COVID-19: Thailand Travel Updates

Updated 15th May 2022.

• Also see: Southeast Asia Travel COVID-19 Overview
• Also see: South America Travel COVID-19 Overview

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LATEST NEWS:

• 6th May 2022 – Thailand has begun to reopen its land borders with neighbouring countries. So far, some checkpoints have been opened in both Cambodia and Malaysia. Source.
• 1st May 2022 – From today, the testing requirements have been removed from fully vaccinated international travellers. Source.
• 23rd April 2022 – CCSA has announced that all sandbox schemes as well as Test & Go will be scrapped from May 1st 2022. Testing for fully vaccinated travellers will also end. Source.

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Disclaimer: COVID-19 travel restrictions are changing every day and the following information reflects South East Asia’s Backpacker’s understanding of the current rules for entry. While we update this article regularly to ensure the information is as current as it can be, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

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Thailand Travel Restrictions

Can you travel to Thailand right now?

Vaccinated Travellers:

Yes. Fully vaccinated tourists are currently eligible to travel to Thailand.

See here for Thailand’s list of recognised vaccines. 

Unvaccinated Travellers:

Unvaccinated travellers who can present a negative test result taken within 72 hours of arriving in the country no longer have to quarantine and can enter the country with no other restrictions. If you are unvaccinated and can’t get a test, you will be required to complete a 5-day quarantine on the AQ (Alternative Quarantine) scheme.

You will be required to download the Thai Chana app (track and trace app) upon arrival in Thailand.

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Entry Requirements

Before you enter Thailand, you will need:

Required Entry Documents

1. Apply for a Thailand Pass (applies no matter whether you enter the country via air or land).
2. Hold a valid passport with at least 12 months validity and two blank pages.
3. Have proof of onward travel out of Thailand within the expiry date of your visa.
4. Certificate of vaccination.

Insurance

• Non-resident foreigners will need travel insurance that covers COVID-19. It needs to cover potential hospitalisation, treatment and costs of quarantine if medically required.

COVID-19 Tests Required 

If you are unvaccinated and want to avoid Thailand’s quarantine, you will need to take a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival.

1. If you are required to quarantine, you will be required to take a COVID-19 test*.

*If you test positive for COVID-19 at any time once you arrive in Thailand you will be transferred to a hospital and must stay in isolation for 14 days. You will have to provide two negative COVID-19 tests (five days apart) before you can be released from the hospital.

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Quarantine Period

The quarantine period that you are required to serve depends on your vaccination status, where you are from and how you are entering the country. Quarantine requirements (if applicable) are as follows:

• Fully vaccinated: No quarantine.
• Not vaccinated (with test): No quarantine.
• Not vaccinated (without test): 5 days.

Full list of state quarantine facilities here.

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Local COVID-19 Rules and Regulations

The rules and regulations below are only meant to serve as a guide and the situation is prone to change rapidly without warning. For more information on local rules and restrictions visit the Thailand Authority of Tourism Newsroom.

• FACE COVERINGS – Face coverings must be worn in all indoor public places across Thailand. Also see: Best face masks for travel. 
• SOCIAL DISTANCING – Social distancing is recommended across the country.
• CURFEWS – Curfews could be introduced at short notice.
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT – Masks are mandatory on public transport.
• VENUES AND GATHERINGS – Hotels and guesthouses are open in Thailand, though many have been forced to close due to a lack of tourists. We advise you to contact hotels directly when booking to check their regulations and any local restrictions that are in place. You must wear a mask at all times whilst in public places in the hotel and many hotels check your temperature upon arrival.
• MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE – Local restrictions in public places across provinces in Thailand vary.

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Land Borders 

It is currently not permitted to cross land borders into Myanmar. However, some border crossings have reopened between Thailand-Cambodia, Thailand-Laos and Thailand-Malaysia.

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Resources

• Follow Richard Barrow on Facebook and Twitter
• Daily video briefings on the COVID-19 situation in Thailand (in English) from the Official Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand Channel
• Thailand Authority of Tourism Newsroom
• US Embassy & Consulate in Thailand
• UK Government Foreign Travel Advice
• Thailand Department of Disease Control
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand
• Royal Thai Embassy, London
• The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand
• Ministry of Public Health Thailand
• The Thai Government Public Relations Department
• The Humanitarian Data Exchange