Planning a Trip to Thailand during COVID-19: Important Things Travellers Need to Know

FAQ


A user-friendly checklist of points covering before, during, and after travelling to Thailand.

The TAT Newsroom has compiled the relevant entry requirements during the current COVID-19 travel restrictions for international travellers planning a trip to Thailand, including Thai nationals and foreign expatriates returning from overseas. Kindly note that this information is to serve as reference only, and it is especially important to check in regularly on www.tatnews.org to stay current on what remains a very fluid and fast changing situation.

Travel Advisories

Q: What is the latest update on Thailand’s COVID-19 situation and nationwide prevention efforts?

A: See Thailand Tourism Updates, containing Thailand’s tourism information and some useful tips for visitors to the kingdom especially when there are issues concerning travelling in general.

Pre-arrival Requirements

Q: What are the entry options for international travellers planning a trip to Thailand?

A: From 1 June, 2022, travellers from all countries/territories are welcomed to enter Thailand under different requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated / not fully vaccinated individuals.

Vaccinated travellers must have the following documents for entering Thailand:

  • • A valid passport, or a Border Pass for arrivals via border checkpoints.
  • • A Thailand Pass (via https://tp.consular.go.th/) (Thais are exempt from this requirement.) Once all essential details have been completed via the system, the QR code will be automatically issued (no waiting time)
  • • An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$10,000. Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement.
  • • A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination
    • • Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand.
    • • Travellers 5-17 years of age travelling to Thailand unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this requirement.
    • • Travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered by medical treatment, and travellers who have received at least one dose of an approved vaccine post-infection must have a certificate of COVID-19 recovery.

Unvaccinated / not fully vaccinated travellers must have the following documents for entering Thailand:

  • • A valid passport, or a Border Pass for arrivals via border checkpoints.
  • • A Thailand Pass (via https://tp.consular.go.th/) (Thais are exempt from this requirement.) Once all essential details have been completed via the system, the QR code will be automatically issued (no waiting time)
  • • An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$10,000. Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement.

TAT recommends that travellers make sure to check the small print of any COVID-19 insurance policy before purchasing. Ultimately, the policy should cover the cost of treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation, hospital isolation, hotel isolation, or related quarantine. The insurance policy should also cover the whole duration that travellers are planning to stay in Thailand, plus at least 10 extra days.

 

Thailand Pass Registration System

Q: What is the Thailand Pass?

A: The “Thailand Pass” system (https://tp.consular.go.th/) is a web-based system developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA). The system allows Thai and foreign travellers to fill in their travel and health information and upload the related documents before travelling. The purpose of the system is to support the “Ease of Traveling” policy, which will be implemented after the reopening of the country.

The Thailand Pass system has been in place from 1 November, 2021.

More information can be found on the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s website (https://consular.mfa.go.th/), or you may contact the Royal Thai Embassy / Royal Thai Consulate-General in your area for more information

Thailand Pass Helpline updated 3 March 2022

Visa Requirements

Q: What are the visa requirements, if any is required?

A: For tourism purposes, there are currently two types of visa, for which travellers may apply online at www.thaievisa.go.th.
•• Tourist visa (single entry): for stay up to 60 days with possible one-time extension of 30 days.
•• Special Tourist Visa (STV): for stay up to 90 days with possible extension of 90 days twice.

Kindly note that a valid visa or re-entry permit is required for the Thailand Pass application, except passport holders of countries/territories entitled to a 30-day visa exemption (see list).

Visa on Arrival
Foreign travellers can apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA), but they are still required to apply for a Thailand Pass before flying to Thailand. However, the VOA will be granted for only 15 days without possible extension. Also, currently, only passport holders of Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu may apply for the VOA. Currently, the VOA can also be applied online through VFS Global, the officially authorised partner of the Immigration Bureau of Thailand for (E-VOA) at https://thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com/thailand/home/index.

Stickerless Electronic (SE) Visa service
Available in 21 Thai Embassies and Consulates-General in 9 countries; namely. Canada, China, Denmark, France, Norway, Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The SE Visa service will be made available in more countries around the world in the near future.

SE Visa applicants can submit their applications, pay the visa fees, and receive their stickerless e-visas through the website: www.thaievisa.go.th without visiting the Embassies or Consulate-General offices. After the SE Visa application has been approved, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to the applicants. Information on the visa will be linked to the immigration system; however, it is recommended that travellers print a copy of the confirmation e-mail to present to the airline and Thai Immigration officials to carry out checks when travelling to Thailand.

Kindly note it is currently not possible to cross the border and re-enter Thailand for a visa extension.

For more information on different visa categories for other purposes than tourism, see www.thaievisa.go.th.

On Arrival Requirements

Q: What is the procedure after disembarking from my flight?

A: Upon arriving in Thailand, all travellers must undergo entry screening including body temperature check, and present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks.

The vaccinated travellers will then be allowed entry and are free to go anywhere in the kingdom. *For arrivals by land using a border pass, they will be allowed a stay of no longer than 3 days within the specified areas only.

Likewise, unvaccinated / not fully vaccinated travellers who have uploaded proof of a negative result from an RT-PCR test or professional ATK within 72 hours of travel via the Thailand Pass system will be allowed entry and are free to go anywhere in the kingdom.

The unvaccinated / not fully vaccinated travellers without a negative test result within 72 hours of travel are required to follow the public health instructions and guidelines as deemed appropriate by the Health Control officer at the point of arrival.

During Your Stay

Q: What are the health and safety precautions for travellers in Thailand?

A: Protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

While in Thailand, both vaccinated and unvaccinated / not fully vaccinated travellers are advised to strictly follow the health and safety standards. Travellers who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms should get tested. If testing positive, they must get the appropriate medical treatment.

Tourist safety

The Royal Thai Government places the highest priority on the safety and well-being of every visitor to Thailand. As the main government agency responsible for the promotion and marketing of Thailand as a preferred destination, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is working closely with all the concerned public and private organisations to ensure the utmost efforts to prevent any unfortunate incidents occurring on tourists and the local Thai people.

International Departure

Q: What is the requirement of the country/territory I will fly to after my stay in Thailand?

A: For travelling from Thailand to other countries, travellers are advised to follow the guidelines and measures announced by the respective country of their destination.

Q: Is it possible to stay overnight for a transit flight in Bangkok before flying back to my country?

A: It is possible as long as you have all of your advance arrangements in good order.

Q: Do international transit/transfer passengers need a health insurance?

A: International transit/transfer passengers must have a health insurance with minimum coverage of US$10,000 or as prescribed by the government which covers treatment throughout the entire duration of stay in Thailand or any other guaranteed documents. (The insurance policy is not applied to Thai nationals)

TATNews

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