31 Land Borders | Reopening from May 2022

[Sundance2020]

31 land border checkpoints in 17 provinces to reopen 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.

[Steve]

Thai-Burmese border checkpoints prepare to re-open in Tak province

As the Covid-19 situation appears to ease, Thailand is preparing to re-open 2 border checkpoints in the northern province of Tak. According to a Nation Thailand report, cleaning is underway at both checkpoints, with officials hoping to re-open them by Thursday.

One of the booths is at the Mae Sot-Myawaddy checkpoint, located at the foot of the first Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, in the village of Rim Moei. The second is at the foot of the second Friendship Bridge, in the village of Ban Wang Takian Tai.

According to the report, Thai border officials are working with their Burmese counterparts, while waiting for an official response from across the Myawaddy border. Both checkpoints have been closed since March 2020, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s understood that in the 2-year period since, the booths have filled with leaves, tree branches, and bird droppings, with workers saying the clean-up operation took some time as a result.

Business operators nearby have expressed their delight at seeing the checkpoints preparing to re-open, with shop owners saying they hoped the cross-border traffic would help generate revenue. Shop owner Phakakrong Arjimrai says businesses in the area have suffered heavily since the closure of the checkpoints.

“I’m so excited to hear the checkpoint will finally re-open. It’s been very tough for us. I’m glad the government is re-opening the border. I’ve had to shoulder the high rent with no sales at all for 2 years.”

[Sundance2020]

Border checkpoint between Thailand and Cambodia reopened on May 06.2022



A checkpoint on the border between Thailand and Cambodia reopened today in the northeastern province of Surin. A line of cars began crossing the border this morning, and the crossing is now open to Thais and foreigners every day from 6am-10pm. This news comes on the same day as three Thailand – Malaysia border crossings have also reopened.

The checkpoint, a major centre for trade and tourism between Northeastern Thailand and Cambodia, has been closed ever since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Thailand in 2020. One Cambodian governor requested that Thailand ease its restrictions for boarder pass holders, and extend their stay in Thailand from three to five days. Surin’s governor said the request would be forwarded to the central government for a decision.

Last week, a spokesperson for Thailand’s CCSA said the deparment agreed to reopen 31 land border checkpoints in 17 provinces on May 1, 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.

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.