Thailand to scrap pre-arrival testing, reduce quarantine period & sandbox stay from 1 April

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International arrivals under any of the current three entry schemes – Test & Go, Sandbox, and Alternative Quarantine – will be allowed to enter Thailand without the need to show proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of travel.

Thailand will be scrapping its pre-arrival COVID-19 testing requirements from 1 April 2022 (Friday), as part of a four-phase plan to downgrade the COVID-19 pandemic to an endemic disease.

As announced by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday (18 March), and shared by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, international arrivals under any of the current three entry schemes – Test & Go, Sandbox, and Alternative Quarantine (AQ) – will then be allowed to enter Thailand without the need to show proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of travel.

The number of entry points has also been updated to include two new ones:

• The number of approved airports has been increased from seven to eight – Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, Krabi, Samui, Chiang Mai, U-Tapao, and Hat Yai (new).
• Land border checkpoints have also increased from three to four – Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Songkhla, and Satun (new).
• Water points-of-entry increased from ports and piers in two to three provinces – Phuket, Chon Buri, and Surat Thani (new).
• Types of vessels allowed in have also been increased from yachts to also cover ships of Thai government agencies, while Thai crew members on cargo ships will also be allowed to enter Thailand.

The following adjustments will also take effect on the same date:

• Two tests remain in place for the TEST & GO and Sandbox travellers: RT-PCR test upon arrival (day zero), and an antigen self-test on day five.
• Sandbox stay period: Reduced to five days, from the current seven days. After completing five days within the Sandbox destinations, travellers will be allowed to travel domestically within Thailand.
• The quarantine period under the AQ scheme will be reduced to five days, with an RT-PCR test on days four to five.

Image / 123RF