Update International Arrivals | from May 01.2022

[Steve]

Coming to Thailand from May 2022? Here’s all you need to know.


On April 22, CCSAannounced major changes for everyone who will enter Thailand, whether Thai or foreigner, vaccinated or not vaccinated. Here is everything you need for returning to Thailand in one post.

• Registration for the revised Thailand Pass was opened at 1 minute past midnight on April 29.2022
• International travellers will no longer need to take a PCR test before their travel or on arrival. The requirement to book a SHA+ hotel as part of the Test & Go entry scheme is also dropped under the CCSA decision. However you need to check the conditions of your flight to Thailand as some airlines may require a PCR test or proof of vaccination.
• The Thailand Pass is still a requirement for everyone, Thais and foreigners. Documentation, including passport, vaccination certificates and proof of insurance, will still need to be uploaded and pre-approved before your arrival in Thailand. This will usually take no more than 3 days to be approved.
• You can say goodbye to Test & Go and Sandbox as they are things of the past. The only two categories for entry will be vaccinated and unvaccinated. That’s it.
• International travellers, who have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19, will no longer need to take a PCR test (both pre boarding and on arrival). The CCSA still recommends an ATK test on the fifth day and expects travellers to monitor their health whilst in Thailand, but the test is not compulsory.
• Insurance coverage requirements will also be dropped from US$20,000 dollar to US$10,000. This is specific Covid insurance, separate from travel insurance.
• For unvaccinated or under-vaccinated travellers, if they do a pre-travel PCR test, taken within 72 hours before departure, and it’s negative, they will be able to enter Thailand just the SAME as vaccinated travellers, with no pre-paid hotel, on arrival testing or quarantine. If they are unable or don’t want to do a PCR test, they will need to pre-book 5 days of accommodation at an alternative quarantine hotel. And do an ATK test on the fifth day. If it’s negative, you can leave and resume your travel.

International travellers are still required to have insurance. You need to have insurance, to the value of US$10,000 which covers hospitalisation for any Covid treatments. It used to cover to a value of US$50,000 until the CCSA lowered it in March to US$20,000, and now it’s down to covering a value of US$10,000.

If you have a valid Thai work permit, you won’t need the additional Covid insurance. Same with Thais who are covered under the country’s universal healthcare system,
If you do take a voluntary ATK test and need to report it to anyone here are the guidelines.

The removal of testing for most travellers after May 1 is great news, but there might be even better news coming shortly.

According to the Tourism and Sports Ministry, the cancellation of the Thailand Pass might happen as early as June 01.2022 With the Thailand Pass gone, travellers will have to rely on their TM6 immigration arrival papers to verify their vaccinations. This is just a proposal at this stage and needs to be debated by the CCSA.

If the CCSA accepts the recommendations, the much-debated and hated Thailand Pass could be phased out at the start of June. If they will adapt the old TM6 arrival cards, or get Immigration officials to check vaccination records, nobody knows yet.

At the time of writing this article, you still need to apply for a Thailand Pass. If you already have an approved Thailand Pass, and arriving after May 01, 2022 the CCSA says you don’t have to re-apply and you will be allowed into Thailand under the new conditions. You will then be able to approach your SHA+ hotel for a refund of the one night stay that you would have paid for when applying for the old Thailand Pass.

During this period, as Thailand moves from the older Thailand Pass to the new ‘test free’ version, you will still need to check with your airline to make sure you comply with their flight requirements which may require either PCR tests or vaccination.

As of the end of April, it’s still a requirement for everyone in Thailand to wear a facemask in public, under the provisions of the emergency decree which is still in place (until at least the end of May). Changes to other restrictions in Thailand are updated at bi-monthly meetings of the CCSA – The Thaiger always publishes updates to all Covid restrictions.

Also, after May 01. 2022 the official drinking time has been increased to midnight, but rules pertaining to alcohol are now only loosely enforced, especially in the tourist zones around the country. Best advice, follow what the locals are doing.

THAILANDPASS This is a link for the Thailand Pass. Registration is free.

[Sundance2020]

International Arrivals to Thailand | Update May 01. 2022

[Sundance2020]

31 Land Border Checkpoints reopening on May 01.2022

Land border checkpoints in 17 border provinces will reopen on May 1, according to the Department of Disease Control. Vaccinated Thai citizens and travellers from neighbouring countries can enter Thailand via the checkpoints. Foreigners will still need to register for Thailand Pass prior to entering via land border.

Today, Assistant Spokesperson of the Covid-19 Situation Administration Centre Sumanee Watcharasin revealed that the deparment agreed to reopen 31 permanent land border checkpoints in 17 provinces including Loei, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Bueng Kan, Sisaket, Surin, Sa Kaeo, Chantaburi, Trat, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ranong, Song Khla, Narathiwat, Yala, and Satun provinces. The other two permanent land border checkpoints in Nan and Ubon Ratchathani are under consideration for reopening.

To enter Thailand by land, vaccinated Thai citizens and travellers from neighboring countries, including Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Malaysia, can enter without the need to submit Covid-19 tests or insurance. Foreigners who desire to enter the country by land are still required to register via Thailand Pass prior to entry and purchase insurance that covers at least US$10,000. Unvaccinated travellers may enter via land, but will be required to provide a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to entering the kingdom, alongside applying for Thailand Pass and purchasing insurance.

[Sundance2020]

No quarantine for unvaccinated travellers in Thailand and other countries

International travellers who are unvaccinated for Covid-19 will soon be able to enter Thailand by air without quarantine, as long as they provide a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure. They’ll just need to upload their negative test result onto the Thailand Pass system before boarding their flight.

Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Friday announced major changes to various existing entry requirements, which are planned to come into effect on May 01.2022 The date will later be confirmed in the Royal Gazette.

• Unvaccinated travellers who enter the kingdom without a pre-arrival PCR will still have to pay to quarantine for 5 days in an SHA+ facility and take a PCR test on day 4 or 5.
• Vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers are both expected to monitor their health and regularly test themselves using ATK tests while travelling in Thailand, though it will not be enforced on healthy people.

Regarding quarantine for the unvaccinated, Thailand is following suit, rather than leading the way. Many other countries worldwide have already scrapped quarantine for the unvaccinated. Each country has different rules about pre-arrival and on arrival Covid-19 testing so always check the requirements before travelling.

As of April 22, 2022, unvaccinated travellers can enter the following countries without quarantining…

• Asia
  Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
• Europe
  Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Georgia, Greece, Gibraltar, Iceland, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Madeira, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, the UK and Turkey.
• The Middle East and Africa
  Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Angola, Bahrain, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Comoros, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, the Congo, South Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• The Americas
  Belize, Brazil, Cuba, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Monaco, Haiti, Honduras, Paraguay, the Bahamas and Venezuela.

Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Cambodia recently lowered quarantine for unvaccinated travellers to 7 days. In Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, unvaccinated travellers are required to quarantine for 5 days. Unvaccinated travellers cannot enter the Philippines at all.

[Sundance2020]

Thai aviation industry says international flights at only 20% of pre-pandemic level



The Thai Airlines Association says that in the first 4 months of this year, domestic flights have returned to nearly 100% of their pre-pandemic level. However, international flights have still only reached 20% of pre-Covid-19 levels. TAA president, Putthiphong Prasatthong-Osot, says the lifting of some travel restrictions has led to an increase in passenger numbers, but adds that it will take years for the aviation industry to return to pre-pandemic levels.

“We expect airlines to restore more domestic routes and also new routes to tourist destinations in the remaining 8 months of the year. This is more likely to happen after the Thailand Pass is cancelled.”

According to a Nation Thailand report, Putthiphong says that this year, Thailand’s airlines are expected to concentrate on short-haul destinations, including Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan, and the Maldives. Additional long-haul flights may be added from 2023.

“Opening of international flights still depends on the Covid-19 situation and screening policy of destination countries, especially in major markets such as China, India, Japan, Europe, and the Middle East.”

On May 1, Thailand ditched its Test & Go entry scheme, which had required all international travellers to undergo PCR testing on arrival and wait in a SHA Plus hotel room for the result. They were also required to have Covid-19 insurance coverage of US$50,000, which has now been reduced to US$10,000.

Since the cancellation of Test & Go, visitor numbers to the kingdom have increased. However, international passengers are still required to go through the Thailand Pass registration process and have proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated arrivals who do not take a pre-departure PCR test will be required to quarantine in a hotel for 5 days.

Putthiphong says that while the overall situation is improving, most people are now vaccinated, and several countries are lifting entry restrictions, the pandemic’s legacy will linger for some time to come.

“It could take years for the airline industry to recover to the same level as before the outbreak.”