Airports of Thailand (AOT), the organization that manages commercial airports in Thailand, will start rolling out biometric facial recognition for domestic flights at six major airports from November 1.
International flights will be equipped with this technology from December. Dr. Kirati Kijmanawat, CEO of AOT, stated that the biometric system has been thoroughly tested and is now ready to be permanently operational at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai airports. These airports handle a large number of passengers daily, and the new technology is expected to significantly improve both check-in and the overall travel experience.
The biometric system requires passengers’ consent to store their facial data. Once consent is given, travelers only need to register once, which significantly speeds up and simplifies the check-in process for subsequent flights.
In addition to the introduction of biometric check-ins, the AOT has installed five integrated systems for optimised passenger processing (CUPPS) at these airports. These systems include:
- CUTE (Common Use Terminal Equipment): For efficient ticket control.
- CUSS (Common Use Self Service): An automated self-service check-in system.
- CUBD (Common Use Baggage Drop): For self-service when checking in luggage.
- PVS (Passenger Validation System): For validating passenger information.
- SBG (Self-Boarding Gate): A self-service gate for boarding.
All these systems are equipped with biometric technology and seamlessly integrated, Dr. Kirati said. This complete package of biometric solutions should contribute to faster and more secure processing of passenger flows, especially during peak times.
Interestingly, the majority of international travelers at Thailand's airports come from China, followed by tourists from India, South Korea, Russia and Japan.
Source: Thai PBS
As if facial recognition will only be used at airports.
The control rolls further and more invasively at the expense of your privacy. Something of China 2.0 in the making.
I'll avoid it as long as I can, just wait another fifteen minutes.
Yes, it is even so important that disabled people have to wait until everyone has boarded with facial recognition. That was told to me yesterday when I made a few comments from my wheelchair. And then heard in Thai: those stupid pale faces don't know anything either. Then it exploded a bit with me, all Thai labels overboard and me on board.
I am always amazed by those who have to board earlier, I can imagine the disabled and those with small children, because you need some time to get settled. But all those others who then want to sit inside the plane earlier, whether you sit inside or outside on a seat waiting until everyone is inside makes no difference because you all leave at the same time in the same plane.
Indeed Ger-Korat, that always surprises me too. I think it is better to board as late as possible, because outside the plane you can still stretch your legs a bit, which you can hardly do during a non-stop flight of about 11 to 12 hours. I have already reserved the seat numbers in advance.
Be glad they do.
Imagine if they all waited until the last minute… 😉
Well, it doesn't say what Thailand is going to do with biometric material.
Taking fingerprints is one such thing that has been done for a while now.
Would they sell the stuff as data to any entity?
Just to name a few: CIA, NSA, AIVD, Interpol.
Still a nice file of about 40 million foreigners annually.
There are also companies that try, such as Soundblaster, computer ware.
A Microsoft, FB, they all try to gain that data.
I think there's a rotten smell to it.
When departing from Bkk to Bru on October 19, 2024, immigration used the automatic gates with facial recognition and passport check to leave Thailand.
There was only 1 counter available in case the biometric check-out did not work.
So no more stamp in your passport.
If Thai Immigration departure and arrival stamps are discontinued, will the passport holder lose proof of how many days he or she spent in Thailand during his or her 'visa year'?
Immigration day control will also be cancelled?
Why would the immigration day control be eliminated?
Each immigration office has access to their own database and can see exactly when you were in and out of Thailand.
As for the passport holder himself
Just like “a proof of residence”, you may also be able to request proof of the days of residence for that year.
No more stamp in your passport? That will be funny when the tax authorities say you were there for 180 days; how are you going to prove them wrong? Then keep all ticket details with connecting flights including payment via bank or credit card safe… Keep in mind that YOU will have the burden of proof on your pants…
Just like “a proof of residence”, you may also be able to request proof of the days of residence for that year.
Well, reading the responses, it seems as if the Thai authorities have not thought this through properly yet.
If assumptions turn out to be correct, you now have to prove everything, then I will simply do the personal check, with a stamp.
RonnyLatYa, I was once told by an Immigration officer with a straight face that the Phuket Airport Immigration computers are not linked to the Phuket Town Immigration computers.
Hence the need to report to Phuket Town Immigration Office upon return.
Why? After all, upon return you will receive a stamp on your Re-Entry visa (a 1000Baht)..Used…
Everything is and will continue to be creakingly difficult.
“Once” and therefore it can't change?
The fact that you arrive at the airport says nothing about where you are going to stay. You can give an address there, but nothing proves that you are actually going there.
“Hence the need to report to Phuket Town Immigration Office upon return.”
That is why we have the TM30, because it is proof of arrival at that address and that is why it is the person responsible for the address who is responsible for it and not the person who arrives, because otherwise he can claim all sorts of things about where he is staying.
And what does that re-entry have to do with it?
And a re-entry doesn't mean you're going back to that address. You're not obligated to because you have a re-entry.
And just because 2 computers are not connected, doesn't mean you can't request it through separate channels.
We must not ignore the fact that the 'arrival' is also responsible for the address because he lives permanently in his own residence (house, condo).
So TM30 should be possible for these people upon arrival at the airport.
After all, we have an address slip provided by Immigration in our passport.
By the way, I don't understand the fascination of foreigners about the Immigration address. There are thousands of Thai people living/working on Phuket, of whom the Phuket Government has no idea.
Well, Immigration makes it easy for itself with those facial recognition gates, but makes it more difficult for those concerned if it places an additional residence burden on foreigners.
No, you don't have to report anything at the airport.
All that was reported on the former TM6 is the intention to go to. Between your arrival in Thailand and your arrival at your place of residence. If you disappear in between that is the first place they will look. But if someone decides to go to another hotel on the way, they can do that without any problems. Your actual place of residence only becomes effective if it is reported with a TM30 and that is the only one that counts for immigration.
If you are the owner, you are also responsible for the address and you simply have to register yourself.
Facial recognition still doesn't tell you where you're going to stay and what extra residence burden does that place on the foreigner? None.
I don't find it strange at all that immigration wants to know where you live.
I don't find it strange at all that immigration wants to know where a foreigner lives/stays.
“There are thousands of Thai people living/working in Phuket that the Phuket Government has no idea exist.”
Well, that's not the problem with immigration.
No, it is not strange that immigration wants to know where a foreigner is staying.
But that projected on the Phuket Government's disinterest in how many Thais live anonymously on Phuket, which is not an immigration problem, means that some perspective is appropriate.
Especially since Phuket misses a lot of money for improving infrastructure. Only funds/money for what officially lives on Phuket numerically.
(read the Opinion piece about this in Phuket News, Sunday 27 Oct.)
Immigration is a rather creaking organization cyberwise.
Think about doing a 90 day report online. A lottery ticket if you succeed.
And what about foreigners who sometimes for years, sometimes more than 10 times, have not filed a 90-day report before they are caught, often by chance?
How come immigration computers don't give any 'red flag' signals about this?
The foreign accommodation owner should simply be able to indicate at the airport upon return on Re-Entry visa whether his place of residence/stay is still the same as stated on the stapled Immigration address slip in his passport. Possibly with a TM30 form to satisfy paper addiction.
That extra trip for that, within 24 hours, to Town Immigration Office makes no sense.
That proves nothing. Paper is patient.
That one does not know how many Thai live anonymously on Phuket does not only apply to Phuket. Many Thai remain registered in the place where their family lives and this often for electoral reasons and then go to work elsewhere. All as a result of which one is usually not registered with an employer of course, because then one would know how many are working. Although of course no one has to live in the city where one works.
Although one should know better, I agree with that… especially there, given the experience with the tsunami and one had no idea who and how many people one should look for. Foreigners too.
That there are people staying illegally in Thailand is true. If they do not meet their reporting obligation, they become illegal and they are all known, but are not really actively tracked down. More by chance. But the Netherlands will be perfect cyber-wise I suspect, because there are no illegals walking around there????
A re-entry is not a visa. That is a permit (permission) to re-enter Thailand whereby you keep the last period of stay. Is actually independent of your place of residence and you can also apply for it anywhere up to the airport.
At an airport you no longer have to give an address since the TM6 was suspended as I said
and what was the intention of that. Only the flight is still asked and possibly a telephone number. Even with a re-entry you do not have to prove that address at the airport and you cannot fill in a TM30 either..
Although any IO can always ask someone entering Thailand where they are going or staying, but that is just to see what the intention is... that is their job and has nothing to do with a TM30 itself.
Also when the TM6 was still active, or at border posts (over land) where it is mostly still used, everyone had to fill in the TM6, even if you had a re-entry. Has nothing to do with a TM30 because no proof that you were going there, only an intention..
Whether you do not need to complete a new TM30 when returning to your previous address on re-entry is the decision of your local immigration office, not immigration at the airport.
Whether it makes sense or not, I will leave open, although people will always find something that makes it “no sense” when something is asked or it costs money… not only in Thailand by the way.
“If they do not comply with their reporting obligation, they become illegal…”
“If they do not comply with their renewal obligation, they become illegal…” I mean.
Of course, not having complied with the reporting requirement does not mean that you are immediately in the country illegally. Not complying will only result in a fine.
That seamless integration by biometric control seems to me a rather false claim. How do they still want to be able to use the visa check by hotels for example?