There still seems to be some debate over whether expats and Thai nationals can enter Phuket having had both Covid vaccinations without having to enter on a tourist visa and stay in an approved hotel and have 3 covid tests done over 2 weeks. I am a Phuket resident on a retirement visa who will have first Astra Zeneca vaccine on June 28th, and second appointment is mid September. If I leave Thailand after that for a holiday with a re-entry permit can I re-enter the country via Phuket or for that matter in October transit via Bangkok and go home, or will i need to enter on a tourist visa and stay in a hotel for 2 weeks. Appears to be conflicting reports in the media around this. 

If the Phuket sandbox goes into effect on 1 July 2021 as currently planned, the conditions for entry will hopefully be published in the Government Gazette not later than 30 June. Until then, everything you hear or read is speculation.

Once the details of the requirements for entry into Phuket starting 1 July are announced, you have to expect that these will change by the time of your planned entry mid-October. If and when and with how many hours or days of advance notice changes will be announced remains to be seen. Based on past experience, notice may be quite short.

I know several expats presently in Europe that follow this topic with great interest. The idea of spending two weeks in  Phuket (not something I would consider under 'normal' circumstances) in relative freedom is still a lot more attractive than being locked up in a hotel room as a virtual prisoner for two weeks in an ASQ hotel. Even if you have to spend 300 Euro's or so for three PCR tests in Phuket. However, early schemes of the sandbox (from the beginning of this month) seemed to indicate that only tourists could partake. So the final scheme is eagerly awaited. Don't be surprised, however, if it changes again after a week or two.

If nobody knows what will happen in one week, making any predictions about October is useless.

19 hours ago, Puccini said:

If the Phuket sandbox goes into effect on 1 July 2021 as currently planned, the conditions for entry will hopefully be published in the Government Gazette not later than 30 June. Until then, everything you hear or read is speculation.

The updated conditions will be published on 02/08/2021. Once all the ' volunteers ' have booked and paid... ????????????

Quote

There still seems to be some debate over whether expats and Thai nationals can enter Phuket having had both Covid vaccinations without having to enter on a tourist visa and stay in an approved hotel and have 3 covid tests done over 2 weeks.

Expats and Thai nationals can enter Phuket having had both Covid vaccinations (or 1 Johnson & Johnson jab) without having to enter on a tourist visa.  They will, however, have to stay in a SHA Plus hotel for 14 days and have 3 covid tests done over 2 weeks which they will have pay for themselves.

That is the current state of the Phuket Sandbox due to begin on July 1.  October is about 4 months away so most likely things will change, probably in the direction of being more open/less restrictive.  The Phuket Sandbox would allow you to leave Thailand and return on re-entry permit (for a retirement extension), but currently starting July 1, it would be under the conditions stated in your quote above.  What the rules will be in October no one really knows.  It should become clearer over time.

Many bizarre things were reported in the media:  Thais couldn't use the sandbox, expats who live in Phuket couldn't use the sandbox, everyone would be wearing a bracelet on their wrists, Thais living in Thailand couldn't visit Phuket.  None of that is true.  Reporting bizarre things in the media is a good way to gain attention.  

The current rules should be published in the Royal Gazette any day now and then we can all read about the Phuket Sandbox that will begin on July 1.  The details will be important.  What the rules will be in October is uncertain.  We will have a better idea when we see how the Phuket Sandbox actually works in July.

You're asking a question that in a few days will have a much more definite answer than is possible to give today.

14 hours ago, skatewash said:

Expats and Thai nationals can enter Phuket having had both Covid vaccinations (or 1 Johnson & Johnson jab) without having to enter on a tourist visa.  They will, however, have to stay in a SHA Plus hotel for 14 days and have 3 covid tests done over 2 weeks which they will have pay for themselves.

That is the current state of the Phuket Sandbox due to begin on July 1.  October is about 4 months away so most likely things will change, probably in the direction of being more open/less restrictive.  The Phuket Sandbox would allow you to leave Thailand and return on re-entry permit (for a retirement extension), but currently starting July 1, it would be under the conditions stated in your quote above.  What the rules will be in October no one really knows.  It should become clearer over time.

Many bizarre things were reported in the media:  Thais couldn't use the sandbox, expats who live in Phuket couldn't use the sandbox, everyone would be wearing a bracelet on their wrists, Thais living in Thailand couldn't visit Phuket.  None of that is true.  Reporting bizarre things in the media is a good way to gain attention.  

The current rules should be published in the Royal Gazette any day now and then we can all read about the Phuket Sandbox that will begin on July 1.  The details will be important.  What the rules will be in October is uncertain.  We will have a better idea when we see how the Phuket Sandbox actually works in July.

You're asking a question that in a few days will have a much more definite answer than is possible to give today.

Exactly what I said. Once the ' volunteers ' have booked and paid they will know what amount of sand they will get.????????

Fake news debunked. If you want updated information go to Facebook sandbox Phuket. 

TV Posters are still reacting to week old news across most threads 

Link to Facebook Phuket Sandbox:

 

https://m.facebook.com/phuketsandbox/