Mandatory Covid Test as of next week for those wanting to extend visa

UPDATE

For any foreigner who wishes to extend their stay in the kingdom, a test for COVID-19 will soon be needed, the immigration police said Monday. 

The new measure would make it mandatory for foreigners to obtain evidence of a negative coronavirus test before visiting immigration to extend their visa, Bureau spokesman Archayon Kraithong said. 

He said that for any form of visa, regardless of how long the foreigner has remained in the country, the stringent rule would apply. 

"After Jan. 24, it will become effective," Maj. Gen. Archayon said by phone. "This is in line with the new ministerial regulation and applies to all visa types." 

COVID-19 was added to the list of banned diseases for foreigners wishing to visit or live in Thailand under a new law published in the Royal Government Gazette on Dec. 25. 

Other diseases include leprosy, tuberculosis "dangerous stage," elephantiasis, drug addiction, and syphilis tertiary phase. 

But there seems to be no disparity in immigration between foreigners flying into the country and those staying in Thailand who have not left the country since the pandemic started. 

Under current laws, foreigners outside Thailand are also required to send evidence of a negative examination, a valid visa, an entry certificate issued in their country by a Thai embassy or consular post, a fit-to-fly certificate issued by a local hospital and a health insurance policy prior to boarding their flights to Thailand. 

In addition to announcing the expected date for implementation, no further detail was given by the spokesperson about how the new measure will be enforced. 

The new rule is likely to put a further financial burden on Thailand-based ex-pats. At the government-run Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, a coronavirus test costs about 3,000 baht, but at some hospitals, the price can go up to 6,000 baht and even 8,000 baht. 

On Monday, 369 new cases of coronavirus were identified in Thailand, including 357 domestic transmissions and 12 imported cases contained in state-run quarantines. 

Since the outbreak started in early 2020, the nation now has more than 12,400 accumulated cases; half of them have discovered alone in the past month.

Source