BANGKOK, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thailand will issue a new immigration paper for non-Thai residents who may return to the country and stay after they have departed from October, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha approved last Friday the ministry's regulation for the new departure and arrival card to be issued to non-Thai residents.
The new paper which will be used from October 1 will have only one page instead of two for the previous paper and will be easier for applicants to fill out in case that they may depart Thailand with intent to return to the country and reside.
The new immigration paper has been designed in accordance with the Ministry of Interior's regulations issued last year and amended earlier this year.
Some Thai media earlier reported that the Thai government has abolished the immigration card in order to facilitate entering and leaving the country, which Thai Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said was wrong.
There was suggestions from the tourism industry to abolish the paper, but the Ministry of Tourism and Sports said the paper is still necessary for collecting statistics, Anupong said.
