in Thailand try to set their own rules. Further discussion about this is impossible.
Acceptance is the best solution for a farang.
That's not rules, that's cheating.
You cannot have an overstay if your period of stay has not yet expired.
That good acquaintance of yours is not a chief officer but a chief swindler…
I will definitely look into this further as I have a very hard time believing this
I have been in Phuket for 11 years and renew work permit and visa every year, last year I had to give a copy of a blood test (via my lawyer) that checked whether you have HIV or siphylis. I was therefore furious with my lawyer asking that and asked her if we should not pass on the sex frequency / week. I am sure that in Thailand there are more women, men and katoys walking around with venereal diseases oh HIV than foreigners who work here and fill the tax box.
This was the first time in 11 years, this year I expected the same, but nothing was asked and extended as usual, I don't know what idiot came up with this brilliant idea last year.
Have been working in Bangkok for 10 years now and for the last three years a health certificate, incl. the result of a blood test (for AIDS) is required to obtain a work permit. Also available on the website of the Ministry of Employment. At Immigration in Bangkok they have never asked if I extend my visa.
Here in Nakhon Phanom, this statement has been mandatory for at least 2 years for visa extensions.
No problem at the state hospital, blood pressure, pulse, weight and height.
no doctor seen is simply provided at the counter with the necessary stamps.
costs THB 150.00
No problems with the immigration police.
It turns out that they all more or less determine for themselves how they apply the rules.
have a nice day
Blood pressure, pulse, weight and height, if it were to stay there, it would be a bit better, then the question is meaningful, but that is not what this is about.
It is also reported that it involves blood pressure, x-ray of the lungs for TB, urine check (for drugs?), blood check for HIV.
Tooske, was your last visa extension recently? Hope it stays that way in Nakhon Phanom.
Nico B
The last one was at the beginning of May, it can take another year.
Previously, when I came to the IMG here in Chiangmai for the first few years, a so-called health certificate was required.
Didn't mean much.
In the morning I first went to the CM Ram hospital.
At the time, I had high blood pressure.
And suddenly after a few years it was no longer necessary at the IMG , the then mandatory health statement was suddenly abolished .
Would it suddenly come back again , so what .
Then I am no longer welcome in Thailand due to being overweight and still having high blood pressure.
Here in the land of smiles, let them pay more attention to reckless driving in traffic, resulting in many accidents.
I think the costs in Thailand are caused by kamikaze pilots on mopeds and SUVs, not to mention the large number of alcoholics.
Bigger than that one farang from Holland or Belgium living here on retirement.
I have visited lamphun governments hospital many times with my father in law .
And when I asked my husband why those other Thais were there in the room.
Was the answer usually excessive alcohol use over the years , traffic accident .
Or contracted cancer as a farmer by frequently walking around with the poison syringe.
I can see it coming that I will be kicked out of Thailand on the basis of high blood pressure.
But Thailand is the country of corruption, so if you want to stay here, find a doctor who, for some extra tea money, will give you a health certificate as for a perfectly healthy young guy.
But don't worry first.
It is again the umpteenth rumors, or once again a hot air balloon is released that quickly loses height.
Anyway, I'm not worried anymore.
Ask the question , if all farangs and farang tourists would ever turn their backs on Thailand , what would be left of this country economically ???
Just think about that .
Jan Beute.
Just for your information, an English acquaintance living here visited the immigration in Bung Kan last week
this with the aim of extending his retirement for another year, this happened without any problems, there was
only the foreigner information form shown for completion, which was filled in by the police officer on duty after answering, only self-signing, great service.