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This information has been updated on 23 December, 2021.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide an update on the latest announcement published last night (22 December, 2021) in the Royal Thai Government Gazette that officially orders a temporary suspension of the Thailand Pass for all new applications under the Living in the Blue Zone Sandbox Destinations entry programme (except the Phuket Sandbox), effective from 22 December, 2021.

Travellers, who have already received a Thailand Pass QR code, who will be entering Thailand before 24 December, 2021, will be allowed to enter under the existing conditions of the scheme.

Travellers who have already received a Thailand Pass QR code, and will be entering Thailand from 24 December, 2021 onwards will be subject to the requirements as follows:

• They must have proof of a confirmed payment for at least a 7-day stay at an approved accommodation; such as, a SHA++ hotel, within a Blue Zone Sandbox destination.
  The prepayment must also include the expenses for 1 RT-PCR test.
• They must undergo their second COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities on Day 5-6 of their stay, or when they experience respiratory symptoms (no additional cost). The test must be arranged by their respective prepaid accommodation.

New travellers under the Phuket Sandbox   

All new Phuket Sandbox applications submitted from 22 December, 2021, onwards, and received a Thailand Pass QR code with scheduled travel dates from 24 December, 2021, onwards must have all the required documents and will be subject to 2 RT-PCR tests under the following conditions:

• They must have proof of a confirmed payment for at least a 7-day stay at an approved accommodation; such as, a SHA++ hotel, within Phuket. The prepayment must also include the expenses for 2 RT-PCR tests.
• They must undergo their second COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) on Day 5-6 of their stay, or when they experience respiratory symptoms.

Existing conditions

• Eligible travellers
  • Thai citizens.
  • Foreign travellers, including but not limited to diplomats, guests of the government, Thai work permit holders, students and their family, and patients seeking medical treatment.
• Eligible countries
  • All countries/territories except African countries.
    • Currently, travellers from 8 African countries – Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, which are listed as high-risk countries are not allowed to enter Thailand.
    • The rest of the African countries are listed as low-risk countries. Travellers from these countries or those who have stay in these countries in the last 21 days will not be eligible to enter Thailand under the Sandbox Programme.
  • Returning Thais and eligible foreign expatriates, who previously travelled from Thailand, are exempt from this requirement, except for those from the 8 high-risk African countries.
• Points of entry
  • By air at Thailand’s international airports.
  • By land. *This has been postponed until further notice.
  • By water, provided that everyone on board the vessels meet the vaccination, testing, and entry requirements.
• Eligible destinations within Thailand *All closed for new Thailand Pass applications except Phuket.
  • 8 Blue Zone Sandbox provinces.
  • Designated Blue Zone Sandbox districts/islands within 18 other provinces.

Pre-Arrival Requirements

All eligible travellers travelling from eligible countries must have the following documents for entering to Thailand:

• A Thailand Pass, which can be applied via https://tp.consular.go.th/. *The system is currently closed for all new Sandbox applications, except for the Phuket Sandbox.
• A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
  • Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents with a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling, are not required to have a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result and can have a saliva test when entering the Kingdom.
  • For arrivals by water, everyone on board the vessels must have a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected within the officially specified time frame. Anyone on aboard with a history of COVID-19 infection within a period between 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery.
• An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000.
  • Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement.
• A confirmed payment for at least a 7-day stay at an approved accommodation; such as, a SHA++ hotel, within a Blue Zone Sandbox destination. The prepayment must also include the expenses for the RT-PCR and self-antigen (ATK) tests. *See new COVID-19 testing conditions as described above.
• A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery
  • 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 12-17 years of age travelling to Thailand unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this requirement.
  • Travellers 6-11 years of age, travelling with parents, are exempt from this requirement.
  • For arrivals by water, everyone on board must be fully vaccinated. This is except for travellers under 18 years of age, travelling with parents or guardians.
  • Travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered by medical treatment and travellers who have received at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine after post-infection must have a certificate of COVID-19 recovery.

All travellers must undergo ‘exit screening’ at the point of departure, i.e., at the airline check-in counter and present the required documents to the person-in-charge to carry out the checks.

On-Arrival Requirements / During the Stay

The following guidelines are for those who have already received their Thailand Pass QR code as described above. From 22 December, 2021, the Thailand Pass remains open for Phuket Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine applications only.

• All travellers must undergo ‘entry screening’ including body temperature check at the point of entry.
  • Travellers arriving on a direct flight to the international airport at the Blue Zone Sandbox destination must present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
  • Travellers with a transit flight to the airport at the Blue Zone Sandbox destination must undergo entry screening at the first point of entry or at the final destination:
    • At the first point of entry, present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures before boarding the transit flight;
    • At the final destination of entry, present the required documents to the Immigration/health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
• Proceed to the prearranged accommodation or medical facility to undergo the RT-PCR test. All travellers must wait for the test result within the hotel only. Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents, can have a saliva test.
  • If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers are free to go anywhere within the Blue Zone Sandbox destination. They will receive an ATK for a self-antigen test on Day 5-6. *See new COVID-19 testing conditions as described above.
  • If testing positive for COVID-19, travellers will be referred to a healthcare facility for appropriate medical treatment, for which the expenses must be covered by the required insurance, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates.
• Travellers with negative test result can enjoy travel activities within the designated Blue Zone Sandbox areas throughout the 7 days, but must return to their prearranged accommodation on a nightly basis. They are not allowed to stay overnight in any other places.
• Travellers must stay at least the first 7 nights within a Blue Zone Sandbox destination if planning to continue the journey to other destinations in Thailand. If staying less than 7 nights, the traveller must leave Thailand to another country immediately.
• All travellers must download and install the MorChana application, and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the result on Day 5-6 in the application.

Guidelines for Domestic/International Departure

• For international departure, it is the responsibility of travellers or their organisations to make sure that the travellers meet the requirements of their specific international destination regardless of the point of departure.
• For domestic departure, after having completed the required 7-day mandatory stay within a Blue Zone Sandbox destination, travellers are free to go…

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Bangkok, 16 December, 2021 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide an update on the three latest announcements published last night (15 December, 2021) in the Royal Thai Government Gazette that relax more COVID-19 restrictions nationwide, allowing the New Year countdown festivities, and further easing rules for travellers entering Thailand.

The New Year countdown festivities will be allowed to take place under the COVID-free setting guidelines, which include vaccination requirement, universal prevention, health and hygiene measures, and antigen testing. All events must ensure that everyone be fully vaccinated. Events with at least 1,000 participants must also ensure that everyone has received a negative antigen test result 72 hours prior to the event. Open-air restaurants with good ventilation nationwide will be allowed to serve alcoholic drinks to customers during the New Year countdown until 01.00 Hrs. on 1 January, 2022.

TAT is also planning a number of New Year countdown festivities in unique locations up and down the country, and the TAT Newsroom will be releasing a press release on this as soon as official details are confirmed.

Details on the further easing of rules for travellers entering Thailand from 16 December, 2021, is available on https://www.tatnews.org/thailand-reopening/.

Meanwhile, also effective from 16 December, 2021, Thailand’s colour zoning has been reduced to three zones: Pilot Tourist Areas or blue zone, Areas Under Stringent Surveillance or yellow zone, and Controlled Areas or orange zone.

8 “Blue Zone” Provinces + 18 Provinces with ‘Blue Zone” Districts

Central Region: Bangkok, and Ayutthaya (Mueang district only), Kanchanaburi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phetchaburi (Cha-am district only), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Mueang, Hua Hin, and Nong Kae districts only), and Samut Prakan (Suvarnabhumi Airport only).

Eastern Region: Chanthaburi (only for Mueang and Tha Mai districts), Chon Buri, Rayong (Ko Samet only), and Trat (Ko Chang and Ko Kut districts only).

Northern Region: Chiang Mai (Mueang, Chom Thong, Doi Tao, Mae Rim, and Mae Taeng districts only), and Chiang Rai (Mueang, Chiang Khong, Chiang Saen, Mae Chan, Mae Fah Luang, Mae Sai, Phan, Thoeng, Wiang Kaen, and Wiang Pa Pao districts only).

Northeastern Region: Buri Ram (Mueang district only), Khon Kaen (Mueang, Khao Suan Kwang, Poei Noi, Phon, Phu Wiang, and Ubolratana districts only), Loei (Chiang Khan district only), Nakhon Ratchasima (Mueang, Chaloem Phra Kiat, Chok Chai, Pak Chong, Phimai, Sikhio, and Wang Nam Khiao districts), Nong Khai (Mueang, Sangkhom, Si Chiang Mai and Tha Bo districts only), Surin (Mueang and Tha Tum districts only), and Udon Thani (Mueang, Ban Dung, Kumphawapi, Na Yung, Prachaksilpakhom, and Nong Han districts only).

Southern Region: Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Ranong (Ko Phayam only), and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao only).

30 Areas Under Stringent Surveillance or yellow zone provinces

Central Region: Ang Thong, Chai Nat, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, and Sing Buri; Northern Region: Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Phayao, Phichit, Phrae, Sukhothai, Uthai Thani, and Uttaradit; and Northeastern Region: Amnat Charoen, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram*, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Loei*, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai*, Roi Et, Sakhon Nakhon, Si Sa Ket, Surin*, and Yasothon.

39 Controlled Areas or orange zone provinces

Central Region: Ayutthaya*, Lop Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Phetchaburi*, Prachuap Khiri Khan*, Ratchaburi, Samut Prakan*, Samut Sakhon, Saraburi, and Suphan Buri; Eastern Region: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi*, Prachin Buri, Rayong*, Sa Kaeo, and Trat*; Northern Region: Chiang Mai*, Chiang Rai*, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, and Tak; Northeastern Region: Khon Kaen*, Nakhon Ratchasima*, Udon Thani*, and Ubon Ratchathani; and Southern Region: Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani*, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phatthalung, Ranong*, Satun, Songkhla, Trang, and Yala.

*Except for areas designated as “Blue Zone” pilot tourist destinations.

This press release 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.

The post Thailand further eases COVID-19 curbs nationwide, allowing New Year countdown festivities appeared first on TAT Newsroom.

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