Reopening Doors: Thailand has eased up the travel requirements with its 3 entry schemes!
Thailand reopened its doors to international travelers with their successful Sandbox Program ever since July in 2021. This system allows travelers to visit certain places like Phuket and Krabi but must quarantine for 7 days at a SHA+ hotel. Aside from a vaccine certificate, Filipino travelers must procure a Thailand Pass and a health insurance policy worth USD50,000 or more (USD20,000 for Test & Go) COVID-19 coverage.
With the success of this program came other two: Test & Go and ASQ (Alternative Quarantine), and as of December 16, 2021, the requirements for each (including the Sandbox Program) have eased up on the requirements.
Today, Filipino passport holders can now enjoy the wonders of Thailand with these three entry schemes. Find the best option for you and ready your passport and all the required travel requirements!
Entry Program | On-arrival Testing | # of Days Mandatory Stay | Additional Testing? | COVID-19 Health Insurance Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sandbox | An RT-PCR Test must be taken upon arrival. | At least 5 nights. | ATK (Rapid Antigen) within the last two days of mandatory stay. | USD 20,000 |
Test & Go | An RT-PCR Test must be taken upon arrival. | At least 1 night. | If you're staying for more than 5 days, you must take an ATK (Rapid Antigen) on Day 5. No need to take an ATK (Rapid Antigen) if you're leaving the country on Day 5 or earlier. | USD 20,000 |
Alternative Quarantine | An RT-PCR Test must be taken upon arrival. | 7 days for fully vaccinated people. 10 days for partially or unvaccinated people. | RT-PCR Test within the last two days of mandatory stay. | USD 50,000 |
Sandbox Program
Moving forward, visitors can arrive by land (if coming from Nong Khai’s border checkpoint, starting 24 December 2021) and by sea!
Not only that, instead of the mandatory 7-day stay, the stay is now reduced to just 5 days. What remains the same is that you’re still required to have a vaccination certificate and health insurance worth USD50,000 or more.
Read about everything you need to know about the Sandbox program!
Test & Go
Test & Go is a program that allows fully vaccinated travelers from ANY country or territory to visit Thailand with minimal quarantine days required.
Starting March 1, 2022. Travelers will be asked to take an RT-PCR test upon arrival and an ATK (a Rapid Antigen Test that you must bring yourself) on *Day 5 of their stay. They must stay at an SHA++ or AQ approved hotel, which is a kind of hotel that exhibits the highest standards of cleanliness and is partnered with a certified hospital.
Like with the Sandbox program, you may enter by air, land (from the Nong Khai, Udon Thani, or Songkhla border checkpoint), and by sea!
If you’re entering the country through this program, check out our guide to the Test & Go program for more detailed information.
*Travelers staying less than 5 nights or have scheduled their international departure date on their 5th day do not need to undergo a Rapid Antigen Test. However, they must leave the country immediately.
Alternative Quarantine
The Alternative Quarantine program is for travelers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. This requires you to stay at an Alternative Quarantine (AQ or ASQ)-designated hotel for several days. 7 if you’re fully vaccinated, or 10 if you’re unvaccinated or just partially vaccinated.
Not only that, you must have booked a stay at an ASQ-designated hotel for 7 or 10 days, depending on your vaccination status. And you must have a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test result that was taken within 72 hours before traveling to Thailand.
During your stay in the hotel, you will take two RT-PCR COVID-19 tests again, one within the first two days of your stay and another one during the last two days.
Read more about the Alternative Quarantine program! Not only will you learn about the requirements you need, but you’ll also find out about some of the best hotels you can book for Alternative Quarantine.
Photo credit: @sumit_ac on Unsplash
Now that you know that Thailand has now reopened itself to the world, you can now embark on exciting adventures around the Kingdom and discover many of its tropical gems! Just make sure to read our articles about the different entry schemes, one of which you will be taking to enter Thailand. You’ll find every bit of information you need to go through the program you’re eligible for without a hitch!
Safe travels!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be a responsible traveler! All information on this post are accurate from the time of writing. Rules, regulations and guidelines are updated frequently and may change without Klook’s prior notice. For your safety, check with the respective LGU’s and establishments directly before your travels.
