Learn more about if you’re eligible to travel to Thailand under the Phuket Sandbox requirements!
If you haven’t heard the news yet, the Phuket government has launched a program that will allow foreign and Thai tourists to enter Thailand without quarantine! The Phuket Sandbox program is the first of the Thailand provinces to try out this system for visiting vaccinated travelers to not need quarantine during their travel. We’ve got you covered with a handy guide to check if you’re eligible to experience a trip to the Thai paradise!
Phuket Sandbox Eligibility Checklist
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With the no quarantine travel to Thailand comes strict Phuket Sandbox eligibility conditions for vaccinated travelers set by the Thai embassy:
- Foreign inbound travelers must be traveling from countries or regions with a low to medium risk of COVID-19 as announced and constantly updated by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Travelers must also have already stayed in the approved countries or regions no less than 21 days before their travel date.
- Thai nationals and foreign expatriates must travel from countries or regions with a low to medium risk of COVID-19 as announced and constantly updated by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). They must also have already stayed in the said countries or regions no less than 21 days before their travel date.
- Thai and foreign travelers who reside in Thailand returning from the approved listed countries
- Foreign and Thai travelers must be fully vaccinated with a vaccine registered with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) or approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) no less than 14 days before the travel and not more than a year. They must bring a vaccine certificate or card during their trip to verify their vaccination.
- Foreign and Thai travelers that have health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment and coverage of at least USD100,000
- Foreign and Thai Travelers who have received a negative test for COVID-19 by RT-PCR no more than 72 hours BEFORE boarding at origin destination
- Evidence of full payment of SHA Plus accommodation of at least 14 nights and 3 PCR Tests
- Unvaccinated children aged 1-5 are required to be traveling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians.
- Unvaccinated children aged 6-18 are required to be traveling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians. They are also required to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival at the Phuket International Airport, at their own expense.
Travelers coming in domestically through Phuket with entry via Tha Chatchai Gateway, Marina, Piers, and Phuket Domestic Airport also have to follow the eligibility conditions stated below:
- Travelers must be fully vaccinated with a vaccine registered with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) or approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or have one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
- Travelers who have recovered from COVID-19 for less than 90 days or have received a negative test for COVID-19 by RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen Test no more than 7 days before traveling
List of Countries Eligible for Travel To Thailand
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As stated above, foreign inbound travelers must be traveling from countries considered to be low to medium risk of COVID-19 by the Thai government. Here’s a list of countries whose vaccinated travelers are approved under the Phuket Sandbox program:
Photo Credit: https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/no-quarantine-phuket-sandbox-plan
For travelers not eligible for the Phuket Sandbox, don’t fret! You can still travel to Thailand, but with certain conditions. Foreign travelers coming from countries or regions not eligible can still visit, however, they must be quarantined for 14 nights in either Phuket or Bangkok at any of the approved ASQ hotels. We recommend lessening the stress by checking out the variety of Klook’s ASQ packages and hotels to consider for your quarantine!
Visa Requirements
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Foreign travelers must be wondering what visa they should get before entering Thailand. Depending on your nationality, foreigners may enter without a visa or must apply for the appropriate visa to enter. The most common types you can apply for are:
- Visa Exemption (for travel to Thailand and tourism purposes not longer than 45 days)
- Tourist Visa (for travel to Thailand not longer than 60 days)
- STV or Special Tourist Visa
- Non-Immigrant Visa (for travel to Thailand based on the different purpose of stay, and visa is valid for 90 days and can be extended in Thailand for up to 1 year
- Thai Visas with Re-entry Permit
- Thailand Elite Visa
Remember to check with the Thailand Embassy which visa is right for your passport!
What’s Next?
You’ve checked if you’re eligible to travel to Thailand, so what’s next on the agenda? We’ve created helpful articles to guide you throughout the planning of your trip! Check out the inbound travelers’ rules and safety guidelines on how to travel under the Phuket Sandbox. Learn the step-by-step process of how to apply for your required COE document. Lastly, when all of your travel requirements have been checked off your to-do list, figure out the best way to plan your hotel and transportation when you arrive with our
Don’t worry, we’re here to make sure your trip to Thailand is less about the stress and more about the worthwhile moments to experience the best Phuket has to offer!
