How to enter Thailand effective 11 January 2022: Alternative Quarantine entry scheme for all travellers

Under this scheme, the period of quarantine varies on the basis of vaccination status, as well as travellers must undergo testing during the isolation period.

In a recent update, Thailand has recently introduced an Alternative Quarantine (AQ) entry scheme for travellers, effective 11 January 2022.

This AQ scheme is applicable for Thai citizens and 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. These eligible travellers may enter Thailand from all points of entry - land, water, and air. 

Before entering Thailand, travellers are required to prepare the following documents: 

1. A Thailand Pass

2. A medical Certificate with a negative RT-PCR lab result issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
Thai nationals and travellers aged six and below, travelling with parents, are exempt from this requirement. However, for arrivals by water, everyone on board the vessels must obtain the medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected within the officially specified timeframe. Additionally, anyone on board with the history of COVID-19 infection within the past 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery.

3. 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.

4. Proof of confirmed payment for an Alternative Quarantine (AQ) accommodation or similar government-approved facility. Foreign nationals must also produce proof of payment for the required RT-PCR tests.
In case of a seven-day or 10-day quarantine, two RT-PCR COVID-19 tests are required. In case of a 14-day quarantine, three RT-PCR COVID-19 tests are required.

5. All travellers must undergo the ‘exit screening’ at the point of departure at all entry points and present the required documents to the person-in-charge carrying out the checks.
Upon entry, travellers are required to undergo the ‘entry screening’, including body temperature checks. Following the entry screening, travellers will have to present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, before proceeding through the Immigration procedures. 

Having gone through the abovementioned procedures, travellers will then proceed to quarantine.

The quarantine period will vary: 

• Travellers with a Certificate of Vaccination, having been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine (or travellers under 18 years of age have gotten at least one dose) at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand will undergo a seven-day quarantine.
• Travellers without a Certificate of Vaccination will undergo a 10-day quarantine.
• Travellers arriving by water where everyone on board has a Certificate of Vaccination as per travel document requirement number 2 above, only a seven-day quarantine is necessary. 
• If anyone on board does not have a Certificate of Vaccination, everyone on board will undergo a 10-day quarantine.
• Travellers below the age of 18 travelling with parents or guardians, will undergo the same duration as their parents or guardians.

Throughout the quarantine period, travellers are required to take multiple RT-PCR COVID-19 tests:

• For travellers under seven-day quarantine, two RT-PCR tests are required on on day 0-1 and day five-six.
• For travellers under a 10-day quarantine, two RT-PCR tests are required on day 0-1 and day eight-nine.
• For travellers under a 14-day quarantine, three RT-PCR tests are required on day 0-1, day five-six, and day 12-13.

All travellers must download the MorChana application, and leave it on at all times for COVID-19 precautionary measures.

When travelling, It should be noted that for international departures, it is the responsibility of travellers or their organisations to ensure that travellers meet the requirements of their specific international destination regardless of the point of departure. For domestic departures, travellers are free to go anywhere in Thailand after completing the required quarantine period.

Suspended: Thailand Pass system for new registrations

Alongside sharing the revised checklist for incoming travellers (as provided above), Thailand has also announced the temporary suspension of the Exemption from Quarantine (TEST & GO) entry scheme, as approved by the nation's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

As such, new registrations for a Thailand Pass specifically for the Exemption from Quarantine (TEST & GO) scheme will be temporarily suspended until further notice.

However, travellers who have applied for/obtained their Thailand Pass QR code before 22 December 2021, with scheduled arrival dates in Thailand from 24 December, 2021, onwards, can still enter Thailand until there are any changes.

For these travellers still allowed to enter, they must comply with the following:

• They are required to undergo their second RT-PCR COVID-19 test (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities on day five-six of their stay in Thailand, or whenever they experience respiratory symptoms (no additional cost). 
• Travellers must complete the TM6 Immigration Form while on the plane.
• Upon arrival in the airport’s terminal, travellers must complete and sign the Quarantine Form before proceeding to the Health Control screening point. Children below 12 years of age may use the same form as their parents/guardians.
• They are to present the required documents, including the Thailand Pass, arrival date and RT-PCR test results, to the Communicable Disease Control officers. If all documents are in order, the officer will proceed to affix the Quarantine Form with the official seal of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, along with instructions relating to undergoing quarantine, and the two required RT-PCR tests.
• Travellers will then receive a copy of the affixed Quarantine Form, along with a QR code indicating the list of government-designated hospitals/lab centres for their second RT-PCR test (no additional cost).
• Travellers can then proceed to Immigration. Apart from Immigration procedures, travellers must also present their copy of the affixed Quarantine Form and passport to the Immigration officer to carry out the checks. Provided that all are in order, travellers will then be allowed to proceed to a prearranged transfer to the reserved hotel.
• Upon arrival at the hotel, travellers must present their copy of the affixed Quarantine Form to the hotel staff on the type of entry scheme permitted to the travellers. Afterwards, travellers must undergo the first RT-PCR test. Those who have already taken the test at government-designated hospitals/lab centres prior to their arrival at the hotel, are not required to take another test at this stage.
• Upon receiving a negative RT-PCR test result, travellers must inform the hotel staff of their intended accommodation on day five-six to be registered on the COSTE system.
• On day five-six, travellers must go to their appointment at the government-designated hospitals/lab centres to undergo their second RT-PCR test, and must bring along their affixed Quarantine Form.
• Travellers are required to give their copy of affixed Quarantine Form to the hospitals/lab centres for billing. It should be noted that there will be no additional cost for travellers who have obtained their TEST & GO Thailand Pass before 22 December, 2021.

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