Thailand entry rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Image: Tourists on a beach in Thailand. File photo. Reuters.

 

On Monday (Nov 1), Thailand will reopen to international foreign tourists for the first time in almost two years.

 

With the reopening just days away, the Thai government has provided a little more clarity on the entry process and requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated foreign tourists.

 

Anyone arriving in Thailand from November 1 will essentially be grouped into three categories:

 

1. Fully vaccinated arriving from a ‘low risk’ country

 

Anyone who is fully vaccinated and arriving from one of the 46 countries deemed to be low risk must stay one night in an SHA+ certified hotel or alternative quarantine hotel for one night while they await the result of a RT-PCR test.

 

If the test is negative, they are free to travel anywhere in Thailand without restrictions. Thailand is calling this process ‘Test & Go’.

 

 

 

2. Fully vaccinated from a non low risk country

 

People who are fully vaccinated but arrive from a country not listed among the 46 low risk countries are required to stay at an SHA+ hotel in a Blue Zone ‘sandbox’ area for seven nights. 

 

If they test negative on day 6 or 7 of their stay, they are free to travel elsewhere in Thailand. 

 

All of Thailand’s main tourist destinations are ‘sandbox’ areas, such as Bangkok and Phuket. However, some provinces are only opening certain districts to tourists. 

 

For example, in Chonburi, tourists are only allowed to visit Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Sri Racha, Ko Si Chang and Bang Saray. In Prachuap Khiri Khan, tourists from non low risk countries can visit Hua Hin and Nong Khae districts. 

 

Thailand is calling this process ‘Living in the Blue Zone’.

 

 

3. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated 

 

Regardless of which country they are travelling from, anyone who is unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated are required to stay in an alternative quarantine hotel for 10 nights. If they test negative on day 9 or 10 of their stay they can travel to other areas of Thailand.

 

Before departure to Thailand

 

Before departing for Thailand, foreign tourists need to make sure they have the required documentation listed below and have applied for a Thailand Pass, which replaces the Certificate of Entry needed previously to enter Thailand.

 

 The required documents are:

 

- A Certificate of Vaccination (fully vaccinated) with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling.

 

- Those previously infected within 3 months must have received 1 dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling.

 

- Travellers under 12 years of age, travelling with parents or guardians, are exempt from the vaccination requirement.

 

- A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before  travelling (all travellers).

 

- A confirmed payment for a 1-night stay at SHA+, AQ, OQ, or AHQ accommodation, and 1 RT-PCR test.

 

- An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000.

 

How to register for Thailand Pass:

 

- Register for a Thailand Pass at https://tp.consular.go.th/ (available from 9am on 1 November, 2021). 

 

- Upload the required document (along with the valid visa/re-entry permit, if required), and allow 3-5 working days for the       approval process. Wait for the approval of the Vaccine Certification and paid accommodation, including the RT-PCR test.

 

- Confirm the approval, and receive a Thailand Pass QR Code.

 

 

Additional info:

 

- Entry to Thailand is via one of six approved airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui and U-Tapao. Buriram airport can only be used for charter flights. 

 

- Everyone who arrives in Thailand must download the Mor Chana mobile app

 

- Expats or Thais returning to Thailand can not quarantine at their home in Thailand and must stay in an approved SHA+ or quarantine hotel.

 

- Travel from the airport to hotel must take place via a ‘sealed route’ or rather approved SHA+ vehicle, organised by the hotel.

 

List of 46 low risk countries and territories

 

List of 17 'Blue Zone' destinations

 

Bangkok
Krabi
Chon Buri (Banglamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Ko Si Chang, and Sattahip – Na Jomtien and Bang Sarey)
Chiang Mai (Mueang, Doi Tao, Mae Rim, and Mae Taeng)
Trat (Ko Chang)
Buri Ram (Mueang)
Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin and Nong Kae)
Phang-Nga
Phetchaburi (Cha-Am)
Phuket
Ranong (Ko Phayam)
Rayong (Ko Samet)
Loei (Chiang Khan)
Samut Prakan (Suvarnabhumi Airport)
Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao)
Nong Khai (Mueang, Sangkhom, Si Chiang Mai, and Tha Bo)
Udon Thani (Mueang, Ban Dung, Kumphawapi, Na Yung, Nong Han, and Prachaksinlapakhom)

 

 

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

 

 

 

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[WHansen]

Personally, i can deal with all this, but i will not book anything until i can go out for a beer with my friends.

Fingers crossed, that is not too far away.

[smedly]

2 minutes ago, WHansen said:

Personally, i can deal with all this, but i will not book anything until i can go out for a beer with my friends.

Fingers crossed, that is not too far away.

you don't have enough fingers 

[ThailandRyan]

25 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Expats or Thais returning to Thailand can not quarantine at their home in Thailand and must stay in an approved SHA+ or quarantine hotel.

And there it is. Yes it is a quarantine, and not quarantine FREE.....

[Rampant Rabbit]

I  given it a  lot of  thought and ..............no thanks, also  looks  like a  sneaky way to introduce  permanent healthcare  coverage...guess  Ill  neve r leave  again

[Geoffggi]

 

37 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

All of Thailand’s main tourist destinations are ‘sandbox’ areas, such as Bangkok and Phuket. However, some provinces are only opening certain districts to tourists. 

I would love to know how they propose to successfully police all of these rules and regulations, they will need to double the number of police ....LOL

[Thailand]

1st November is going to be. Huge success-not! They still don't get it do they.

[HashBrownHarry]

So so many complaints, are people not happy the entry requirements are improving??

 

For someone that has entered and left 5 times over the last 18 months, all these positive changes are a step in the right direction and make a massive difference.

 

A lot of the people complaining also appear to be the ones that don't even travel, the mind boggles......

[Twin Peaks]

Except when 1 night is 2 nights based on a late arrival. I have had the 2 night requirement confirmed by a test and go hotel.

[steven100]

To be really honest ,    it's all still far to complicated and messy .....

If I'm going on holiday,   I expect as little hassle as possible :

 

*  provide a vaccine certificate

*  1 x test conducted at the airport upon entry, if negative then free to travel anywhere in Thailand.

No CoE,  No test & go, No thai pass.

 

If no vaccine certificate :

quarantine 7 days at SHA or AQH 

*  2 X tests,   one at day one of quarantine, second at day 7 of quarantine, if both negative then free to travel Thailand.   

No CoE,  No test & go, No thai pass.

 

 

That's an easy plan imo.  

 

 

 

 

[johng]

Why do Thai nationals  still not have to  provide a negative test before boarding the plane ?

doesn't that "endanger" the whole plane load of tested passengers who may then on arrival test positive and have to be "incarcerated" for 10 days of their "holiday"

[ThailandRyan]

11 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

 

I would love to know how they propose to successfully police all of these rules and regulations, they will need to double the number of police ....LOL

Exactly, and what differentiates me, a resident of Bangkok on an extension of stay, who leaves for a trip outbound and then returns.  I am classified as a tourist upon arrival, made t to quarantine for 1 or 2 days, and then I go home.  As I said how would they know I was not an International tourist if I traveled to visit CM, or Phuket unless they hold me up and check my papers....getting ludicrous in my book.

 

What about a family who came to visit more of their family who live outside the sandbox areas and those province areas opened for tourists, will they be denied the visit?

[jerrymahoney]

18 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

So so many complaints, are people not happy the entry requirements are improving??

 

For someone that has entered and left 5 times over the last 18 months, all these positive changes are a step in the right direction and make a massive difference.

 

A lot of the people complaining also appear to be the ones that don't even travel, the mind boggles......

Yes it's What-About-Me? time.

[JCP108]

26 minutes ago, johng said:

Why do Thai nationals  still not have to  provide a negative test before boarding the plane ?

doesn't that "endanger" the whole plane load of tested passengers who may then on arrival test positive and have to be "incarcerated" for 10 days of their "holiday"

I think it's 14 days, not 10.

[JCP108]

55 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

And there it is. Yes it is a quarantine, and not quarantine FREE.....

I noticed that, too. Finally being honest about it.

[Gandtee]

So how does an 88 year old get insurance to return from the UK? Is it Health insurance or just a Covid insurance?

[Jotho]

Take test before you go and take test again right away when landing... What is the point?!?!?!?!?!?! If you dont test positive 24 hours before travelling to Thailand, then you sure wont be positive when taking the next test in Thailand, and if you end up showing positive, then that testing is rigged .. No way that you will go from negative to positive within 24 hours!!!!  And a test costing 2000 baht stinks way of some corrupt money making scheme for somebody ????
Aswell does it stink that you are not able to use a normal taxi to the hotel but have to book transport from your 1 day hotel(prison) and riddle me this if the prices on those will be some unknown high amount added by some unknown factor ????

[ThailandRyan]

25 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Yes it's What-About-Me? time.

Your view, but it affects many would be travelers who come to visit family, and the disparate treatment is noted.  Why should a international traveler be treated differently from a domestic traveler?

[BE88]

 

But for us residents it seems to me that if I want to go out and come back I will have to be a permanent tourist with insurance in the blue areas.

 

How to turn an expat into a permanent tourist

 

[jerrymahoney]

16 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Your view, but it affects many would be travelers who come to visit family, and the disparate treatment is noted.  Why should a international traveler be treated differently from a domestic traveler?

Yes that is  my view that -- at least for now -- those are the regulations and one should consider how best to deal with them not go on about why one thinks they should be something different.

[internationalism]

17 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

So how does an 88 year old get insurance to return from the UK? Is it Health insurance or just a Covid insurance?

just covid insurance.

from 1.5 to 2.5k per month (depending of departure country). For the whole stay in thailand or end of visa/extension

[fangless]

1 hour ago, HashBrownHarry said:

people complaining also appear to be the ones that don't even travel,

They maybe not travelling because of the reasons behind the complaints perhaps!

[Bkk Brian]

54 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Yes it's What-About-Me? time.

Considering each potential traveller has their own unique circumstances that may or may not allow them to meet all the requirements then yes indeed it is

 

"What-About-Me"

[Fat is a type of crazy]

So I arrive at night and they give me a test and I stay at the same hotel I would have and I get up and find I am still covid free and off I go. I just hope hotel prices stay low for February..

[EddieCM]

The entry requirements and qualification path right up to receiving a 'go' from being tested negative on the second RT-PCR seem to be clear, even if they don't suit everybody. But what is the path if you test positive?

• Where, and to what kind of facility will you be taken?
• Will you receive further tests and/or treatment?
• How long will you be obliged to remain there?
• What will be the personal costs?

It would be nice to arrive in chaotic Thailand with some degree of preparation for either eventuality.

 

[Tim207]

Anybody know what a blue zone is? My home province is not a blue zone and i have no idea if that means i cant go or just no booze. Dont care about the bars but if their tracking app is meant to keep us in the blue zones not much point in going back.

[John Drake]

Yes, do all this stuff and still worry when you get to Thailand OR just go to another warm weather country that doesn't have all these rules, regulations, paperwork, tests, insurance, quarantines.

[ThailandRyan]

13 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Yes that is  my view that -- at least for now -- those are the regulations and one should consider how best to deal with them not go on about why one thinks they should be something different.

And by traveling out and then returning I become affected disparitly by having regulations added that I don't have now as a person residing in Thailand, yet I will still reside here as I do now upon my return but have different conditions to live under. Can you see that point or not?

[steven100]

this is what it is    ......     a headache 

 

 

[Gandtee]

21 minutes ago, internationalism said:

just covid insurance.

from 1.5 to 2.5k per month (depending of departure country). For the whole stay in thailand or end of visa/extension

What currency are you using?