From Pattaya Mail

Digital arrival bureaucracy spreading throughout Asia

By Barry Kenyon

Foreign travellers to south east Asian countries by land, sea or air will need to get used to electronic e-Arrival systems no matter whether they are tourists or business people or long stayers. In most cases, the bureaucracy needs to be completed online prior to arrival and applies to visa and non-visa holders alike.

Thailand’s few exceptions, apart from Thai passport holders, are diplomats and official guests of the government, those transferring without going through immigration and “border pass” holders. The latter are local traders who pass regularly through Thai land borders to buy and sell. They are decidedly not visa runners or border hoppers seeking more time in Thailand.

Malaysia and Cambodia already have e-Arrival cards in operation which are similar to Thailand’s which begins on May 1. But Malaysia exempts Singaporean citizens and certain longterm residents. Cambodia allows online registration up to 7 days (not 3) in advance. South Korea is introducing e-Arrival, but a paper option remains possible until 2026.

Thailand’s spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry, Nikorndej Balankura, said that passengers who fail to complete the online application in advance of travel will be able to do so at entry points, but warned that delays for individuals would be unavoidable. He stressed that only emergency cases should delay online registration in advance of travel.

Continues at

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/digital-arrival-bureaucracy-spreading-throughout-asia-498065

10 hours ago, reader said:

From Pattaya Mail

Digital arrival bureaucracy spreading throughout Asia

By Barry Kenyon

Foreign travellers to south east Asian countries by land, sea or air will need to get used to electronic e-Arrival systems no matter whether they are tourists or business people or long stayers. In most cases, the bureaucracy needs to be completed online prior to arrival and applies to visa and non-visa holders alike.

Thailand’s few exceptions, apart from Thai passport holders, are diplomats and official guests of the government, those transferring without going through immigration and “border pass” holders. The latter are local traders who pass regularly through Thai land borders to buy and sell. They are decidedly not visa runners or border hoppers seeking more time in Thailand.

Malaysia and Cambodia already have e-Arrival cards in operation which are similar to Thailand’s which begins on May 1. But Malaysia exempts Singaporean citizens and certain longterm residents. Cambodia allows online registration up to 7 days (not 3) in advance. South Korea is introducing e-Arrival, but a paper option remains possible until 2026.

Thailand’s spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry, Nikorndej Balankura, said that passengers who fail to complete the online application in advance of travel will be able to do so at entry points, but warned that delays for individuals would be unavoidable. He stressed that only emergency cases should delay online registration in advance of travel.

Continues at

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/digital-arrival-bureaucracy-spreading-throughout-asia-498065

Cambodia is from 7 days before arrival, 'not up to 7 days in advance'!

1 hour ago, Keithambrose said:

Cambodia is from 7 days before arrival, 'not up to 7 days in advance'!

Maybe I cannot see something, but what is the difference? "Up to 7 days in advance" sounds similar to "from 7 days before arrival"
 

7 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Maybe I cannot see something, but what is the difference? "Up to 7 days in advance" sounds similar to "from 7 days before arrival"
 

Surely,'up to 7 days' suggests a cut off at 7 days before arrival?

1 hour ago, Keithambrose said:

Surely,'up to 7 days' suggests a cut off at 7 days before arrival?

That's just not the way I read it, the more so given the context.

9 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Maybe I cannot see something, but what is the difference? "Up to 7 days in advance" sounds similar to "from 7 days before arrival"
 

read opposite to me.

3 hours ago, PeterRS said:

That's just not the way I read it, the more so given the context.

I read it as you do.

(Up to 7 days) in advance [and no earlier].

From [the 7th day before until] arrival [and no earlier].

But I can see how one could read the first as "up to the 7th day before [and no later]".
"Up to" is the problem because it might refer either to the number of days or the date, but one is counting down and the other counting up.

1 hour ago, thaiophilus said:

I read it as you do.

(Up to 7 days) in advance [and no earlier].

From [the 7th day before until] arrival [and no earlier].

But I can see how one could read the first as "up to the 7th day before [and no later]".
"Up to" is the problem because it might refer either to the number of days or the date, but one is counting down and the other counting up.

I think we all agree  that it is confusing! Let's just hope the Thai version works well!

2 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

I think we all agree  that it is confusing! Let's just hope the Thai version works well!

That is of no use since the Thais dont need to fill it out (or in)

1 hour ago, 10tazione said:

That is of no use since the Thais dont need to fill it out (or in)

Keith was referring to the "Thai version" as opposed to the Cambodian or Malaysian versions.

16 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

Keith was referring to the "Thai version" as opposed to the Cambodian or Malaysian versions.

Thanks. Indeed, I thought that was clear!

I played around with the form. This is what you need to fill in:

FFF is the first name, MMM the middle name ( optional), AAA the last name.

Thailand is probably still not in the list of countries of residence.

Filling in accomodation information was a challenge, since Pattaya is not a province nor a district nor a subdistrict and you must choose those things from a list.

I didnt click on Submit, but everything else worked. When you type something in a list, it can take some time until the list shows the possible choices.

If you stayed in certain countries (like Colombia) within 14 days before arrival, you have to upload a proof of yellow fever vaccination.