Reader question: Thai girlfriend from Thailand to the Netherlands, Non-COVID-19 statement and Fit to Fly
Dear readers,
Hello, my name is Henk and I live in the Netherlands. My girlfriend Sue is Thai and has both a Thai and Dutch passport. She is currently staying in Chanthaburi, a 3,5-hour drive from Bangkok. This is for moving reasons.
She will return to the Netherlands on April 3. With a KLM flight. She is registered and registered at my home address in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands she does not have to be quarantined - at least now - and also not in home quarantine. because of her passport home address and the return here.
The question is whether she needs a Non-COVID-19 statement, at least not for the Netherlands at the moment. Perhaps a non-COVID-19 statement for the flight. Then it is also useful for entering / arriving in the Netherlands. Furthermore, she will certainly need a Fit-to-fly statement.
My unanswered question is, at what cost and where (Bangkok or Chanthabury or elsewhere nearby) can she obtain the fit-to-fly statement and the non-COVID-19 statement, bearing in mind that this is within the 72 hours standard must be done.
I look forward to your reply in time. Thank you for this.
Regards,
Hank and Sue
As far as I know – at the moment – a fit to fly certificate is not required in the situation described.
A non-Covid-19 statement is also not necessary because Thailand is on the list of safe countries.
Source: https://schengenvisum.info/negatieve-coronatest-verplicht-reizen-naar-nederland/
Currently, everyone coming to the Netherlands must provide a Covid test result
That is incorrect, there is an exception for travelers from safe countries.
Safe countries (with a low COVID-19 risk)
If you live in a country with a low COVID-19 risk, a safe country, you can travel to the Netherlands. There is no EU entry ban for this. It does not matter what nationality you have or what the purpose of your trip is.
No negative test result necessary
If you come from a country with a low COVID-19 risk, a safe country, you do not need to have a negative test result when you travel to the Netherlands.
Safe countries with low COVID-19 risk
Safe countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
If you live on 1 of the islands within the Kingdom, you are exempt from the EU entry ban. You do not need a negative test statement if you are traveling from 1 of the islands below:
Aruba;
Bonaire;
St Martin;
Saba; or
St. Eustatius.
Safe countries outside the European Union:
Iceland
Australia;
Japan;
New Zealand;
Rwanda;
Singapore;
South Korea;
Thailand; and
China (The EU entry ban applies to China until China allows European travelers again. Travelers from China do not need to be able to show a negative test statement.)
Changes in safe countries list
These safe countries can change. So keep an eye on this page for the latest information.
On December 16, 2020, the EU member states decided to remove Uruguay from the list of safe countries. This is because the health situation in Uruguay has deteriorated to such an extent.
Source: Central government
This is old rule. At the moment, everyone who comes by boat, plane or train must submit a negative test. I just checked the government website. It is not possible to say what the situation will be on April 3. But you don't just have to deal with the rules of the government. The airline can also require you to submit a negative test. My advice, check the rules a week or 2 or 3 before departure.
I didn't look closely anyway. my apologies. Travelers from Thailand do not currently need to submit a test. Given the rising trend of covid cases in Thailand, the situation may be completely different in 2 months. So the question cannot be answered.
Is not an old rule, the rule still applies, unless the national government publishes something else.
The situation changes almost daily. It seems advisable to regularly consult this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.europa.publications.reopeneu&pli=1
For iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/re-open-eu/id1531322447
It remains to be seen for the time of her trip on April 3. The situation can just change. Ask that question again in May.
Thanks for the information so far, just to be sure I will check again later and also with KLM. Until now, neither of these declarations is required to enter the Netherlands. That can of course change. The airlines can apply their own regulations
I know how to find my way there.
Unfortunately, the question of what really matters remains unanswered. Where can I obtain a Non-COVID-19 declaration and a fit to fly and what does it cost? (Bangkok, Chanthabury or immediate vicinity, at which doctor or institution) Who has this information?
I would be very happy if I heard something more about that. I wait patiently, hoping to get as many positive and helpful responses as I have so far, but only for the missing answers.
Greeting you,
Henk Coumans
Dear Henk,
We have just passed through the situation you describe.
My wife also has Dutch and Thai nationality and she flew with KLM from Bangkok to Amsterdam yesterday.
Because the regulations regarding Covid are sometimes not clearly communicated, we have done it as follows (and without any problems):
1. My wife went to the local hospital the day before departure and after taking her temperature and blood pressure she received a statement (in Thai) that she is healthy.
2. I downloaded a form from the government website (https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/publicaties/2020/07/20/gezondheidsverklaring-reizigers-nederlands) and completed for her, and forwarded to my wife. He printed and signed the form in Thailand.
3. Showing these forms at check in was all ok.
4. Then without any difficulties with 5 other passengers and 10 crew members in the 787 to Amsterdam.
5. No problems on arrival at Schiphol either.
I'm not entirely sure whether the Thai doctor's statement (so no Covid test) was really necessary, but according to my wife it was to prevent any difficulties at Suvarnabhumi.
The Dutch health declaration (you also fill in at KLM when boarding online) may have been duplicated, but in case it is not possible to check in online, she at least had written proof on paper.
Goodluck!!
Dear Bohpenyang,
Thank you for your information.
Chanthabury has no hospital, so she will have to arrange all that in Bangkok. In the hours and days beforehand. And spend the night there to then be able to go to the airport without traveling back and forth. Are still 2 times back and forth a 3,5 hours is 4 x 3,5 hours and the taxi costs.
Now let's examine the costs for the Non-covid-19 statement
Henk
How did you get the information that there are no hospitals in chantaburi?
I'll be happy to answer that abbreviated question
From my girlfriend who has been going there for 40 years
There is a small zhs but without a doctor and he only comes for emergencies
How so? Do you know better? Then please let me know
Henk
I know the Chanthaburi area quite well.
If I enter hospital chanthaburi on google maps, I get more than 10 names.
I get the impression that you yourself are not well aware of where your girlfriend lives.
Maybe she lives in a remote corner of Chanthaburi province where there is no hospital.
She might also like to go to a hospital in Bangkok and stay in a hotel there.
Hello Ken,
No, she lives in the outskirts of Chanthabury itself. Her name is Sue, and she's not the type to spend money on me. Even checks whether it can always be cheaper, which is nice. But she is also used to the Dutch mentality because of her husband Ned, who died after 37 years. KLM has just informed me that it does not yet need a non-COVID statement. So not for the Netherlands and for the flight. Now the health declaration as a replacement for the fit-to-fly. I will point her to the 10 names with google
Thank you