You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

April 10, 2020

Thailand Announces COVID-19 Visa Relief Measures

Subscribe to Updates

Following the announcement of a state of emergency on March 26, 2020, Thailand has put in place several measures that limit international travel as part of its efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of land borders with neighboring countries and the prohibition of arrivals by almost all international commercial passenger flights. These measures have left many non-Thai citizens in the country in a difficult position, due to the potential expiry of visas during a period when travel is being widely restricted. To address the issue, on April 8, 2020, Thailand’s Ministry of Interior announced a notification granting visa relief measures for the benefit of all visiting and resident foreigners of all nationalities, and holders of all types of visas, including Thai permanent residence permits, who have been affected by the state emergency.

The immigration measures are summarized below:

  • Visas that expired on or after March 26, 2020, will be automatically extended to April 30, 2020. This applies to persons who entered into Thailand with any type of visa, including visas under the privileges of the Board of Investment (BOI), the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), or the Petroleum Act; visas on arrival; and visa exemptions. After the situation has improved and returned to normal, visa holders must apply for extensions of stay under the normal procedures applicable to their case, unless notified otherwise.
  • Those due to give a 90-day report between March 26 and April 30, 2020, inclusive, are temporarily exempted from the 90-day report requirement during this period. After the situation has improved and returned to normal, their 90-day report duty will resume, unless notified otherwise.
  • Permanent residence permit holders who have already obtained an endorsement before leaving Thailand, but who are unable to return to Thailand before the expiry date of the one-year period for their return (a requirement to retain their residence status), have been granted an automatic extension to the expiry date. When the situation has improved, they must urgently return to Thailand within a time frame that will be announced by the Immigration Bureau.
  • Citizens of neighboring countries who have entered Thailand holding a border pass will be allowed to stay in Thailand while the borders with these countries are closed. However, all border pass holders will be required to leave Thailand within seven days after the borders are reopened.
Download Full Article
Related Professionals

Practices

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Employment

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

April 22, 2025
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has announced the launch of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) as part of ongoing efforts to improve entry procedures and streamline immigration processing. Effective May 1, 2025, all foreign nationals with any type of visa entering Thailand by any means will be required to complete the TDAC online prior to arrival. This requirement does not apply to individuals transiting or transferring through Thailand without passing through immigration control, or to those entering with a border pass. Foreign nationals planning to enter Thailand must complete and submit their TDAC within the three days prior to their arrival date. The form, which collects passport information, personal details, travel information (e.g., flight number), Thai accommodation information, and a health declaration—can be filled out in English online at https://tdac.immigration.go.th. Once the form is submitted, an acknowledgment will be sent to the email address entered on the form. This acknowledgment must be presented at the immigration checkpoint in Thailand along with travel documents for verification. The Thai government strongly encourages all foreign passport holders to complete the TDAC ahead of their departure to prevent any entry delays or issues at the checkpoint.
Read More
April 18, 2025
On March 31, 2025, Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) issued Notification 009/25, which grants an extension for the renewal of foreign workers’ work permits and employment books in 2025. This extension is to ensure that those who have not yet applied for the renewal of their work permits are provided with sufficient time to complete the application process, as there have been delays in the submission of work permit extension requests. The new deadline for the submission of renewal applications for work permits and employment books is April 30, 2025. Applications and renewals must be processed via the MLVT’s online Foreign Workforce Centralized Management System before the specified deadline. Failure to extend the validity of work permits and employment books for foreign workers before the deadline may result in significant monetary penalties for both employers and foreign nationals. All foreign workers should renew their work permits and employment books within the extended deadline to ensure continued validity for working in Cambodia.
Read More
March 13, 2025
The recent freeze on US foreign aid has led to the suspension of billions of dollars in foreign assistance as well as widespread layoffs at contracting organizations around the world. Under this situation, USAID-funded offices in all jurisdictions, including Cambodia, may face the challenge of determining whether they need to lay off their employees. Employers in Cambodia may take different steps in response to this and other instances of sudden financial stress in order to manage their workforce in accordance with Cambodian laws and regulations. Suspension Cambodia’s Labor Law allows employers to suspend employment contracts due to a major economic or material issue or any unexpected difficulty that results in the suspension of operations. To impose this employment contract suspension, the employer must initially submit a suspension request to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT), detailing the reasons for the requested suspension. If the reasons are deemed valid and the request is approved, the suspension period cannot exceed two months. During the suspension period, the employer must continue providing accommodation for employees if this benefit is already being provided. In some circumstances, the suspension period can be extended if necessary (as happened during the COVID-19 pandemic). However, financial difficulties alone may not be a valid reason for extension. The decision is at the discretion of the MLVT labor inspectors on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, given the uncertain timeline of financial difficulties that may significantly impact the employer’s budget, suspending employment contracts might be ineffective. Mass Layoffs Under Cambodia’s Labor Law, mass layoffs due to a significant reduction in an establishment’s operation or an internal reorganization foreseen by the employer are permissible. The layoff order must be based on professional qualifications, seniority period, and family burdens of the employees. The first employees to be laid off must be
Read More
March 6, 2025
On February 18, 2025, the Thai Senate approved an amendment to the Act on the Establishment of and Procedures for the Tax Court. This follows the July 2024 approval by the Thai cabinet and subsequent preparation of supporting secondary legislation. This important amendment to procedural law, once it takes effect, will extend the exclusive jurisdictional powers of the Tax Court to all criminal tax, customs, and excise tax claims in addition to the court’s existing jurisdiction over all such civil claims. The amendment, while now formally approved by the legislature, is awaiting the king’s signature and will take effect 180 days after its publication in the Government Gazette. Based upon its projected publication date, the amendment will likely take effect by the end of the third quarter of this year. This development is set to offer a more sophisticated Tax Court litigation process for highly specialized and often complex criminal tax and customs claims, something with which Thailand’s traditional criminal courts have struggled. It also ensures that all tax and customs matters are adjudicated before the same court, saving time, party costs, and judicial resources. This appears likely to result in more consistent adjudication of criminal tax and customs disputes, a benefit for the Thai government and party litigants alike. Any ongoing criminal tax and customs claims already commenced with the respective criminal courts on the date on which the amendment becomes effective will remain under the exclusive jurisdiction of those criminal courts. The Tax Court will have exclusive jurisdiction over all other claims. This important legislative change offers those managing or otherwise facing civil and/or criminal Thai tax or customs disputes the opportunity to more effectively plan and execute a uniform defense strategy before a single, qualified forum.
Read More