The information on this page is dedicated to the travel advice of the Embassy of Luxembourg for travelling safely in and around Thailand. If you would like to have more information on the other countries covered by this Embassy (Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam), we suggest that you visit the respective websites of the German and French Ministries of Foreign Affairs that contain regular updates of their travel advice for each of these countries.
News
Disease control measures undertaken by the Thai government to fight the spread of COVID-19 continue to have a considerable impact on air traffic, in particular international travel, and on public life.
Due to ongoing entry restrictions, non-essential tourist travel to Thailand is therefore currently discouraged.
Epidemiological situation
There has been an increase in COVID-19 cases across Thailand since December 2020. The number of cases remains at a low level compared to the rest of the world. You can find the latest information on case numbers of the Department of Disease Control website. As a result of this increase, the Thai authorities have introduced a number of disease control measures at national and local levels (see details below).
Restrictions in response to the coronavirus
Entry requirements
Entry into Thailand is currently possible for all Luxembourg citizens. If you want to travel to Thailand, you must apply for a special permit called Certificate of Entry (COE) via the Royal Thai Government’s online platform. Further information, including regarding visa requirements, can be obtained from the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels.
All travelers to Thailand, including all Luxembourg citizens, are required to complete a 14-day state quarantine, at their own expense, at a Thai government-designated facility. A list of government-accredited quarantine hotels – Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) – is regularly updated on the website of the Thai Embassy in Brussels. A proof of booking is necessary in order to process the COE. Multiple COVID-19 tests are mandatory for all Luxembourgish citizens, at their own expense, both before arrival and again during quarantine. Since neither the day of arrival nor departure count towards the mandatory quarantine, the stay in the quarantine facility is de facto 15 nights and up to 16 days long. If you test positive whilst in ASQ, you and anybody travelling with you will be transferred to a hospital and held in isolation.
Restrictions in the country
The Thai government has declared a state of emergency, which gives it considerable powers. In particular, restrictions on freedom of movement and movement, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are to be expected. Travelers must comply with the government’s disease-control measures (surveillance and quarantine measures, control of their movements, etc.). Violations of the emergency ordinance are strictly punished by the Thai authorities and are punishable by imprisonment and fines.
As a result of the increase in COVID-19 cases, the government has introduced a Red-Orange-Yellow coulour rating system for each province, depending on the number of daily recorded cases. Varying degrees of restrictions depending on the colour category and additional local measures taken by provincial governors are in place in each province. Those may vary considerably. You should therefore follow the advice of local authorities and comply with disease control measures.
Keep up to date with the latest health advice provided by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and updates from the Thai government on the situation, including daily video briefings in English provided by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hygiene rules
Masks are mandatory when using public transport and in buildings, where your temperature is measured upon entry. Other measures such as downloading a tracking application or providing contact details may be required. Wearing a mask is strongly encouraged in public. Visitors as well as foreign residents in particular should follow these recommendations. In some provinces, face masks are mandatory in public.
High fines may be imposed for breaching hygiene rules.
Regular entry requirements
Visa
Under normal circumstances, Luxembourgish citizens visiting Thailand for tourism can enter Thailand without a Visa and stay for 30 days, provided they are in the possession of a return airline ticket and of a passport that is still valid for at least 6 months.
Luxembourgish citizens, who wish to stay longer than 30 days, or who wish to work in Thailand, have to apply for the appropriate Visa at the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels before leaving to Thailand. Such a tourist Visa usually entitles you to stay for up to 60 days.
A single extension of the visa-free stay for a maximum of 30 additional days for exclusively tourist purposes is possible. The visa extension must be processed with the responsible Thai immigration office before the visa-free period expires.
You can only enter Thailand through a land border using the 30-day visa exemption twice per calendar year. To cross more frequently, you will need to get the appropriate visa in advance of travelling. This doesn’t apply if arriving by air.
For more information on the different types of individual visas, contact the Thai Immigration Authority or visit the Visa Service of the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels.
Exceeding the authorized stay (“overstay”)
Violations of residency regulations are not taken lightly in Thailand. Travelers who exceed the authorized length of stay risk being arrested and held in detention, subjected to heavy fines, deportation at their own expense and banned from re-entering Thailand. If you stay up to 40 days beyond the period of your visa, you will be fined THB 500 baht per day up to a maximum of THB 20,000. The enforcement of penalties for overstaying is strict and conditions in detention centres can be harsh.
Lëtzebuerger am Ausland
For your own safety, the Embassy invites you to register your stay in Thailand on the website "Lëtzebuerger am Ausland". Declaring your temporary stay or permanent residence abroad will allow you to receive practical information regarding, for instance, the addresses of the Luxembourg diplomatic and consular missions or information about elections in Luxembourg. In the event of an emergency or crisis situation, the Embassy will be able to contact you as well as your contact person to provide assistance or advice.
Domestic situation
The political situation in Thailand can be volatile. Demonstrations and rallies can take place in all regions of the country. Violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces cannot be ruled out. You should avoid any protests, political gatherings, demonstrations or marches.
Clashes and attacks can occur in the provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani as well as in parts of Songkhla, in the south of Thailand, on the border with Malaysia. A special emergency law is applied in these regions. You are strongly advised not to travel to these provinces.
Freedom of expression is restricted in Thailand. Criticisms of the government and the realities of the country can become criminally relevant, especially if they are expressed on the Internet or via social media platforms.
Be aware, in particular, of the very strict and broad application of the lèse-majesté crime law in Thailand (see "Legal specifics" below for details).
There are a high number of road traffic accidents in Thailand especially involving motorcycles. The World Health Organisation (WHO) rates Thailand as the world’s deadliest country for fatalities on motorcycles, citing an average of 5,500 motorcyclist deaths annually.
Legal specifics
- Lèse-majesté (criticism of the monarchy in any form): The Thai royal family enjoys the highest respect. Derogatory or critical remarks can be punished as crimes of lèse-majesté with a prison term of up to 15 years per offense. Special care should be given to comments or remarks made on the Internet or on social media. The law is interpreted broadly and may include, for instance, retweets or sharing of messages or articles that could be seen as portraying Thailand negatively or making accusations about the Royal Family.
- Drugs: The acquisition, possession, distribution, import and export of all kinds of drugs (such as marijuana, ecstasy and other amphetamines) carry long prison sentences – even the possession of small amounts of drugs. Some offenses are punishable under Thai criminal law with the death penalty, which was first applied again in June 2018 after a 9-year suspension. Taking or transporting objects for third parties without knowledge of their contents can have disastrous consequences.
- Thefts: Theft of items, even of low value, can lead to prison sentences.
- No smoking / electronic cigarettes: Since 2017, smoking is prohibited on certain beaches in Pattaya, Bangsaen, Cha-am, Hua Hin, Phuket, Samui, Phang Nga and Songkhla. Violations of the smoking ban can result in a prison sentence of up to one year and / or a fine of up to THB 100,000. The import of electronic cigarettes is also prohibited, which can be punished with a heavy fine or imprisonment for up to five years.