Re : Permission for Certain Groups of Aliens to Remain in the Kingdom as a Special Case

 

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Due to the outbreak of the communicable disease Coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19 in the Kingdom and the significant increase in the number of infected persons and deaths from this disease, the Government therefore declared an Emergency Situation in all areas of the Kingdom as from 26 March B.E. 2563 (2020) and issued the Regulation in accordance with the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) determining the closure of points of entry into the Kingdom, by closing points of entry, checkpoints, border crossings or border checkpoints for travellers entering into the Kingdom in order to prevent the widespread outbreak of the disease, which affects the entry into or departure from the Kingdom, including the stay in the Kingdom of certain groups of aliens;

By virtue of Section 5 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) as amended by the Announcement of the National Council for Peace and Order No. 87/2557 on Amendment Regarding Persons in Charge of the Execution of the Laws Concerning the Powers and Duties of Police Officers issued on 10 July B.E. 2557 (2014), and Section 17 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior, by the approval of the Council of Ministers on 31 March B.E. 2563 (2020), hereby issue the following notification:

1. For an alien who has been permitted to take up residency in the Kingdom in accordance with Section 48 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and has made evidence of notification for leaving the Kingdom in order to re-enter within one year in accordance with Section 50 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), the period for re-entry shall be extended beyond one year. Once the situation is resolved, such alien shall promptly re-enter the Kingdom within the period of time specified by the Immigration Bureau.

2. For an alien who has been permitted a temporary stay in the Kingdom according to their type of visa (including Visa on Arrival) and an alien who has been permitted a temporary stay in the Kingdom according to their visa exemption privileges (P. 30/PP. 14/ PP. 30/PP. 90) whose specified period of time permitted for stay in the Kingdom expires as from 26 March B.E. 2563 (2020):

(1) the period of time permitted for stay in the Kingdom under Section 35 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) (including under the Petroleum Act B.E. 2514 (1971) and its Amendments, the Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977) and its Amendments, and

the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and its Amendments) or in accordance with the relevant notifications of the Ministry of Interior, shall be temporarily extended as from 26 March B.E. 2563 (2020) to 30 April B.E. 2563 (2020);

(2) the period of time for the notification of residence under Section 37 (5) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) or in accordance with the relevant notifications of the Ministry of Interior, upon the completion of the period of time for the notification of residence for such alien, shall be extended as from 26 March B.E. 2563 (2020) to 30 April B.E. 2563 (2020);

(3) once the situation has been resolved or has returned to normalcy, such alien shall comply with Section 35 and Section 37 (5) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) (including with the Petroleum Act B.E. 2514 (1971) and its Amendments, the Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977) and its Amendments, and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and its Amendments) or with the relevant notifications of the Ministry of Interior, within the period of time specified by the Immigration Bureau.

3. For an alien who has been permitted to stay in the Kingdom, being a holder of a border pass under Section 13 (2) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979):

(1) the period of time permitted for stay in the Kingdom shall be temporarily extended, as from 23 March B.E. 2563 (2020), for the period of closure of checkpoints along the border with a country having a frontier adjacent to Thailand;

(2) such alien shall depart from the Kingdom within 7 days from the date that the checkpoints along the border are opened as normal. After the end of such period, relevant laws shall be strictly complied with.

This Notification shall come into effect as from the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.

 

Issued on 7 April B.E. 2563 (2020)

(General Prayut Chan-o-cha) Prime Minister

(General Anupong Paojinda) Minister of Interior