Thailand’s Quarantine-Free Entry Approved by Health Minister
Thailand’s Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, will suggest reintroducing the Test & Go system in order to accelerate the country’s economic recovery and attract more foreign visitors.
On Monday, the minister stated that he will request that the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) lift limitations imposed last year in response to the Omicron variant.
Based on Omicron’s milder symptoms, fewer hospitalizations, and fewer deaths, Anutin Charnvirakul has allowed the resumption of quarantine-free travel following discussions with the Department of Disease Control.
He believes the Thai government can regain control of Omicron and restart the travel sector in a COVID-safe environment.
Thailand banned the Test & Go system earlier this month. The country launched the Test & Go system in late-2021, allowing tourists to bypass quarantine after passing specific testing and vaccination requirements. The emergence of Omicron halted the Test & Go system.
Thailand intends to treat COVID-19 as endemic in 2022 due of the country’s reliance on tourism. Thailand drew slightly around 40 million tourists in 2019, making it one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
Thailand’s Current Entry Requirements
If you are fully vaccinated, you can still apply to enter Thailand through the Krabi, Phang-Na, Surat Thani, and Phuket Sandbox Schemes or the Alternative Quarantine Scheme.
- If you’ve already received your Thailand Pass QR code, you can still enter Thailand under the scheme you registered for.
- If you registered to enter Thailand before December 22nd—but haven’t received your QR code—you must wait for Thai authorities to process your application. Once the Thai authorities approve your application, you can enter Thailand under the scheme you registered for.
If you are looking to enter Thailand via the Sandbox schemes or Alternative Quarantine schemes, you must take a PCR test before you arrive in Thailand and once you’ve arrived in Thailand. However, policies vary significantly on what happens if travelers test positive on arrival in Thailand.
Travelers must stay at least the first 7 nights within Sandbox destinations. If travelers need to leave their accommodation before the 7-night-period, they must leave the country.
To use the Sandbox Schemes, travelers may also require:
- A vaccination certificate
- A pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result
- Prepaid 7-nights accommodation in an approved hotel
- Prepaid RT-PCR tests for when in Thailand
- An insurance policy with coverage of no less than $50,000
Domestic travel within Thailand is possible, however it is subject to change due to disease control measures. If you are flying domestically in Thailand, the authorities may need you to download an app or provide supplementary travel papers.
All public venues will require you to wear a face mask, according to local officials. Planes, trains, taxis, and buses are all examples of modes of transportation. Furthermore, persons who violate the mask-wearing rules are frequently fined by local authorities. Public transportation in several provinces may have less capacity than usual and may cease earlier.
Thailand’s emergency decree says you must not:
- Enter high-risk areas
- Hoard essential goods
- Attend public gatherings
- Propagate false information
Dining, public gatherings, restaurants, stores, and nightclubs are all prohibited in several provinces. Nightlife restrictions currently exist in Bangkok, Thailand’s famed capital city.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions are subject to change at any time. It is ultimately your duty to decide whether or not to travel. Before traveling, contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s admission and/or any modifications to travel restrictions. Lindela Travel does not recommend defying government advisories.
