BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand introduced a package of emergency measures to assist travelers stranded by major flight disruptions through Middle East hubs.
Since security conditions in the Middle East escalated on 28 February 2026, connections via Dubai and Doha and other transit hubs had been unavailable for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Thai authorities responded within days with measures involving the Immigration Bureau and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
No overstay penalties for departing travelers
Foreigners who had overstayed their visas because no flight was available did not have to pay a fine at the airport. The Immigration Bureau waived the overstay fee of 500 Baht per day for all foreign nationals whose permission to stay expired on or after 28 February 2026, provided they were actually leaving the country.
Those needing to remain longer could apply for an extension of up to 30 days. Existing overstay debts had to be settled in advance. Required documents included application form TM.7, a passport copy and a letter from the traveler’s own embassy.
If such a letter could not be obtained in time because of the crisis, travelers could instead submit a formal declaration of emergency. Officials accepted this statement as an equivalent form of proof, according to the immigration guidance.
Where to file applications
The next step for affected visitors was to contact the competent immigration office. Key locations included the Immigration Bureau Bangkok headquarters at the Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, as well as offices in Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi.
Immigration counters operated Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:30. For advance questions, travelers could call the national Tourist Police hotline at 1155, which offered multilingual support around the clock.
Hotels offer special rates
The Thai Hotels Association asked its member properties to provide discounted room rates to stranded guests. Tour operators were encouraged to create special packages so that visitors could use the unexpected waiting time in a meaningful way.
Tourists who had not been offered a discount were advised to ask directly at hotel reception and refer to the official request from the authorities. This guidance aimed to ensure that relief reached travelers across different price segments and regions.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) also sent staff from its local offices to hotels to assess needs on the ground. The most affected areas included Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Chiang Mai and Bangkok, where many travelers from Arab countries and transit passengers were currently staying.
TAT operated a hotline at 1672 from 08:00 to 20:00 daily, and additional contact points at its Phuket and Chiang Mai offices. These channels were designated as the first line of support for tourists seeking information on accommodation and assistance.
Financial support: 2,000 Baht per day
After a meeting on Monday, 2 March 2026, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports decided to provide emergency financial assistance of 2,000 Baht per day in proven hardship cases. The payment was intended for each day on which departure from Thailand was simply impossible.
Deputy Minister Natthriya Thaweewong confirmed that the amount had already been approved in principle. The ministry was still examining how and under what conditions the support could be claimed in individual cases.
Travelers who believed they were eligible were instructed to contact the nearest TAT office or the ministry directly. Contact details for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports included a central telephone number and an official website and email address.
Flights still operating with diversions
Direct flights, including those operated by state-owned Thai Airways, continued to operate but were being rerouted depending on the route. These detours extended travel times and could jeopardize connecting flights for onward journeys.
Passengers wishing to rebook or cancel their tickets were advised to contact their airline or tour operator directly. Many carriers had announced free rebooking options because of the crisis, making a phone call potentially worthwhile for affected customers.
Thai Airways maintained its customer service hotline and website as primary channels for schedule changes and ticket inquiries. Travelers seeking to avoid the disrupted Middle East hubs were able to find available capacity on routes via Europe or East Asia.
No clear timeline for a return to normal
The Immigration Bureau stated that all special regulations would remain in place until the situation in the Middle East stabilized. There was no fixed end date for the measures, and authorities refrained from giving a forecast.
The timing of when the hubs in Dubai and Doha would again be fully accessible depended on developments outside Thailand’s control. Officials in Bangkok emphasized that the duration of the disruption was linked to security conditions in the wider region rather than to domestic decisions.