Travel to Thailand: important terms and conditions and restrictions to be aware of

Heavenly beaches, temples and golden Buddha’s, excitement, zenitude… Yes, Thailand is opening its doors to us again, and we’re not going to miss it! But covid has changed the way we travel. If you want to get there, you’ll need to know all the details. Don’t panic! We answer the questions most frequently asked by our community of travelers 🧳

COVID-19

Do I need to be vaccinated to visit Thailand?

To travel to Thailand, travelers must be fully vaccinated (Test & GO” program), otherwise they must undergo a 10-day quarantine (alternative quarantine program).

People who decide to join the “SandBox” program must be fully vaccinated.

How are PCR tests organized before and after my arrival in Thailand?

There are several different situations:

– Applicants to the “Test & Go” program program may enter Thailand, but must show proof of a negative PCR test issued within 72 hours of departure. On arrival in Thailand, travellers will have to take another test, and then another on the 5th day (at the same time as the quarantine we’ll talk about in the next question).

– Candidates who have not been vaccinated or whose vaccination schedule is incomplete should apply for the “alternative quarantine” program. These people must present proof of a negative PCR test issued at least 72 hours before departure.

– Candidates enrolled in the “SandBox” program will also be required to provide proof of a negative PCR test result issued within 72 hours of departure.

Am I subject to quarantine?

– Travellers belonging to the “Test&GO” program will have to spend one night in quarantine on the first and fifth day of their arrival (at the same time as the PCR tests) in a hotel approved by the Thai government (“SHA Extra+” hotels and “Alternative Quarantine (AQ)” hotels).

– Travelers on the “Alternative Quarantine” program must stay in confinement for 10 days in an “Alternative Quarantine (AQ)” hotel.

– Travelers on the Sandbox program must stay in a Thai government-approved hotel (“SHA Extra+” or “Alternative Quarantine (AQ)” hotels) in provinces designated as Sandbox zones. They will be able to travel in the rest of the country after 7 days. This program allows you to move within the designated area.

There are 6 provinces: Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao), Chon Buri (only Pattaya city, Bang Lamung, Si Racha, Ko Sichang, and Sattahip districts – only Na Chom Thian and Bang Sare sub-districts), and Trat (only Ko Chang).

For more information about government-eligible hotels, please visit the following websites:

Hotels alternating quarantine

For other hotels: Shathailand and Thilandsha. On Agoda you can also type SHA Plus in the search bar.

What are the mandatory elements (administrative, etc.) to be provided?

To enter the territory, the following items are required:

Thaïland Pass: each traveler must register at least 7 days before departure: Thailandpass website (formerly COE). This declaration must be validated by the Thai Ministry of Health. It is available free of charge from the official website. For more details and information on the Thailand Pass, visit the embassy website, paragraph 6. Thailand Pass.

Book at least 7 nights’ quarantine in a government-eligible hotel or Alternative Quarantine (depending on your vaccination schedule) and book a Thai PCR test for the following day, and another at the end of your quarantine.

Any tips for the Thai Pass?

• We recommend that you do this at least 7 days before departure.
• Don’t use a hotmail address, as you won’t receive the information.
• Preferably use a Gmail address with a .com extension for greater speed.
• Have your documents in JPG format (PDF is currently not accepted).
• Download QR codes to speed up Thai Pass acceptance

You’ll receive an acknowledgement of receipt and the Thai pass straight away, although it’s recommended that you do this at least 7 days in advance.

Documents required :

• Passport
• Vaccination certificate
• Health insurance certificate COVID-19
• Confirmed ASQ or SHA+ hotel reservation
• Copy of Thai visa if required

What is the complete vaccination schedule accepted by Thailand?

To be considered “vaccinated” you must present a vaccination certificate that meets all of the following conditions:

– Have undergone (or received) a vaccination validated by the Thai Ministry of Health, including the number of doses and the minimum time between injections:

• Sinovac (2 doses, 2 weeks)
• AstraZeneca (2 doses, 4 weeks)
• Johnson & Johnson (1 dose)
• Pfizer (2 doses, 3 weeks)
• Moderna (2 doses, 4 weeks)
• Sinopharm (2 doses, 3 weeks)
• Sputnik V (2 doses, 3 weeks)Certain combinations are possible.

– You must have obtained the European vaccination QR code and the Thailand pass QR code.

– If you have already contracted COVID, you will need to present a medical certificate attesting to your recovery, as well as proof of a dose of vaccine injected within 3 months of the positive result.

– The last injection must have taken place at least 14 days before you entered the country.

Is an antigenic test valid?

No, only PCR tests are valid.

What are the entry conditions for children under 18?

Only children under 6 are exempt from the pre-boarding test. However, they will have to take a saliva test once they arrive on site. If the test is positive, they and their contacts will have to isolate themselves in a hotel designated by the government. It is therefore recommended to have children tested before departure (or “to have children tested before departure despite the absence of obligation”).

For the Thailand Pass, travellers aged 12 and over must register individually. Children under 12 must register with a parent or legal guardian.

Can I be refused entry if I come from certain countries?

Since December 1, 2021, travelers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe have been banned from arriving in Thailand. Since December 6, 2021, travelers from African countries other than those mentioned above have been subject to a 14-day quarantine.

When you arrive at the airport, what are the rules?

– Pass health and immigration checks.

– Submit to a PCR test at the hotel or designated location (test booked in advance by you)

– The Thai government recommends downloading the Mor Chana alert app, available from Apple Store or Google Play.

Do I need COVID insurance?

Yes, to be able to travel to Thailand, you must have insurance with a minimum cover of 50,000 US dollars covering Covid, which will be valid for the entire duration of your stay + 10 days (in case of mandatory quarantine).

Exception: for retired O or OA visa/re-entry permit holders, you will need a minimum of US$100,000 in coverage, including COVID coverage valid from the date of your arrival in Thailand for 3 months from the date of your arrival, accompanied by a Foreign Insurance Certificate : Foreign Insurance Certificate completed by your insurer, with an agent’s signature and a stamp specifying the minimum amount of coverage.

Is it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors?

Masks must be worn in public throughout the country.

We advise you to respect this rule, otherwise you could be fined more than €500!

Can I move freely between regions?

Once your pcr test is negative after quarantine, there are currently no travel restrictions between regions (even if some are categorized as red, orange, etc.). So be careful where you go – some regions are more “dangerous” than others.

Is there a curfew?

Since November 30, the curfew has not been in force. For all updates, visit the embassy website

What about public places (shopping centers, bars, cinemas…) and activities?

Bars, nightclubs and lounges remain closed. In addition, any gathering likely to propagate Covid-19 is punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, or a fine of 1,000 euros.

What are the procedures for returning to France?

Thailand is classified as an “orange” country by the French government.

If you have been vaccinated, you will need to provide an international certificate of full vaccination and a declaration on your honor, which you can download from the French Ministry of the Interior website, attesting that you have no symptoms of COVID-19 infection. You won’t be subject to the compelling reasons regime, and you’ll be exempt from isolation and testing requirements.

If you have not been vaccinated, you must :

• a PCR test less than 72 hours old or an antigen test less than 48 hours old. Children under 12 are exempt from this test.
• submit a declaration on your honor, which you can download from the French Ministry of the Interior website, attesting that you have no symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
• undergo a random antigen test on arrival at the airport.
• commit to self-insulation for seven days.

Where can I get tested for COVID 19 in Thailand?

You will find a list of hospitals performing PCR tests with results in less than 72 hours in Bangkok and the provinces: See list

How much does a PCR or antigen test cost in Thailand?

The price of tests varies enormously in Thailand, depending on the hospital or laboratory you visit. Expect to pay between €50 and €150.

I tested positive in Thailand. What should I do?

If I am a case of contact or test positive after arriving at the airport

You may be sitting next to someone carrying the virus and be declared a contact case. In this case, you will be contacted and asked to stay in a hotel for isolation, or in a hospital if you have symptoms for around 10 days.

If I test positive on the spot

You’ll need to go to a hotel or hospital if you have symptoms for an isolation period of around 10 days.

If you have symptoms, you need to go to the doctor, who will decide on the best course of action, with 3 possibilities:

– Home isolation/community isolation and appropriate medical treatment

– Inpatient isolation and appropriate medical treatment

– Hospitalization

To find out more about the criteria taken into account when making your decision, visit the Lumaheatth website.

When I return to France, do I have to quarantine myself?

At present, no restrictions apply to French nationals returning from a trip to Thailand who have completed their vaccination course.

For people who have not been vaccinated

Negative PCR test less than 72 hours old or antigen test less than 48 hours old

A certificate of recovery more than 11 days and less than 6 months old

Children under twelve are not subject to the test.

You must also submit a sworn statement attesting to the absence of symptoms of covid-19 infection and contact with a confirmed case of covid-19.

Important information

Can I stop over or transit through Thailand?

Since March 1, 2021, passengers are only allowed to transit Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport for a maximum of 12 hours.

In this case, you don’t need to register with Thailand Pass, but you must be able to show a negative PCR test result and COVID insurance.

For more information, visit https://www.caat.or.th/en/archives/56377.

Exceptions apply to the Phuket and Samui regions: you’ll need to take a direct, non-stop flight to Bangkok, otherwise you’ll have to undergo quarantine in Bangkok.

Do I need a VISA, passport or identity card?

Administrative entry requirements vary according to the length of your stay.

For people staying less than 30 days, a visa is not required. However, you must have a passport valid for at least six months after your date of entry, even if you leave the country much earlier.

You must also be able to prove that you have left the country within 30 days (plane ticket, for example).

You can apply for a visa online via the Thaivisa website.

Summary of visa application requirements:

>30 days: no visa required

>60 days: single-entry tourist E-visa (TR), valid for 90 days, cost €35, €50 extension

>90 days: single-entry tourist E-visa (STV), valid for 90 days, cost €70, renewable twice for 90 days (€55)

>6 months: Multi-entry tourist E-visa (METV) – (suspended due to covid), validity 6 months, price €175, can be extended

>90 days: tourist E-visa, valid for 90 days, cost €70, can be extended

>1 year: Single entry tourist E-visa + 50 years (OA), valid for one year, price €175, can be extended.

>5 years: Single-entry tourist E-visa + 50 years (OX), valid for 5 years, cost €350, renewable for 5 years

What happens if I overstay my visa?

If you go to court :

• Over 90 days and fine paid: no inadmissibility
• Over 90 days: 1-year residence ban
• Overage + 1 year: 3-year residence ban
• Exceeding + 3 years: 5-year residence ban
• Exceeding + 5 years: 10-year residence ban

If you are arrested and taken to court :

• Exceeding 1 year: 5-year residence ban
• Overage + 1 year: 10-year residence ban

Since March 1, 2021, passengers are only allowed to transit Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport for a maximum of 12 hours.

In this case, you don’t need to register with Thailand Pass, but you must be able to show a negative PCR test result and COVID insurance.

For more information, visit https://www.caat.or.th/en/archives/56377.

Exceptions apply to the Phuket and Samui regions: you’ll need to take a direct, non-stop flight to Bangkok, otherwise you’ll have to undergo quarantine in Bangkok.

What vaccinations (excluding covid) are recommended for my stay in Thailand?

No vaccinations are compulsory, but some are recommended: make sure you’re up to date.

We recommend updating children’s diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis (DTP), tuberculosis and rubella-mumps-measles (MMR) vaccinations.

For stays in rural areas, vaccination against Japanese encephalitis may be necessary. This viral disease is transmitted by mosquito bites, so it is necessary to use an additional type of protection (cream, spray, etc.).

Rabies is a widespread disease throughout Southeast Asia. We advise you to be cautious of the many stray animals and to keep your rabies vaccination up to date throughout the country, including the cities.

In all cases, seek the advice of a doctor or an international vaccination center.

What are the health precautions in Thailand?

There are many health and disease precautions to be taken in Thailand.

Visit the government website

Are there any special Thai customs requirements?

This is totally forbidden:

• Drugs
• Weapons and explosives
• Pornographic objects / literature / images: books, photos, DVDs…
• Counterfeit or pirated items
• Counterfeit money
• Electronic cigarettes
• Representation of Buddha

What is regulated :

• Tobacco: no more than 200 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco (not cumulative). Beyond that, you’ll have to declare and pay taxes.
• Alcohol: maximum 1L per person. Beyond that, you’ll have to declare and pay taxes.
• Playing cards: they are taxed even if they are not new: 30 Bahts for 100 cards
• Personal medicines: you must declare your medicines by completing the customs form and providing a doctor’s prescription.
• Meat
• Food: import licenses are available
• Money: declare currency carried if the total amount exceeds the equivalent of 20,000 USD. You won’t have to pay any tax, just declare them.

What is not regulated :

• Personal effects
• Cameras, cell phones, computers, MP3 players (maximum 1 of each per passenger)
• Pets with up-to-date papers

Useful contacts

Tourist police emergency number: 1155

French Ambassador to Thailand :

Address: 35 Charoenkrung soi 36 (Rue de Brest), Bangrak, 10500 Bangkok

Tel : +66 26 57 51 00

Tel (secondary): +66 26 27 21 00

Tel (emergencies): +66 81 994 4901

Website

Embassy of Thailand in Paris :

Address: 8 rue Greuze, 75116 Paris

Telephone: 01 56 26 50 50

Email : thaiconsular.paris@hotmail.com

Website

Opening hours: Applications by appointment: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 11am. Collection from 2 pm to 3:30 pm.

Thai Consulate in Lyon :

Address: 40, rue du Plat, 69002 Lyon

Telephone: 04 78 37 16 58

Email : thailande.consulatlyon@wanadoo.fr

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 9am to 11am

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