CNI News
24 Feb 2023
Thailand has denited entry to Myanmar nationals who hold vaccine certificates with QR codes at the Myawady-Mae Sot Friendship Bridge (1), an official from the General Administration Department in Myawady Township told the CNI.
The bridge was closed for almost three years from March, 2020 and reopened on 12th January, 2023.
The GAD official said, "Those who have vaccine certificates with QR codes can visit Thailand. Thai authorities will not permit such people to visit Thailand. They will have to come back. It doesn't matter whether they have received booster shots or not. QR codes matter. At first, Thai authorities permitted those who hold vaccine certificates without QR codes. Now, Thai authorities have denied entry to such people even if we permit our citizens to go to Thailand. Our health workers check their vaccine certificates and let them go to Thailand but Thai authorities will deny entry to them because they hold certificates without QR codes."
Myanmar nationals who cross the bridge to go to Thailand are required to submit their national registration cards, vaccine certificates with QR codes and temporary border passes that are valid for six-nights and seven-day and border passes that are valid for 13-night and 14-day.
When the bridge was reopened, those who have received two times of vaccination were allowed to visit Thailand but later they are required to have received the booster shots.
A Myanmar-Thailand border pass.
Those who have not received booster shots are given the shot at the entrance of the bridge and in ward administration offices.
Myanmar workers who returned home from Thailand also faced the problem, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.
He said, "When migrant workers return home, Mae Sot authorities check health insurance policies and vaccine certificates. If the returnees cannot submit the required documents, they are not allowed to go back and it is difficult for them to get vaccination there. Every Myanmar worker has already received two or three times of vaccination but they cannot show their vaccine certificates. They will force to incur more costs. The costs do not matter for those who are well-to-do people but it is a burden for those who have to go back for emergencies of family members cannot afford the costs."
Between 150 to 200 Myanmar nationals visit Thailand by crossing the bridge every day.
Similarly, about 100 Thai citizens also visit Myanmar by crossing the bridge every day, according to statistics from the immigration department.
The Tachilek-Mae Sai bridge which was closed due to COVID-19 was reopened on 20th February.
