Thailand Travel Advice: Everything You Need To Know
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- Last Updated: February 16, 2022
Since the grip of the pandemic shook the travel industry to its very foundations in 2020, we’ve all been clamouring for the time when we can help travellers begin exploring the world again.
Thailand has since taken its first steps towards a wider reopening. Initially, with its Phuket Sandbox model and 7+7 extension, and now with the reopening of the kingdom since November 1st, without requiring quarantine for vaccinated travellers from certain countries and territories which the Thai government has classified as ‘low risk’.
Current Situation
Thailand, like much of Southeast Asia, did an admirable job in 2020 at staving off the early waves of the pandemic as it ripped across the world.
2021, however, saw more transmissible variants of Covid-19, such as the Delta variant, becoming widespread in the country and causing record numbers of positive cases.
To date, Thailand has had a reported total of Country ‘Thailand’ is invalid. confirmed cases within the country, and there have been Country ‘Thailand’ is invalid. deaths. After early failings in the vaccination rollout across the kingdom, significant progress has been made in recent weeks.
As a result of the current situation, the government implemented provincial zoning to designate a variety of restrictions within the country.
The status of each province as of January 24th, 2022, can be seen below:
The internal restrictions, combined with the improvement of the vaccination drive has allowed Thailand to reach a point where the government are comfortable in trying to restart tourism to the kingdom.
Thailand’s tourism industry normally accounts for around 12% of the country’s GDP, so getting things up and running again has become a priority for the nation. While the pandemic continues to ravage jobs and businesses that are entirely reliant on international travel.
Thailand Reopening: Is Thailand Open to Tourists?
At this time, there are three official channels of entry with which people can enter the country.
- Exemption from Quarantine (Test and Go)
- Sandbox Programme
- Alternative Quarantine
It should be noted that changes have regularly been announced with no prior warning during the course of the pandemic, and reversals in policy have also been commonplace. Always check for the latest Thailand travel advice with your nearest Thai Embassy before booking travel for yourself or advising your travellers.
Exemption from Quarantine (Test and Go)
The ‘Exemption from Quarantine (Test and Go) ‘ channel of entry is Thailand’s broadest step by far to reopen the country and allow people to travel again.
From which countries can vaccinated travellers enter Thailand?
Thailand has now opened to all countries and territories around the world for vaccinated travellers. Unvaccinated travellers may travel to Thailand but they are required to undergo a 10-day quarantine on arrival.
Quarantine Exemption (Test and Go) Travel Requirements
In order for travellers to be eligible to enter via the Test and Go system, a number of requirements must be met.
- All travellers must stay in an SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) certified hotel on Day 1 and Day 5 to undergo PCR tests and await negative results. Outside of this, travellers are free to explore the country.
- All travellers entering through the Test and Go program must be fully vaccinated for at least 14 days before travelling.
- All travellers must upload a reservation confirmation at an approved SHA++ hotel for the night of their arrival and Day 5.
- All foreign travellers must have medical insurance that covers Covid-19, with a minimum coverage of 50,000 USD.
- All travellers must have a negative RT-PCR test result issued within 72 hours before departure.
Sandbox Program
If the ‘Test and Go’ program is not suitable. An alternative channel of entry is via the updated sandbox program. The sandbox program allows travellers to travel anywhere around the sandbox regions, but they must stay 7 consecutive days in SHA++ hotels and must not leave the sandbox area. They may change hotel up to 3 times.
Where can I travel to inside of the Blue Zone?
- Krabi
- Chon Buri (Banglamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Ko Si Chang, and Sattahip – Na Jomtien and Bang Sarey)
- Trat (Ko Chang)
- Phang-Nga
- Phuket
- Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao)
Blue Zone Sandbox Travel Requirements
To access the Blue Zone and the Sandbox Program, travellers may arrive from any country around the world but they must enter Thailand by air.
- The traveller must have been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to travelling, and show a Certificate of Vaccination. (Travellers previously infected with Covid-19 within 3 months of the travel date must have received one dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travel).
- Travellers under 18 years of age, and travelling with parents or guardians, are exempt from the vaccination requirement.
- All foreign travellers must have medical insurance that covers Covid-19, with a minimum coverage of 50,000 USD.
- All travellers must have a negative RT-PCR test result issued within 72 hours before departure.
- All travellers must have a confirmed pre-payment of SHA++ accommodation for the first 7 nights, a pre-paid RT-PCR test to be performed on arrival, and a second PCR on Day 5.
Alternative Quarantine
The Alternative Quarantine channel of entry is the only route that unvaccinated travellers may consider if they wish to enter Thailand. It is open to all countries like the sandbox, but is designed with a longer quarantine period and greater restrictions an attempt to avoid importing more of the virus into the country.
Travellers entering via Alternative Quarantine must stay at a designated Alternative Quarantine Hotel for 10 days.
AQ travellers must show proof of insurance that covers Covid-19 and has a minimum of 50,000 USD coverage.
Two RT-PCR tests are required; one on arrival, and one on day 8 or 9 of their stay. This is in addition to the RT-PCR required to be taken within 72 hours before travelling to Thailand.
Thailand Pass: What you need to know
Introduced on November 1st, 2021, Thailand Pass is the new online system for applying for entry into the country, replacing the previously required Certificate of Entry (COE).
It is a requirement for all travellers arriving by air into Thailand, irrespective of if they are entering through the Quarantine Exempt (Test and Go) program, the updated ‘Blue Zone’ Sandbox program or alternative quarantine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommend that travellers planning to come to Thailand apply for Thailand Pass at least 7 days prior to travel in order to allow time for all documents to be processed.
Travellers can register for Thailand Pass at tp.consular.go.th.
Check out our full step-by-step guide to applying for Thailand Pass.
Can I travel to Thailand from the UK?
Travelling to Thailand from the UK is completely possible. Vaccinated travellers may take advantage of the Quarantine Exempt (Test and Go) Program to enter without quarantine and explore the country.
As well as ensuring they have followed the pre-travel requirements for entering Thailand, UK travellers will need to keep a few requirements in mind when returning to the UK.
Before travelling to England – fully vaccinated
- Travellers vaccinated in the UK, the EU, the US or any recognised country for vaccine administration do not need to take a Covid test before departure back to the UK.
- Travellers must be able to prove they are fully vaccinated before travelling.
- Travellers must complete a passenger locator form – to be completed in the 48 hours before arriving in England.
Before you travel to England – not fully vaccinated
Before you travel to England you must:
- take a covid-19 test – to be taken in the 3 days before you travel to England
- book and pay for day 2 and day 8 Covid-19 PCR tests – to be taken after arrival in England
- complete a passenger locator form – to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England
On Arrival in England
- Fully vaccinated travellers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland may now opt to take a lateral flow test, instead of the more expensive PCR test, on or before day two of arrival.
- Unvaccinated travellers must take PCR tests on or before day two of arrival, and on day 8 of arrival.
Can I travel to Thailand from Germany?
Travelling to Thailand from Germany is now much easier since the new channels of entry launched on November 1st. With Germany being on Thailand’s list of ‘low-risk’ countries, vaccinated German travellers may now visit Thailand under the ‘Test and Go’ program without quarantine.
As Thailand has been considered a ‘High-Risk Area’ by the Robert Koch Institute since August 8th 2021, travellers may wish to consider the requirements of re-entering Germany following their trip.
Travellers must complete a digital procedure before arriving in Germany which can be done online at https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de/#/ and confirmation must be to hand when travelling, either in PDF digital format or printed out on paper.
There is also a requirement to travel home or to other arranged accommodation directly from the airport and isolate for 10 days.
Travellers can end this quarantine early by either; submitting proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 at www.einreiseanmeldung.de, or by submitting proof of a negative test result. The home quarantine can then be ended from the time the proof is submitted.
Recognised vaccines by the Paul-Erlich Institut in Germany include; Comirnaty (Pfizer), Janssen, Spikevax (Moderna), and Vaxzevria (Astra-Zeneca).
Children under 12 years of age who are entering Germany from a high-risk country, may end quarantine automatically after 5 days without submitting proof of a negative test result.
