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The popular Test & Go scheme allowing vaccinated travelers to enter and explore Thailand quarantine free is now operational again after a brief pause due to Omicron. There are two big changes that have been made from its previous state:
1. travelers from all nations are now eligible to take part in it -previously it was limited to 63 ‘COVID-safe’ nations.
2. Travelers will need to undergo two PCR tests in Thailand; one on arrival and another on day 5 of their trip.
Guests who have already applied for a Thailand Pass can switch to Test & Go, though they will need to apply for a new Thailand Pass, which may take up to 7 days. Most are reporting significantly faster turnaround times.
Summary of Current Entry Schemes:
Test & Go: allows fully vaccinated travelers and unvaccinated children 17 or younger to enter and explore Thailand after a PCR test upon arrival and one-night stay within 5 hours of the airport they arrived in. They must also stay in a SHA++ hotel anywhere in the country on their 5th night while waiting for results for a second PCR test to be performed either at the hotel or at a designated facility.
Sandbox: with the opening of Test & Go to all nations, Sandbox is seen now more as a ‘backup plan’ in case Test & Go is paused again. This scheme allows fully-vaccinated travelers from any country to enter and explore ‘Sandbox’ destinations quarantine free for a period of 7 days before being eligible to travel elsewhere in the country. They will still need to do a second PCR test on day 5, though it appears that hotel confinement will not be required. There are currently 8 Sandbox areas to choose from: Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao (Surat Thani Province), Krabi and Phang Nga, Chonburi (Pattaya) and Trat (Koh Chang, Koh Kood).
Alternative Quarantine: is for travelers who are either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated and involves a 10-day hotel quarantine before being free to travel and explore.
Steps for ALL Travelers:
Whether participating in Test & Go, Sandbox or Alternative Quarantine, all visitors to Thailand will follow the below requirements.
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Pre-arrival:
- Register for a ‘Thailand Pass’ at tp.consular.go.th by submitting required documents (below) prior to travel. After receiving confirmation of approval, guests will receive their Thailand Pass QR code.
- Submit proof of full vaccination completed at least 14 days before arrival (if applicable)
- Anyone infected within the previous 3 months who has had at least one vaccine dose can submit a medical certificate of recovery and proof of at least 1 vaccination 14 days prior to departure to Thailand.
- Proof of a negative PCR test result within 72 hours before departure to Thailand except for children under 6 years of age who only need to submit a saliva test upon arrival.
- Submit proof of:
- Medical insurance with at least $50,000 of coverage valid for in-patient hospitalisation, hospital isolation, hotel isolation, or related quarantine in Thailand for a period of at least 10 days longer than the planned travel period (in case of medical complications).
- Paid accommodation for days 1 and 5.
- Payment for 2 PCR tests.
- Children under 18 years of age traveling with parents are exempt from vaccination requirements.
- Guests may now enter Phuket and Koh Samui via by transiting through Bangkok’s international airport by sealed flights with Bangkok Airways. Note: this must be booked in advance as a through ticket -not as a transfer after arriving in Bangkok.
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Arrival:
- Present Thailand Pass QR code to health officials prior to immigration procedures
- Complete a PCR test upon arrival at the airport
- Children 6-17 years old must receive PCR tests before flying and on arrival,
- Children under 6 years old will receive saliva tests upon arrival.
- Use pre-arranged transport from the airport to an SHA++ certified hotel for at least one night
- Download MorChana, a contact-tracing app, at the hotel
- Wait for results from the first PCR test upon arrival (up to 24 hours, but normally less than 12 hours).
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During Stay:
- Wear masks in public places including outdoor areas
EXO Travel can arrange for hotels, transfers and PCR bookings (day 1 and 5) and provide proof to submit to above site.
Steps and Based on Entry Scheme:
In addition to the steps above for all travelers to Thailand, the following protocol will be in place for travelers participating in respective travel schemes:
1. Steps for ‘Test & Go’:
- No quarantine besides hotel room confinement while waiting for results from PCR tests on day 1.
- On day 1 guests can stay at an SHA++ hotel within 5 hours by land from the airport they arrived in
- On day 5 they can stay in an SHA++ hotel anywhere in the country
- The formal list of approved SHA++ hotels is here.
- Once negative PCR test results are received, guests are free to travel.
- Families with unvaccinated children can also take part in Test & Go under the following conditions:
- Kids 0-5: Don’t need a pre-departure PCR test. Must take a free saliva test upon arrival in Thailand.
- Kids 6-11: Must have a pre-departure PCR test and PCR test upon arrival in Thailand
- Kids 12-17: Must have a pre-departure PCR test and a PCR test upon arrival in Thailand. If traveling without parents, they must be vaccinated with at least one dose of an approved vaccine.
- Go here for official information about Test & Go from TAT.
2. Sandbox – for fully vaccinated travelers from all other countries:
- No quarantine besides hotel room confinement while waiting for results from PCR tests on days 1 and 5.
- Guests are free to travel anywhere within the following Sandbox destinations within the first 7 days of their trip: Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao (Surat Thani Province), Krabi and Phang Nga, Chonburi (Pattaya) and Trat (Koh Chang, Koh Kood).
- Guests will need to show confirmed payment for at least 7 days at approved SHA++ hotels within the Sandbox destination they enter.
- Guests may change accommodation up to 3 times throughout their Sandbox stay.
- Guests will need to show proof of payment for 2 PCR tests:
- Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket: Guests can reserve and prepay for the 2 mandatory RT-PCR tests here. (2,100 Baht / test, or 4,200 Baht / 2 tests). The first test will be conducted at Phuket International Airport, and the second test at any of the designated hospitals or test centres in the area.
- Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, and Ko Tao): Guests can book and prepay for the 2 mandatory RT-PCR tests when booking and prepaying for accommodation at SHA+ hotels (2,200 Baht / test, or 4,400 Baht / 2 tests). The first test will be conducted at Samui International Airport, and the second test at any of the designated hospitals or test centres in the area.
- Children under 18 years do not have to be vaccinated.
- Go here for official information about the Sandbox from TAT.
3. Alternative Quarantine – for travelers who are not fully vaccinated:
- 10-day hotel quarantine on arrival + transfer booked with hotel
- Travelers should be able to enjoy some hotel facilities during the quarantine
- Negative result for the 2nd COVID test (ATK rather than PCR) on days 8 or 9 before being able to explore the rest of Thailand.
- Go here for official information about Alternative Quarantine from TAT.
This article was originally published by Exotravel.com/blog/en. Read the original article here.
