The latest updates and worth knowing about the Thailand Pass
Yesterday Richard Barrow wrote in his newsletter about the meeting with Mr. Chatchai Viriyavejakul, the Director General of the Consular Affairs Department. Richard sat down with him to talk about the Thailand Pass. Here you can read a summary of that conversation with a number of interesting facts.
First of all, it is now clear who runs the Thailand Pass system. That is not the Immigration Office or the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), but the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Thai embassies and foreigners who apply for visas fall under this department). For the Thailand Pass, it was decided to ask the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA) to build a new system. The DGA reports directly to the Prime Minister and is part of the government's commitment to fully digitize all government media by 2022.
The idea behind the Thailand pass was born out of a need to streamline the application process and make it easier for travelers to travel to Thailand under the current restrictions. Thailand expects that in the high season (December/January), so many travelers will arrive at Suvarnabhumi that manual screening would no longer be possible and also undesirable because of the increasing waiting times.
Foreign tourists appear to be booking considerable Thailand trips for the first quarter of 2022. It is therefore very important that there is a system that can handle the expected numbers. Thailand expects about 8 million foreign tourists next year. That means in January the Thailand Pass system should be fast, efficient and largely automated. Currently, almost 50% of applications are automatically approved.
Updates Thailand Pass system
The Thailand Pass system is currently being improved. In a next update it will be possible to upload PDF files and also multiple files at a time. There will be a list of approved hotels. And the most important improvement will soon be the possibility to log in to check the status of your application. This also gives the option to download the QR code as soon as your application has been approved. This resolves the issue where requesters are not receiving an email with the QR code. Being able to log in yourself, check the status and download your QR code is much better. Another improvement is that if 1 component has been rejected, you can correct this without having to reapply.
Vaccination Certificate
A stumbling block for automatic approval is the vaccination certificate. If this is not delivered correctly, the application must be checked manually. The Thailand Pass may be a project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the Ministry of Health is responsible for verifying the vaccination certificates. This can often be done automatically if the traveler's home country uses the PKI (public key infrastructure) for vaccination certificates. There are now about 30 countries that do this (mainly the European countries). This allows the Thailand Pass system to immediately verify the certificate. Other certificates with QR codes are also relatively easy to verify. But there are some certificates/proofs that are challenging, that's why sometimes it takes time. Especially if someone uploaded an image that is unclear.
Medical insurance
Tourists who go on holiday to Thailand are wise to take out medical (travel) insurance anyway. Especially if you choose to travel during a global pandemic. If, by a small chance, you test positive on arrival, you need good insurance. Also one that covers a hospitalization with Covid-19, when you have no symptoms. You may also have to quarantine, even if you test negative, for example if you sat next to an infected person on the plane or taxi to the hotel. In that scenario, you probably won't find insurance that will cover you for a 14-day enforced hotel quarantine.
expats
It turns out that it is especially difficult for expats to find a suitable insurance policy with a coverage of $ 50.000. Especially since they are supposed to be covered for the remaining duration of their visa. However, there appears to be misunderstandings about this. To begin with, it doesn't seem to say anywhere that with a long-term visa you need special insurance for the time you are in Thailand. That myth has been spread by a number of Thai embassies. According to Director General Chatchai, insurance with a duration of 30 days is sufficient. After all, if you test positive, you only have to spend 10 days in hospital and possibly 14 days in quarantine. So a policy with a duration of 30 days is fine.
Complete the Thailand Pass application form online
The Thailand Pass form must be completed online. There are a few questions about that. The length of stay field is a problem for some people. Tourists can simply fill in 30 days. But for expats who stay in Thailand indefinitely, that is not correct. Chatchai says that '999' can be entered there, but there will soon be a special field for expats.
Another problem is the 'date of arrival'. For some travelers, there must also be a departure date, because your flight may ensure that you do not arrive in Thailand until the next day. Then the information on the QR code is incorrect. Chatchai says it is aware of the problem and that it is being resolved. The second problem is that some people have to move their flight date for some reason. You do not have to apply for a Thailand Pass Qr code again if the arrival is within 72 hours of that date.
Another frequently asked question is: how far in advance can you apply for a Thailand Pass? Well, there's no time limit. If you want, you can already apply for your Thailand Pass for your holiday in January next year. You don't have to worry about being late or worrying about whether the QR code will arrive on time.
A view on the future
The Thailand Pass is here now and will not disappear anytime soon. The system will be further improved in the near future. There may also be a number of relaxations of some rules in the coming weeks. Richard Barrow thinks the exemption age for vaccination certificates (Test & Go program) will go from under 12 to under 18. Another big change that we could see next week is the removal of the test obligation before you leave for Thailand (RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure). This is because a growing number of countries have no options to have this test done. If it doesn't happen next week, then possibly before December 1.
Other rules will likely remain for the time being. A clear improvement would be that the RT-PCR test is replaced by a Corona rapid test upon arrival. Then travelers would be tested at the airport and after waiting 15 minutes for the results, they would be free to come and go as they please. Literally a 'Test & Go'. The TAT is in favor of this, but the Ministry of Health has the final say. If the mandatory RT-PCR test is canceled before departure, the PCR test in the hotel room will not simply be canceled…..
Source: Newsletter Richard Barrow
Nb the editors of Thailandblog will de Thailand Pass FAQ adjust with the above information and put an update online tomorrow.
Thank you very much and very enlightening!!
Those '30 days' regarding the duration of the insurance for long-stayers will be good news for many returning non-O and non-OA visa holders. However, the reasoning behind it outlined above only applies to Covid-related matters, while on November 1 the coverage requirement was extended to medical costs in a broad sense. Sounds a bit contradictory, and I hope this interpretation is not retracted again.
I think this is your own interpretation. The fact that the statement no longer has to specifically mention Covid-19 does not mean that the intention has changed. They just want all incoming travelers to be insured against covid-19.
That will certainly be the intention, but the coverage requirement was actually expanded on 1/11 and that change was also emphasized later in statements by the Thai authorities.
Being consistent does not seem to be an objective for the Thai government…..
The fact that the statement no longer needs to state Covid-19 is, in my opinion, not an extension of the coverage, but a simplification and therefore a helping hand.
I base myself on this:
'For foreign travelers, they have to make sure that their insurance policy does not only specify Covid-19 health coverage. It should cover other kinds of sickness as well as hospitalization expenses.'
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2206023/rules-for-travellers-clarified
Yes, and that was in line with expectations. The Thai government has been talking about compulsory medical (travel) insurance for tourists for years. The pandemic was just that final push. Now it's a fact. I don't think it will go off again.
So in the end it does come down to an extension of coverage. Hence my slight surprise at the view of the relevant Director-General that 30 days of insurance is sufficient.
Look, these are indeed interesting facts! Nice to read that improvements are being made because I think the Thailand Pass will remain for a number of years. The expected number of 8 million this year seems a bit too positive to me. Perhaps when all improvements have really been implemented and the 1-night quarantine is no longer necessary.
“Thailand expects about 8 million foreign tourists next year” it says in my text…..
Ah yes typo, I meant next year of course.
A very clear explanation
It would indeed be very nice if the mandatory PCR test 72 hours before departure from the Netherlands is no longer necessary, and only a quick test upon arrival in Bangkok is sufficient to continue your journey.
Prevents a lot of stress in the Netherlands or whether the results arrive on time, there have been enough examples in the media, and you save the costs for this approximately 70-80 euros.
I would still do that PCR test (or another) in the Netherlands because I would rather find out in the Netherlands than in Thailand.
What a good and clear story again. Compliments for this and all other emails about this item. It helped me a lot to get hold of a QR code and I can therefore go to Thailand on the 29th of Nov without any worries.
“Another big change we could see next week is the removal of the test obligation before you leave for Thailand (RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure)”
Test obligation BEFORE you leave for Thailand. pcr test within 72 hours AFTER departure?
Typing error or am I not getting it?
Hi, I am going to Thailand from 16-12-2021 to 11-02/2021 (58 days), but I would like to apply for the Thailand pass now.
I know I need a visa but can't apply for it now, can you enter 999 with the Thailand Pass?
I'm going Dec 5th and would like to stay for 60 days with a single entry visa. Applying for the Thailand pass is always unsuccessful because it gives an error when uploading my passport photo (jpg and jpeg). It is therefore not yet possible to apply for a visa (single entry). I am very curious how you solve this as we are in about the same boat. In any case, it gives me quite a lot of stress because my flight leaves on December 5th.
Is your jpg file smaller than 5mb?
Yes it is smaller than 5 MB. I made it even smaller myself just to be sure.
I get an error while uploading. More people suffering? Hints?
I'm going for 75 days and just filled that in and I also have to apply for a visa and I just got the pass.
Requested the Thailand pass last night, partner got approval after 1 hour and I only this morning. The input fields have been adjusted, now you fill in day of arrival and day of departure.
We submitted our application for a Thai pass on Wednesday, November 10 around 17.00 p.m., received the pass from my wife at midnight and received my pass today at 24.00 p.m. Apparently it functions excellently
Another problem is that you cannot get a corona recovery certificate at the moment if it was more than 180 days ago. The QR code in NL works, but you cannot provide proof to the Thailand Pass.
In my opinion, a possible corona recovery certificate is also not part of the Thailand Pass procedure, only a vaccination certificate is important. If you don't have that, you can only sign up for the 10-day quarantine option.
Here's what the latest FAQ from the Thai government says about your situation:
– Yes. Those previously infected with COVID-19 are considered fully vaccinated if they have received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine within 3 months after their recovery. In this case, your proof or medical record of COVID-19 recovery must be submitted alongside your single-dose vaccination certificate.
– If you have been fully vaccinated before contracting COVID-19, you are still considered to be fully vaccinated.
– yes, if you have a history of covid-19, one dose of the vaccine must be given within 3 months of recovery. a certificate / medical certificate confirming your recovery from covid-19 must be
attached to the certificate of vaccination – if there are 2 doses of vaccination certificate before receiving covid-19, the vaccine will be treated as a qualified vaccination.
Now filling out the application for the second time, much better this time with examples of how they can process things faster. After a few minutes I already had the approval.
Applied for November 8, just received the 'pass' (November 11). I don't mind. The anticipation can begin 😀
With me on the Thailand Pass, the last 2 letters have been switched
Will that cause problems upon arrival in Thailand?
Maybe someone has a solution?
Last 2 letters of my first name ☺ forgot to mention
Don't get discouraged, applied for yesterday, Thailand Pass in the mail today, if you book everything correctly and upload it goes fast, I did 3 today with no problem, grtjs
Have you received a confirmation email or just received the pass immediately without a confirmation email…. I've been waiting for a long time but haven't seen anything yet?
I immediately received a confirmation email. The pass lasted several days.