Thailand Opens up For All Fully Vaccinated Travelers from Feb.2022

Thailand again eases international travel to the country. See what are the latest travel updates that will be effective from February 1, 2022.

Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) approved the resumption of the Exemption from Quarantine (TEST & GO) entry scheme, the reopening of Pattaya and Ko Chang Sandbox destinations, and the reintroduction of the Sandbox Extension programme effective from 1 February, 2022, from 09.00 Hrs. Thailand time.

TEST & GO Thailand Pass

Pre-Arrival Requirements

All travellers must have the following documents for entering Thailand:

1. A Thailand Pass. *The system will reopen for new TEST & GO applications from 1 February, 2022 (09.00 Hrs. Thailand Time)
2. A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
   • Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents with a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling, are not required to have a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result and can have a saliva test when entering the Kingdom.
   • For arrivals by water, everyone on board the vessels must have a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected within the officially specified time frame. Anyone on aboard with a history of COVID-19 infection within a period between 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery.
3. An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000.
   • Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement.
4. A proof of prepayment for 2 separate nights of accommodation at government-approved hotel/s, such as, SHA Extra Plus (SHA++), AQ, OQ, or AHQ on Day 1 and Day 5, and the expenses for 2 RT-PCR tests on Day 1 and Day 5. The prepayment for Day 1 must include an accommodation, a test and a prearranged transfer from the airport to the hotel. *Travellers can book 2 different hotels for the accommodation on Day 1 and Day 5. However, on both Day 1 and Day 5, they must stay within the room for the RT-PCR test result.
5. A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery
   • Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand.
   • Travellers 12-17 years of age travelling to Thailand unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this requirement.
   • Travellers 6-11 years of age, travelling with parents, are exempt from this requirement.
   • For arrivals by water, everyone on board must be fully vaccinated. This is except for travellers under 18 years of age, travelling with parents or guardians.
   • Travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered by medical treatment, and travellers who have received at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine after post-infection must have a certificate of COVID-19 recovery.

All travellers must undergo ‘exit screening’ at the point of departure, i.e., at the airline check-in counter and present the required documents to the person-in-charge to carry out the checks.

On-Arrival Requirements / During the Stay

1. All travellers must undergo ‘entry screening’, including body temperature check at the point of entry.
2. Present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
3. Proceed to the prearranged accommodation or medical facility to undergo the first RT-PCR test. The trip must be by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route. Then, all travellers must wait for the test result within the hotel only. Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents, can have a saliva test.
   • If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers are free to go anywhere in Thailand. However, they must stay at their prepaid accommodation on Day 5 and undergo their second COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (they must stay within the room for the RT-PCR test result.) The second test can also be taken when the travellers experience respiratory symptoms.
   • Travellers whose test result returns as positive will be referred for appropriate medical treatment in accordance with Thailand’s Communicable Diseases Act B.E. 2558 (2015). The expenses must be covered by the required insurance for foreign travellers, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates.
     • Pending on their conditions, they may be medically advised to receive treatment in either hospital hotel isolation or community isolation.
     • During receiving the medical treatment – at least 10 days, they must remain in their accommodation only. They should not leave their accommodation unless utmost necessary, and must notify the Communicable Disease Control officer in-charge.
     • After having recovered from COVID-19, they will receive a medical certificate of recovery.
4. While in Thailand, travellers are advised to strictly follow standard, good personal hygiene practices; such as, wear a mask in public, maintain hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer), and keep physical distance of at least 1 metre from others.
   • Travellers who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms should get tested. If testing positive they must get an appropriate medical treatment. Those with COVID-19 testing appointment must get tested.
5. All travellers must download and install the MorChana application, and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the result on Day 5-6 in the application.

Meanwhile, travellers who have applied/obtained their Thailand Pass QR code before 22 December, 2021, with scheduled arrival dates in Thailand from 24 December, 2021, onwards, are still required to undergo their second COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique at government-designated facilities on Day 5-6 of their stay in Thailand, or when they experience respiratory symptoms (no additional cost).

Guidelines for Domestic/International Departure

For domestic departure, travellers must show proof that they have received a negative result for their RT-PCR test.

For international departure, it is the responsibility of travellers or their organisations to make sure that the travellers meet the requirements of their specific international destination regardless of the point of departure.

Sandbox destinations expanded 6 provinces

Also from 1 February, 2022, the CCSA approved the reopening of Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray – in Chon Buri, and Ko Chang in Trat as Sandbox destinations.

The Sandbox Extension programme will also be introduced between Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), where Sandbox travellers can travel within these destinations during the first 7 days in Thailand and can change accommodation three times (can book 3 different hotels).

This means fully vaccinated travellers from overseas who are planning to travel to Thailand under the Sandbox programme can choose to undergo their first 7 days in either Krabi, Phang-Na, Phuket, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray), and Trat (Ko Chang).

Pre-Arrival Requirements

All travellers must have the following documents for entering Thailand:

1. A Thailand Pass
2. A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
   • Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents with a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling, are not required to have a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result and can have a saliva test when entering the Kingdom.
   • For arrivals by water, everyone on board the vessels must have a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected within the officially specified time frame. Anyone on aboard with a history of COVID-19 infection within a period between 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery.
3. An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000.
   • Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement.
4. A confirmed payment for at least a 7-day stay at approved accommodation establishments; such as, a SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) hotel, within the above-mentioned eligible Sandbox destinations.
   • Travellers to Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Phuket can change accommodation twice within the first 7 days (can book 2 different hotels) within the province.
   • Travellers to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao can change accommodation 3 times within the first 7 days (can book 3 different hotels). However, they must stay the first night on Ko Samui and must receive a negative result for their first RT-PCR test, before being able to change accommodation to other hotels on either Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao. Or they can choose to book 3 different hotels on Ko Samui alone.
   • For travellers under the Sandbox Extension programme, as well as travellers to Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang), we will provide more details as soon as possible.
5. A confirmed payment for 2 RT-PCR tests;
   • Krabi, Phang-Nga and Phuket: Travellers can reserve and prepay for the 2 RT-PCR tests via www.thailandpsas.com (2,100 Baht/test, or 4,200 Baht/2 tests).
   • Surat Thai (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao): Travellers can book and prepay for the 2 RT-PCR tests when booking and prepaying for accommodation at SHA++ hotels (2,200 Baht/test, or 4,400 Baht/2 tests). The first test will be conducted at Samui International Airport, and the second test at any of the designated hospitals on Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao.
   • For travellers under the Sandbox Extension programme, as well as travellers to Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang), we will provide more details as soon as possible.
6. A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery
   • Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand.
   • Travellers 12-17 years of age travelling to Thailand unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this requirement.
   • Travellers 6-11 years of age, travelling with parents, are exempt from this requirement.
   • For arrivals by water, everyone on board must be fully vaccinated. This is except for travellers under 18 years of age, travelling with parents or guardians. *We will provide an update on this as soon as the official information becomes available.
   • Travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered by medical treatment and travellers who have received at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine after post-infection must have a certificate of COVID-19 recovery.

All travellers must undergo ‘exit screening’ at the point of departure, i.e., at the airline check-in counter and present the required documents to the person-in-charge to carry out the checks.

On-Arrival Requirements / During the Stay

1. All travellers must undergo ‘entry screening’ including body temperature check at the point of entry.
   • Travellers arriving on a direct flight to an international airport at the Sandbox destination must present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
   • Travellers with a transit flight to the airport at the Sandbox destination (Currently only Samui Airport, and from 1 February 2022 also at Phuket International Airport) must undergo entry screening at the first point of entry or at the final destination:
     • At the first point of entry, present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures before boarding the transit flight;
     • At the final destination of entry, present the required documents to the Immigration/health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
2. Proceed to the prearranged accommodation or medical facility to undergo the first RT-PCR test. The trip must be by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route. Then, all travellers must wait for the test result within the hotel only. Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents, can have a saliva test.
   • Travellers with a negative test result can enjoy travel activities within the Sandbox areas throughout the 7 days, but must return to their prearranged accommodation on a nightly basis. They are not allowed to stay overnight in any other places. In addition, they must undergo their second RT-PCR test on Day 5-6, or when they experience respiratory symptoms.
   • Travellers whose test result returns as positive will be referred for appropriate medical treatment in accordance with Thailand’s Communicable Diseases Act B.E. 2558 (2015). The expenses must be covered by the required insurance for foreign travellers, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates.
     • Pending on their conditions, they may be medically advised to receive treatment in either hospital hotel isolation or community isolation.
     • While receiving the medical treatment – at least 10 days, they must remain in their accommodation only. They should not leave their accommodation unless utmost necessary, and must notify the Communicable Disease Control officer in-charge.
     • After having recovered from COVID-19, they will receive a medical certificate of recovery.
3. Travellers must stay at least the first 7 nights within a Sandbox destination if planning to continue the journey to other destinations in Thailand. If staying less than 7 nights, the traveller must leave Thailand to another country immediately.
4. While in Thailand, travellers are advised to strictly follow standard, good personal hygiene practices; such as, wear a mask in public, maintain hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or using hand sanitiser), and keep physical distance of at least 1 metre from others.
   1. Travellers who experience COVID-like symptoms should get tested. If testing positive, they must get the appropriate medical treatment. Those with a COVID-19 testing appointment must get tested.
5. All travellers must download and install the MorChana application, and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the result on Day 5-6 in the application.
6. Travellers who intend to stay less than 7 nights in a Sandbox destination must undergo the second RT-PCR COVID-19 test 1 day prior to their departure date to another country. A negative RT-PCR test result (COVID-19 not detected) issued no more than 72 hours before travelling is required when exiting/entering the Sandbox destinations.
7. Travellers who intend to stay more than 7 nights and to continue their journey to other parts of Thailand must undergo the second RT-PCR COVID-19 test on Day 5-6. After receiving a negative test result on Day 7, travellers can obtain a ‘Release Form’ and from Day 8 continue their journey domestically.

Guidelines for Domestic/International Departure

For domestic departure, after having stayed the first 7 days in the above-mentioned eligible Sandbox destinations, travellers must obtain a ‘Release Form’ from their accommodation and from Day 8 are free to go anywhere in Thailand.

For international departure, it is the responsibility of travellers or their organisations to make sure that the travellers meet the requirements of their specific international destination regardless of the point of departure.

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