Closure of All Points of Entry into Thailand by Emergency Decree in effect from 26 March 2020
On 25 March 2020, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, declared an emergency situation in all areas of Thailand due to an outbreak of Coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19. The spread of the virus, which is a highly contagious and dangerous to the lives of those who have been infected, has threatened public order and the safety of the people which necessitates stringent and urgent measures to prevent the widespread transmission of the disease as well as the need to adopt urgent measures to protect the people’s safety and peaceful living.
The Order, which will be in effect from 26 March 2020 until 30 April 2020, will result in the Closure of Point of Entry into Thailand. All Points of Entry, checkpoint, border crossing or border checkpoint for passengers or travellers entering into Thailand will be closed, regardless of the means of transport, whether it be by aircrafts, vessels, motor vehicles or any other types of conveyance, or using the transportation routes, whether by air, water, or land in order to travel into Thailand except:
(1) persons who are exempted by the Prime Minister or Chief Official responsible for remedying the emergency situation; conditions and time period may also be prescribed ;
(2) carriers of goods of necessity, which shall promptly depart after completing their mission;
(3) operators and crew members of vehicles, who are required to enter into Thailand for a mission, which has clear scheduled time of departure;
(4) persons on diplomatic or consular missions or under International Organization or representatives of the government performing their duties in Thailand or other persons or international agencies that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives permission as deemed necessary, as well as their family members; application for permit of entry into Thailand shall be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with relevant documents;
(5) non-Thai nationals with work permit or who have been granted permission from government agencies to work in Thailand;
(6) Thai nationals with a certificate from the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate in their country of residence, or a medical certificate;
Persons granted an exemption or permission under (4) (5) or (6) must have a Fit to Fly Health Certificate which has been certified or issued no less than 72 hours before travelling; upon entry into Thailand, they must also comply with disease prevention measures advised by the Government;
Immigration officers are authorized, in accordance with immigration law, to refuse entry into Thailand to non-Thai nationals who have been tested positive for Covid-19 or are under suspicion of being infected or refuse to undergo such test.
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Royal Thai Embassy, Bern
26 March 2020
