From 1st April 2022, double vaccinated tourists from all countries in the world will be able to fly into the country without the need for mandatory room quarantine using either the Test and Go or the Sandbox schemes and pre-applying for the Thailand Pass.
Everthing you need to know is below:-
Vaccination Details – 18 years and Upwards
- Full vaccination (2 doses) with vaccine approved by the Thai FDA – currently Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Sputnik, Covaxin and Sinopharm.
- Full vaccination at least 14 days prior to your departure to Thailand and not more than 12 months before.
- Vaccination certificate/proof of vaccination.
- Children 12 – 17 must have proof of at least 1 vaccination dose if travelling alone but if with parents, they can be unvaccinated.
- Children under 12 do not require prior vaccination but can only enter if accompanied by vaccinated parents or guardians.
Test and Go Scheme
Under Test and Go, you can fly into the country and after a mandatory PCR Test on arrival, you need wait at a SHA++hotel for only as long as it takes for the negative test to be returned. After that, you can then travel freely around the country. Please note you are also required to take a self-administered Antigen (LFT) test on Day 5 of your stay, reporting the results as per instructions issued by the government on your arrival.
Criteria for Entry – Test and Go Scheme
- Proof of paid booking at an approved SHA++ or AQ hotel for Day 1 . This payment will include the RT-PCR Tests, Day 5 Antigen test and airport transfer on arrival. For approved hotels, start your search here.
- Health insurance coverage (including Covid-19) of minimum $20,000. This does not need to be from a Thai insurance company.
- Visa or visa exemption – the standard tourist visa, the 30 days exemption, all Non Os are available. Allow a few weeks for processing.
- You are no longer required to show a negative PCR test before travel.
On Arrival – Test and Go Scheme
- On arrival, all passengers are met by the authorities and taken through health checks and Immigration to the appropriate areas. You must install the Mor Chana app on your phone.
- You will be required to take RT-PCR test at either the airport or a test centre or your booked SHA++ hotel. The hotel will also be in charge of your transfer from the airport. You cannot then leave the hotel until your negative result arrives. Once the test returns negative, you can then move freely around Thailand.
- On Day 5, you are also required to take a self-administered Antigen (LFT) test, reporting the results as per instructions issued by the government on your arrival. Your Day 1 hotel will give you this, you pay for it as part of that booking. Once the test returns negative, you are free to continue your trip.
- It will be mandatory to follow all local Covid-19 rules and regulations such as mask wearing and social distancing.
- If you test positive in either of these tests or indeed if you are tagged as close contact to someone on the flight who tests positive (family member or complete stranger), then your are taken to a government medical facility for check-ups. Depending on whether your infection develops or not, you will either stay in the hospital or medical facility or be transferred to a hospitel/hotel for a strict 10 day room quarantine.
Sandbox Scheme
If you are double vaccinated, you can also use the sandbox scheme, whereby you stay in an SHA++ hotel in a specific zone for 5 days – a soft quarantine. After the initial arrival test has come back negative, you are not confined to the hotel but can travel about that zone freely.
Criteria for Entry – Sandbox Scheme
The criteria for entry are exactly as outlined above for Test and Go – proof of vaccination, insurance, paid hotel booking, Thailand Pass and installation of Mor Chana app. You are no longer required to show a negative PCR test before travel.
Note the proof of paid booking needs to be for 5 days at an approved SHA++ hotel. This will include the cost of an initial RT-PCR test on arrival, sealed route transfer and a self-administered Antigen (Lateral Flow) test on Day 5.
On Arrival – Sandbox Scheme
- RT-PCR Test on arrival – confined to room until negative result is returned. Your hotel will transfer you from the airport.
- Free movement around the area but must return to the designated hotel every night. You can change hotels up to 3 times during the 5 days though check each zone for specifics on this rule.
- On Day 5, you are also required to take a self-administered Antigen (LFT) test, reporting the results as per instructions issued by the government on your arrival. Your Day 1 hotel will give you this, you pay for it as part of that booking.
- Free to travel around Thailand from Day 6 onwards (provided the Day 5 test is negative).
- It will be mandatory to follow all local Covid-19 rules and regulations such as mask wearing and social distancing.
- If you test positive in either of these tests or indeed if you are tagged as close contact to someone on the flight who tests positive (family member or complete stranger), then your are taken to a government medical facility for check-ups. Depending on whether your infection develops or not, you will either stay in the hospital or medical facility or be transferred to a hospitel/hotel for a strict 10 day room quarantine.
Sandbox Zones
| Krabi Phang Nga Phuket Chon Buri (only Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Koh Si Chang) Sattahip district (only Na Jomtien, Bang Sare) | Surat Thani (only Koh Samui) Koh Phangan Koh Tao Trat (only Koh Chang) |
Sandbox Points of Entry
- By air at Phuket International Airport for Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Phuket.
- By air at Krabi International Airport for Krabi.
- By air at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, then transit on a sealed flight for Ko Samui or Phuket.
- By air at Suvarnabhumi Airport, then travel by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route to Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray – in Chon Buri
- By air at Suvarnabhumi Airport, then travel by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route to and Koh Chang in Trat.
Unvaccinated – All Countries
If you are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, you will be required to enter a 5 day AQ hotel room quarantine. Of course, you follow too all of the other requirements as outlined above – proof of onward travel, insurance, visa or visa exemption, Thailand Pass and so on.
Note that you must show proof of the AQ or SHA+ hotel booking for the full 5 day duration required. This cost will include the RT-PCR test for Day 5.
Thailand Pass
The so-called Thailand Pass is the final stage in the application process. It is issued online from Thailand once you submit the relevant paperwork as per the criteria listed above – the link is here. Bank on 5 to 7 working days for its processsing. You will be issued with a QR code.
Updated 2/4/22
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