This means that vaccinated travelers could immediately move freely in the country without first having to stay in a specialized hotel, as has been the case up to now.
From May 1st, holidaymakers from abroad will no longer be required to take a corona test when entering Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) writes on its website that lifting the requirement to test on arrival has already been approved by the responsible Thai COVID authority CCSA. However, the official announcement of the new guidelines in the Royal Thai Government Gazette is still pending.
New entry programs for vaccinated and unvaccinated vacationers
As part of the planned new regulations, the CCSA has also introduced two new entry programs for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, as reported by the TAT. Fully vaccinated tourists would no longer have to undergo a PCR test upon arrival in Thailand and could move freely in the country immediately. So far, travelers have been obliged to take a PCR test upon arrival and then wait for the result in a specialized hotel.
For vacationers who are not or not fully vaccinated, the obligation to test on the day of arrival should also be abolished. Unlike vaccinated travelers, however, they would be required to spend the first five days of their stay in Thailand in a certified hotel and undergo a PCR test on the fifth day. According to the TAT, an exception should apply to unvaccinated travelers who uploaded proof of a negative corona PCR test via the Thailand passport system within 72 hours before departure. They could then move freely anywhere in the country as soon as they arrived, like fully vaccinated people.
All travelers, whether vaccinated against Corona or not, must continue to register for the so-called Thailand passport before entering Thailand. Prerequisite for a successful registration is u. Proof of medical insurance coverage of at least US$10,000 (previously US$20,000) that includes COVID-19 treatment.
In the following sections you can read which entry regulations currently apply to Thailand, how the corona situation is in the country and which restrictions currently apply.
Corona regulations: What do I currently need to enter Thailand?
Fully vaccinated holidaymakers entering Thailand under the so-called “Test&Go” program are exempt from the quarantine obligation. However, they are obliged to wait for the result of the prescribed PCR test in their hotel room on day 1, i.e. on the day of arrival. An antigen self-test is required on the 5th day, the result of which travelers must send to the authorities via an app.
All Test&Go applications must be accompanied by proof of prepayment of one night’s accommodation at a government certified hotel (SHA Extra+ or AQ Hotel). The prepayment for Day 1 must include both accommodation and the test and the prearranged transfer from the airport to the hotel, writes the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on its website.
Travelers will also be required to provide proof of medical insurance with coverage of at least $20,000 that also covers treatment for Covid-19.
The “Sandbox” program
The “Sandbox” program allows fully vaccinated and recovered vacationers to travel across the country. But only after five days, which travelers have to spend in one of the designated “sandbox” regions. During this time, vacationers can move freely in the “Sandbox” region and do not have to be in quarantine. Tourists have to stay in a pre-booked and so-called SHA++ hotel. Furthermore, vacationers who travel to Thailand as part of the “Sandbox” program must take a total of two corona tests – a PCR test on the day of arrival and an antigen self-test on day 5 of their stay. They can only leave the region after five days if the second test is also negative.
The current sandbox regions currently include the provinces of Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao only), Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha and Sattahip – Na Jomtien and Bang only). Saray) and Trat (Koh Chang).
Update: Should the new entry regulations already approved by the CCSA mentioned above become official, the previously required PCR test on entry would no longer be required from May 1st. Vaccinated vacationers could also move freely in Thailand immediately and would not have to spend the first day(s) of their stay in Thailand in a certified hotel. In addition, the amount of coverage for mandatory health insurance is to be reduced from the current minimum of $20,000 to $10,000.
Thailand passport
All travelers from abroad are required to register for the so-called “Thailand Passport”. The program generates a QR code that must be presented before boarding the aircraft and when entering Thailand.
Important: QR codes that were requested or sent before December 22 have not lost their validity. In this case, the respective conditions of the “Thailand Pass” apply.
The current corona situation in Thailand
For a few weeks now, Thailand has been seeing a fall in the number of corona infections. On Monday (April 25), the authorities in the country with 70 million inhabitants registered 14,994 new infections, the 7-day incidence was 191.4 (source: corona-in-zahlen.de).
What is open again in Thailand despite Corona?
For months, Thailand has been divided into different zones, from blue to dark red, depending on the incidence of corona. Depending on the color, different rules apply. In general, hotels and restaurants are open again. Most national parks and many museums are also welcoming guests again. It is advisable to check the respective websites before planned visits. In Thailand, masks are compulsory in all public spaces – including outside.