Thailand new Entry Rules beginning December 16, 2021

There are currently three schemes where foreigners can travel to Thailand, including Test and Go, SandBox Program, and Quarantine Facilities. Travelers who wish to enter Thailand through any of these schemes must still provide a negative RT-PCR Test result within 72 hours before traveling. They must have an insurance policy with coverage of not less than US$50 000.00. And most importantly, travelers 18 years and older are required to be fully vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccine at least 14 days before traveling to Thailand.

Now, what are these three entry schemes?

TEST AND GO

These are travelers who are not required to undergo quarantine upon entry in Thailand provided they come from the list of eligible countries and territories listed below.

^{This list is taken from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.}

Good news for parents with a negative RT-PCR Test Result within 72 hours who are traveling with their children under six years old because children are not required to have RT-PCR test, instead they can opt to have saliva test when entering Thailand. However, children 6-11 years old are still required to present an RT-PCR test result. Furthermore, children 12-17 years old are not required to be vaccinated but they must show negative RT-PCT test results as well.

Those travelers who are previously infected by the virus within three months must show a medical certificate of recovery or show proof of vaccination of at least one dose before traveling.

SANDBOX PROGRAM

These are travelers from any country or territory in the world except those African countries and territories earlier suspended because of the spread of the Omicron variant including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe who can book a hotel and stay in one of the 17 Sandbox participating destinations below.

Travelers will be allowed to enter by land through the Nong Khai border starting 24 December 2021 and sea in addition to traveling by air provided though that they comply with all the entry requirements.

The mandatory 7 days stay will now be reduced to 5 days with a confirmed 5-night booking to any of the SHA+ hotels in the Sandbox destination of your choice.

RT-PCR test will be done upon arrival but the second test will be through ATK which will be done earlier on the 4th or 5th day instead of the current 6th or 7th day.

Rules for parents traveling with children are the same as with Go and Test scheme including those who were infected with the virus within three months before travel.

QUARANTINE FACILITIES

These are travelers from any country in the world who are not qualified under the first two travel schemes. They can enter through any of the allowed travel entries.

Quarantine is 14 days for general travelers, 10 days for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers, and 5 days for fully vaccinated travelers which is currently reduced from the 7 days. They should be ready to show a confirmed payment for 5 or 10 nights on a registered quarantine facility.

Testing will still be through the RT-PCR test on arrival and the second test will be on days 4-5, days 8-9, or days 12-13 depending on the length of your stay in the kingdom.