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Remember when traveling was easy? Book a flight, pack your passport and you’re done!
Well, it looks like those days are coming to an end as more and more countries implement this new requirements just to step within their boundaries.
You can’t even go to Whole Foods anymore without being asked to scan your palm!
No thanks, Jeff Bezos; I’m just here to spend my entire paycheck on fruit and sushi!
You may have heard that big changes are coming to Europe.
Starting in November, Americans will have to register and be fingerprinted to gain access, and there are really no ifs, ands, or buts about that.
Now Asia is following suit by taking a page from the European playbook. Well, Thailand anyway.
Early Decemberall Americans need a travel authorization to visit Thailand.
Dear Thailand, What’s with all the bureaucracy?!
Here at Travel Off Path we love to follow the latest trends.
You know, the spike in solo travel, the ongoing digital nomad craze, and the best places to immerse yourself in seamlessly endless fall foliage this time of year.
One noticeable trend that is bringing down the mood is the frustrations of traveling, and it seems like there are more and more of them.
Reading fine print, filling out extra documents, spending more money on visa fees are not exactly the fun trends of traveling, but still necessary to cover to ensure you don’t unnecessary hiccups during your trip.
Thailand has already made several changes in 2024 and it looks like they want to end the year with a bang!
In recent months, digital nomads got their wish with Thailand’s digital nomad visa, but boy was it confusing! A classic case of ‘be careful what you wish for’.
Additionally, Thailand also began allowing Americans to stay visa-free for up to 60 days (with options to extend your stay).
As if those changes weren’t enough, Thailand essentially said, “Wait a minute Singha!”, with their most recent announcement of new requirements for electronic travel authorization (ETA). for 93 visa-exempt countries – yes, including Americans.
New requirements for Americans visiting Thailand
Looking back, the new ETA is similar to what is being done in Europe. It’s not a visa, but more of a digital checkpoint to speed up the access process.
Whether the process actually needs a kick in the ass, or if it’s just puns to get more information out of you is another question, but what you can expect is that you won’t be able to do this in December.
Visitors arriving by air, land or sea will need an estimated time of arrival. The finer details are expected to be released closer to the launch date.
What is known so far is that travelers to the official e-portal to fill in the forms. In return, you will receive an email confirming your participation within 24 hours – keyword: should.
What the forms ask of you is anyone’s guess at this point, but a safe bet is the usual flight numbers, departure airport, accommodation address, etc.
A total of 93 passports have been approved to visit Thailand visa-free and all must be verified via ETA.
While there are some obvious gaps in what is needed, the main goal is speed up the immigration process and dissect the bad apples.
One interesting aspect is the deliberate goal of removing officers by automating rejections if rumors of the return of access limits have any merit.
If you were flying across the world and weren’t allowed in, wouldn’t you want to talk to someone?!
Thailand is more popular than ever
It’s no surprise that Thailand has once again broken tourism records, which makes sense for Thailand to make immigration as seamless as possible.
While the bureaucratic nature of travel has certainly increased in recent years, don’t let a few moments of frustration keep you from experiencing one of the most fascinating countries on the planet.
From world-class beaches, up-and-coming hidden gems to bustling iconic cities packed with temples, markets and indescribably delicious cuisine, Thailand is always a good idea no matter how you look at it.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
