Entry Requirements
Initial Information – Phuket Sandbox
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to provide the initial information on the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ model to safely reopen Phuket to fully vaccinated international travellers from 1 July, 2021.
For the most up-to-date information, please visit this living document, where the TAT Newsroom will provide more details on the Phuket Sandbox model as soon as officially approved directives from the Royal Thai Government are available. https://www.tatnews.org/2021/06/initial-information-phuket-sandbox/ To find an SHA Plus hotel in Thailand, please visit the Amazing Thailand Safety & Health Administration (SHA) website here.
Phuket paves the way to reopening Thailand without quarantine
Phuket will be the first destination in Thailand to fully reopen to overseas tourists. From July 2021, vaccinated tourists flying to Phuket will not be required to quarantine. The plan is part of Thailand’s Covid-19 roadmap to open up the whole country. Details were announced following a meeting on 26 March involving the Thai government and tourism officials.
The news follows another announcement the previous week where Thai authorities set out an initial roadmap to reopen Thailand. That included a timeline to vaccinate local residents and ease quarantine requirements for overseas tourists. It’s now been agreed that Phuket will be the pilot destination to revive tourism in Thailand. Under the so-called ‘Phuket Tourism Sandbox’ arrangement, visitors will still need to follow a number of procedures.
No quarantine in Phuket from July
From 1 July 2021, overseas travellers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 can travel to Phuket without the need to quarantine.
Requirements for travel to Phuket
For both of the above mentioned stages, these are the main requirements for travellers:
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required (both jabs)
Obtain a Certificate of Entry (CoE) before departure
Travel insurance with Covid-19 cover
Download the Thailand Plus tracking app before departure and upload the required information
Present a negative PCR test result (issued no longer than 72 hours before departure)
Must fly directly to Phuket International Airport* (*From the end of April 2021, passengers may be allowed to transit via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport. Awaiting full details. Updates will be added here when confirmed.)
Covid-19 test on arrival
Must stay on Phuket for a minimum of 14 days before travelling onwards around Thailand
Arriving at Phuket International Airport
On arrival at Phuket International Airport, overseas tourists will be required to undergo Covid-19 screening (including PCR tests). Tourists will also be required to download a track and trace application.
Plan for opening other destinations in Thailand
Phuket is set to be the pilot for other regions of Thailand. A similar idea is planned for destinations including:
Chiang Mai
Ko Samui
Krabi
Pattaya
Phang Nga
Under this scheme, vaccinated overseas visitors arriving in these destinations from 1 April 2021 will only be required to undergo quarantine for 14 days. This will be at a hotel or designated facility.
From 1 October 2021, vaccinated travellers can visit these destinations (and Phuket) without having to quarantine on arrival.
Travel requirements for these destinations:
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required (both jabs)
Obtain a Certificate of Entry (CoE) before departure
Travel insurance with Covid-19 cover
Download the Thailand Plus tracking app before departure and upload the required information
Present a negative PCR test result (issued no longer than 72 hours before departure)
Must arrive directly into one of the applicable destinations*. If travelling to Pattaya, arrival in Bangkok is permitted (*From the end of April 2021, passengers may be allowed to transit via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport. Awaiting full details. Updates will be added here when confirmed.)
Covid-19 test on arrival
Minimum of 14 days stay at the destination of entry before travelling onwards around Thailand
Timetable to fully opening Thailand
The timetable for the roadmap will depend not just on overseas visitors being vaccinated, but a large percentage of the local population in Thailand being vaccinated too.
By the end of 2021*, Thai authorities expect that quarantine will be lifted entirely in all areas of Thailand.
*Proposed date is on or before 1 January, 2022
There could be some amendments to this timeline. We will add any updates here and on our travel advice page.
Certificate of Entry (COE)
Holders of U.S. and Canada passports are among those not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period not exceeding 45 days on each visit. However, visitors are still required to obtain the Certificate of Entry from their respective Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General.
All foreign tourists who have received the Certificate of Entry (COE) documentation to Thailand are now required to download the ThailandPlus application prior to arrival to use when traveling around the country.
To contact your country’s Thai Consulate or Royal Thai Embassy, please see below:
The Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.: Email: visa@thaiembdc.org / consular@thaiembdc.or
The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles: Email: visa@thaiconsulatela.org
The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago: Email: visa@thaiconsulatechicago.org
The Royal Thai Consulate-General, New York: Email: info@thaicgny.com
Royal Thai Embassy in Ottawa: Email: visa@thaiembassy.ca
We look forward to welcoming you in Amazing Thailand.
Information on this page is subject to change. Please check back regularly for the latest updates.
Comments