Entry Rules for Sandbox Updates

23 March 2022406 views0

Travelers who intend to continue their journey to other Thai cities must still stay at least 7 days (nights) in the Sandbox destinations, but the COVID-19 testing requirement has been reduced to 1 RT-PCR and 1 self-ATK, and health insurance coverage must be no less than US $20,000.

The following rules will be in effect beginning March 1, 2022, and will also apply to travelers who have applied for or received the Sandbox Thailand Pass and have scheduled arrivals on or after this date.

Fully vaccinated Thai citizens and foreign visitors from all countries and territories are eligible.

Entry points:

Air travel to Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Phuket begins at Phuket International Airport.
Krabi International Airport serves as the departure point for Krabi.
By air, fly into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and then take a sealed flight to Ko Samui or Phuket.
Travel by air to Suvarnabhumi Airport, then by prearranged vehicle on a sealed route to Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, and Sattahip in Chon Buri, and Ko Chang in Trat.

Sandbox locations that are eligible:

Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) (Ko Chang).
Sandbox Expansion: Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, and Ko Samui/Ko Phan-gan/Ko Tao.

Pre-Arrival Requirements

To enter Thailand, all visitors must have the following documents:

1. A Thailand Pass can be obtained by visiting https://tp.consular.go.th/.

2. A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 has not been detected, issued no more than 72 hours before departure.

Travelers under the age of six who are traveling with parents and have a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours of departure are exempt from having a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result and can have a saliva test when entering the Kingdom.
Everyone on board the vessels must have a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 was not detected within the officially specified time frame for water arrivals. Anyone on board who has had a COVID-19 infection in the last 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery.

3. An insurance policy with a minimum of US $25,000 in coverage. This requirement does not apply to Thais or foreign expatriates who are covered by Thailand's national healthcare system.

TAT advises travelers to read the fine print of any COVID-19 insurance policy before purchasing it. Finally, the policy should cover the cost of treatment and other medical expenses associated with COVID-19 infection, such as in-patient hospitalization, hospital isolation, hotel isolation, or related quarantine. The insurance policy should also cover the entire duration of the traveler's stay in Thailand, plus at least 10 extra days as a precautionary measure in the event that the traveler's second swab test result is positive.

4. A proof of prepayment for 7 nights of lodging at a government-approved hotel/s, such as a SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) hotel, located within the eligible Sandbox destinations.

Visitors to Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Phuket can change accommodations three times within the first seven days (book three different hotels).
Visitors to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao can change accommodations three times in the first seven days (they can book three different hotels). They must, however, spend the first night on Ko Samui and receive a negative result for their first RT-PCR test before being able to change hotels on either Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao. Alternatively, they can book three separate hotels on Ko Samui.
Travelers participating in the Sandbox Extension programme, such as Phuket and Phang-Nga, Phuket and Krabi, or Phuket and Ko Samui, can change accommodations three times within the first seven days (book three different hotels) within the areas. Travelers on the Andaman (Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Phuket) extension to Ko Samui, on the other hand, must extend their trip by air only.
Travelers to Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang) can change hotels three times within the province/destination.

5. A receipt for one RT-PCR test on Day 1 and one Antigen Self-Test Kit (self-ATK) on Days 5 and 6

Visitors to Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Phuket can reserve and prepay for the RT-PCR test at www.ThailandPsas.com (2,100 Baht/test).
Travelers can book and prepay for the RT-PCR test (2,200 Baht/test) when booking and prepaying for accommodation at SHA++ hotels. The first day's test will take place at Samui International Airport.
Please contact your hotel for more information if you are a Sandbox Extension Programme traveler, as well as a traveler to Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang).

6. COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery Certificate

Everyone over the age of 18 must be fully immunized against COVID-19 with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before traveling to Thailand.
Unaccompanied minors aged 12 to 17 traveling to Thailand must be immunized with at least one dose of an approved vaccine. This requirement does not apply to those traveling with their parents.
This requirement does not apply to children ages 6 to 11 traveling with their parents.
Everyone on board must be fully vaccinated for water arrivals, except for passengers under the age of 18, who are accompanied by their parents or guardians. We will provide an update as soon as official information is available.
Travelers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered through medical treatment, as well as those who have received at least one dose of an approved vaccine after infection, must have a COVID-19 recovery certificate.

All passengers must go through "exit screening" at the point of departure, i.e., the airline check-in counter, and present the necessary documents to the person in charge of the checks.

Requirements for Arrival and During the Stay

1. For arrivals on a direct flight to Thailand's international airports, all travelers must undergo entry screening, including a body temperature check and presenting the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks at the point of entry. For arrivals on a domestic connecting flight, the checks must be carried out either at the first point of entry before boarding the transit flight or at the final airport.

2. Proceed to the pre-arranged lodging or medical facility for the first RT-PCR test. The trip must be made in a prearranged vehicle on a predetermined route in no more than 5 hours. Then, all visitors must wait for the test results only within the hotel. Travelers under the age of six, accompanied by their parents, are eligible for a saliva test.

Travelers whose test results are negative can participate in sandbox activities for the duration of the 7 days (7 nights), but must return to their prearranged accommodation on a nightly basis. They are not permitted to spend the night in any other location. Furthermore, they will be given 1 antigen self-test kit for a self-test on Days 5–6 and will be required to report/record the results using the MorChana application or another specified application.
Travelers with positive test results will be referred for appropriate medical treatment in accordance with Thailand's Communicable Diseases Act B.E. number 2558 (2015). The expenses must be covered by the required insurance, at one's own expense for foreign travelers, or by Thai and eligible foreign expatriate national healthcare coverage.

a. Depending on the medical conditions, they may be advised to receive treatment in either hospital hotel isolation or community isolation.

b. They must remain in their accommodation for at least 10 days while receiving medical treatment. Travelers should not leave their accommodation unless absolutely necessary, and they must notify the in-charge Communicable Disease Control officer.

c. Travelers will be given a medical certificate of recovery once they have recovered from COVID-19.

3. If travelers intend to continue their journey to other destinations in Thailand, they must stay at least the first 7 days (nights) within the sandbox destination/s. If the traveler is staying for less than 7 days (nights), he or she must immediately depart Thailand for another country.

4.Travelers to Thailand are advised to strictly adhere to standard good personal hygiene practices such as wearing a mask in public, maintaining hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer), and maintaining a physical distance of at least 1 meter from others.

Travelers who exhibit COVID-like symptoms should be tested. If they test positive, they must receive the necessary medical treatment.

5. All travelers must download and install the MorChana app and keep it turned on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the results on Day 5–6 in the app.

6. If the traveler's length of stay in the Sandbox destination/s is up to 5 nights, or his or her scheduled international departure date out of Thailand is on Day 5 or before, the self-ATK on Day 5-6 will not be required. For example, if the traveler intends to stay in Thailand for four days, he or she is exempt from the self-ATK but must depart immediately for another country. However, depending on the airline and the final international destination, the traveler may be required to take another test. Travelers who intend to stay for 6 days (nights) will be required to undergo the self-ATK on Days 5–6, even if they are scheduled to leave the next day for another country.

7. Travelers who plan to stay for more than 7 nights and continue their journey to other parts of Thailand must complete the self-ATK on Days 5-6. Travelers who receive a negative test result can obtain a "Release Form" and continue their journey domestically.

Domestic and International Departure Procedures

After staying in the eligible Sandbox destinations for the first 7 nights, travelers must obtain a "Release Form" from their accommodation and are free to travel anywhere in Thailand starting on Day 8.

It is the responsibility of travelers or their organizations to ensure that they meet the requirements of their specific international destination, regardless of the point of departure, for international departure.

Please keep in mind that the information is provided for reference purposes only and is subject to change without notice.