Thailand to introduce new immigration card

October 02 2008 by Bryan Palmer

Thailand is to introduce a new multiple entry immigration card, aimed at promoting tourism and investment in the country. By the end of the year, said Immigration Police chief, Pol Lt-Gen Chatchawan Suksomchit, the card will be available to frequent travellers going in and out of the country.

Eligible Immigration Card holders will include those who travel in and out of the country three to five times in a year, whatever their nationality.

Whether they are foreigners or Thai nationals, holders of the Immigration Card will be able to bypass the usual Immigration Police procedures. These normally include scanning for criminal suspects or those on the police and immigration watch list.

The Immigration Card will grant holders special privileges to go through fast passage at airports, according to Pol Lt-Gen Chatchawan Suksomchit.

As it is largely aimed at foreigners, the launch of the Immigration Card at the end of the year has been timed to coincide with the height of the tourist season.

The Immigration Police will also open Call Centre 1178 in January to provide tourism-related information in eight languages. Additionally, the Immigration Police will take part in the crackdown on the exploitation of foreign labour and people trafficking across the country.

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