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Thailand issues automatic visa extension for foreigners

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Minister of Interior Anupong Paochinda have signed an executive order granting visa amnesty to foreigners left stranded in Thailand by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thailand issues automatic visa extension for foreigners ảnh 1Thailand issues automatic visa extension for foreigners  (Photo: Thailand's Immigration Bureau)

Bangkok (VNA) – Thai PrimeMinister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Minister of Interior Anupong Paochinda havesigned an executive order granting visaamnesty to foreignersleft stranded in Thailand by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The notice was released by the Ministryof Interior on April 8.

Accordingly, entry visas of foreignersexpiring from March 26 onwards will automatically be extended until April 30 withouthaving to apply for an extension, and not be fined 500 baht (15 USD) perday for this case as previously prescribed.

Those who are due for 90 days reportsbetween March 26 and April 30 are temporarily exempted from reporting in thisperiod until further notice.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand announced that it will supportVietnamese citizens who really have aspirations to return to the homeland. Theywill include students under 18; students of closed schools and dormitories; theelderly aged 60 and above; those undergoing medical treatment in Thailand orhaving a background of heart disease, diabetes, cancer; contract-expired labourersand those visited their relatives in the country.

The Thai government declared state of emergency from March26 to April 30 with the goal of containing the spread of the disease.

In Indonesia, the Indonesian governmenthas purchased 20 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing machines,to enhance the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 testing and COVID-19 treatment in 11provinces and cities nationwide./. 
VNA
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