Thailand Significantly Eases Entry Requirements and Ends ‘Test and Go’ Program Thailand has taken a monumental step back to normality as the nation eases entry COVID-19 entry requirements. Despite reopening for tourism in 2020—albeit with the controversial Sandbox Schemes—Thailand’s entry requirements have remained strict, especially compared with Western nations. Thailand hopes easing entry requirements will attract …
Thailand has just released a timeline for the complete removal of all their Covid-19 related entry restrictions.
The Southeast Asian traveler hot-spot – home to the world’s most visited city in Bangkok – has tried to kick-start its tourism sector several times throughout the pandemic, though the country still has a strict set of entry requirements that travelers have to follow in order to be able to visit.
However, the latest developments in their reopening saga suggest that such requirements could be on their way out in just a few months.
Whilst the prospect of having entry requirements eased is dependent on several factors, it’s still an exciting thought for travelers with thoughts of heading to the Land of Smiles this summer.
Here’s a look at the planned timeline of changes, what it will take to make sure they happen plus a recap of the entry methods available to travelers at present.
Entry Restrictions Easing Timeline – Information For Travelers
Ever since they first decided to tentatively reopen their borders during the pandemic, Thailand has been no stranger to tampering with its strict entry requirements in an effort to try and lure more travelers back to its shores. Its latest of many such changes came just a week ago, when the government removed the requirement for travelers to produce a negative PCR test result prior to their flight, a move that several countries have taken in recent months.
However, the country isn’t going to stop there. According to Thailand’s Sports and Tourism Ministry, more changes to the country’s entry requirements are in the pipeline – though they are contingent on the country keeping case levels low throughout next month’s Songkran festival. If cases are high – as the country’s Department of Disease Control predicts they will be – Thailand’s restrictions are set to be in place for even longer.
The festival – which celebrates Thailand’s New Year – is the largest holiday in the country, and is known around the world for its water splashing festivities. It is also a time when Thais travel back to their home provinces to celebrate with their families – potentially spreading the virus far and wide. Authorities have curbed water-related celebrations during the holiday for the last two years, whilst they have asked people to perform a Covid-19 test before taking part in celebrations this year.
May 1 – replacing the RT-PCR test on arrival with an antigen test kit (ATK) check conducted by a medical professional – a faster and cheaper method of testing
June 1 – the cancellation of the Test and Go scheme and Thailand Pass, allowing travelers to be able to entry the country as per normal
Speaking about the timeline, Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn appeared to be worried about the fact that several of Thailand’s neighbors have recently dropped their entry restrictions.
“Thailand started like a rabbit, running quickly last year as we reopened to visitors. We cannot let the country fall behind as many nations are opening borders and have fewer restrictions than us,” the minister said.
In order to enter Thailand at present, travelers need to apply for a Thailand Pass, a QR code that proves travelers have all the necessary requirements – such as Covid-19 vaccinations, health insurance, and a stay at a designated hotel – needed to enter the country.
Travelers can elect to enter through the Test and Go or the Sandbox scheme. More information about what it is like to visit Thailand at present can be found here.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
With the country recently easing more of its Covid-19 related entry restrictions, Thailand is bound to have put itself firmly back on the map as a top destination for travelers this summer. However, working out what you need to actually be able to visit the country can be a bit of a minefield – and there are still plenty of rules that need to be followed once a traveler makes it into the country too. Here’s a look at what it’s actually like to visit Thailand right now.
Getting There – What Travelers Should Know
All travelers planning on visiting Thailand must have a Thailand Pass. This is a QR code that confirms the traveler has met all of the different requirements needed to be able to enter at present. Such requirements are as follows:
Valid passport and visa if required
Certificate of vaccination
Paid AQ / SHA Extra+ hotel reservation confirmation for 1 day, including RT PCR test upon arrival, ATK test and airport transfer
Insurance that meets the minimum cover requirements ($20,000)
Travelers must then choose their method of entry – Test and Go or a Sandbox scheme – with more info to be found here.
Prior to check in, airline staff will check that travelers have their Thailand Pass, as entry to the country is not possible without it. Upon landing in Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, travelers will have their documents checked once more, before they are picked up from the airport and whisked off to be tested at whichever testing facility their Day 1 hotel uses – usually a hospital or drive-thru testing facility. Those arriving in Phuket must take their pre-booked test at the airport after landing.
Those choosing to arrive via the Test and Go entry method in Bangkok will then be confined to their rooms until the result is confirmed to be negative; those arriving early may find out on the same day, though it is typically the next day. Those arriving through the Sandbox entry scheme may have more freedom, but are still not able to leave their hotel complex until their negative result comes back.
Travel In Thailand – Information For Travelers
Once travelers are free of their initial compulsory hotel stays, they are afforded the freedom to travel at will. However, travelers may still be required to show proof of their vaccination status in order to be able to visit a domestic destination within Thailand depending on the entry rules of the destination in question – more information can be found here. These restrictions can change at a moment’s notice, so travelers should check in with airlines before flying domestically. Travelers can fly to Bangkok without proof of vaccination or a negative test result.
For those planning on traveling the country by road, the situation is, as the Thais say, “same same, but different”. Whilst officially road and air entry have the same requirements, the reality is that quite often the road checkpoints for entry to mainland provinces are unmanned or will simply wave travelers through. This has been reported on several occasions by many travelers since the country reopened. However, to be on the safe side, travelers should make sure they have their proof of vaccination or a negative test result to hand wherever they go.
Travelers should note that Thailand’s social Covid-19 rules are strictly enforced throughout the country. Masks are worn throughout the country, even in open outdoor spaces, with travelers liable to fines for being caught without one. Entry into malls, convenience stores and restaurants will require a temperature scan and travelers to check-in to the building using the Thaichana app, or to write down their contact details. Public spaces will also more than likely have some social distancing measures in place. Whilst some establishments may be more lax in their enforcement of these rules, travelers should expect to have to fulfil them.
Thankfully for travelers, the scene on the ground has improved considerably during the last year. Whilst returnees to the country might find that their favourite pad Thai joint has long since closed down, thankfully there are noticeably fewer shuttered-up shops and hotels around the country’s popular tourist hotspots. Though numbers remain a fraction of what they were in 2019, the bars, beaches and streets seem to be getting busier by the week, providing a better atmosphere and vibe than Thailand had at the start of the pandemic. With beaches less crowded, hotels with cheap rates and enough going on to keep you busy, Thailand is a great option for any traveler this year.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
