UPDATED! Pattaya and Ko Chang among the reopened destinations

UPDATED! Sandbox programme

Pattaya and Ko Chang among the reopened destinations joining the existing Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, and Samui Sandbox programme, plus reintroduction of the Sandbox Extension programme.

Fully vaccinated travellers from any country around the world can visit Thailand under the Sandbox programme. They can choose to stay either in a single destination or a twin/triple destinations. If they wish to continue to other Thai destinations outside of the Sandbox programme, they need to complete the first 7 days in the Sandbox destinations and follow other requirements.

Eligible travellers
• Thai citizens.
• 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.

Eligible countries
• All countries/territories.

Points of entry
• By air at Phuket International Airport for Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Phuket.
• By air at Krabi International Airport for Krabi.
• By air at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, then transit on a sealed flight for Ko Samui, or Phuket.
• By air at Suvarnabhumi Airport, then travel by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route to Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray – in Chon Buri, and Ko Chang in Trat.

Eligible Sandbox destinations within Thailand
•

• Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang).
• Sandbox Extension – Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, and Ko Samui/Ko Pha-ngan/Ko Tao.

Pre-Arrival Requirements

All travellers must have the following documents for entering Thailand:

1. A Thailand Pass, which can be applied via https://tp.consular.go.th/.
2. A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
   • Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents with a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling, are not required to have a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result and can have a saliva test when entering the Kingdom.
   • For arrivals by water, everyone on board the vessels must have a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected within the officially specified time frame. Anyone on aboard with a history of COVID-19 infection within a period between 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery.
3. An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000 (*From 1 March, 2022, this will be reduced to US$20,000). TAT recommends that travellers make sure to check the small print of any COVID-19 insurance policy before purchasing. Ultimately, the policy should cover the cost of treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation, hospital isolation, hotel isolation, or related quarantine. The insurance policy should also cover the whole duration that travellers are planning to stay in Thailand, plus at least 10 extra days as a precautionary measure in the event that the traveller’s second swab test result returns as positive.
   • Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement.
4. A confirmed payment for at least a 7-day stay at approved accommodation establishments; such as, a SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) hotel, within the above-mentioned eligible Sandbox destinations.
   • Travellers to Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Phuket can change accommodation 3 times within the first 7 days (can book 3 different hotels) within the province.
   • Travellers to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao can change accommodation 3 times within the first 7 days (can book 3 different hotels). However, they must stay the first night on Ko Samui and must receive a negative result for their first RT-PCR test, before being able to change accommodation to other hotels on either Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao. Or they can choose to book 3 different hotels on Ko Samui alone.
   • Travellers under the Sandbox Extension programme, such as, Phuket and Phang-Nga, Phuket and Krabi, or Phuket and Ko Samui, can change accommodation 3 times within the first 7 days (can book 3 different hotels) within the areas. However, travellers on the Andaman (Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Phuket) extension with Ko Samui, must extend their trip by air only.
   • For travellers to Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang), we will provide more details as soon as possible.
5. A confirmed payment for 2 RT-PCR tests;
   • Krabi, Phang-Nga and Phuket: Travellers can reserve and prepay for the 2 RT-PCR tests via www.thailandpsas.com (2,100 Baht/test, or 4,200 Baht/2 tests).
   • Surat Thai (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao): Travellers can book and prepay for the 2 RT-PCR tests when booking and prepaying for accommodation at SHA++ hotels (2,200 Baht/test, or 4,400 Baht/2 tests). The first test will be conducted at Samui International Airport, and the second test at any of the designated hospitals on Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao.
   • For travellers under the Sandbox Extension programme, as well as travellers to Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang), we will provide more details as soon as possible.
6. A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery
   • Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand.
   • Travellers 12-17 years of age travelling to Thailand unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this requirement.
   • Travellers 6-11 years of age, travelling with parents, are exempt from this requirement.
   • For arrivals by water, everyone on board must be fully vaccinated. This is except for travellers under 18 years of age, travelling with parents or guardians. *We will provide an update on this as soon as the official information becomes available.
   • Travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered by medical treatment and travellers who have received at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine after post-infection must have a certificate of COVID-19 recovery.

All travellers must undergo ‘exit screening’ at the point of departure, i.e., at the airline check-in counter and present the required documents to the person-in-charge to carry out the checks.

On-Arrival Requirements / During the Stay

1. All travellers must undergo ‘entry screening’ including body temperature check at the point of entry.
   • Travellers arriving on a direct flight to an international airport at the Sandbox destination must present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
   • Travellers with a transit flight to the airport at the Sandbox destination (Ko Samui and Phuket) must undergo entry screening at the first point of entry or at the final destination:
     • At the first point of entry, present the required documents to the Immigration/Health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures before boarding the transit flight;
     • At the final destination of entry, present the required documents to the Immigration/health Control officer to carry out the checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
2. Proceed to the prearranged accommodation or medical facility to undergo the first RT-PCR test. The trip must be by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route. Then, all travellers must wait for the test result within the hotel only. Travellers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents, can have a saliva test.
   • Travellers with a negative test result can enjoy travel activities within the Sandbox areas throughout the 7 days, but must return to their prearranged accommodation on a nightly basis. They are not allowed to stay overnight in any other places. In addition, they must undergo their second RT-PCR test on Day 5-6, or when they experience respiratory symptoms.
   • Travellers whose test result returns as positive will be referred for appropriate medical treatment in accordance with Thailand’s Communicable Diseases Act B.E. 2558 (2015). The expenses must be covered by the required insurance for foreign travellers, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates. TAT recommends that travellers make sure to check the small print of any COVID-19 insurance policy before purchasing. Ultimately, the policy should cover the cost of treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation, hospital isolation, hotel isolation, or related quarantine. The insurance policy should also cover the whole duration that travellers are planning to stay in Thailand, plus at least 10 extra days as a precautionary measure in the event that the traveller’s second swab test result returns as positive.
     • Pending on their conditions, they may be medically advised to receive treatment in either hospital hotel isolation or community isolation.
     • While receiving the medical treatment – at least 10 days, they must remain in their accommodation only. They should not leave their accommodation unless utmost necessary, and must notify the Communicable Disease Control officer in-charge.
     • After having recovered from COVID-19, they will receive a medical certificate of recovery.
3. Travellers must stay at least the first 7 nights within a Sandbox destination if planning to continue the journey to other destinations in Thailand. If staying less than 7 nights, the traveller must leave Thailand to another country immediately.
4. While in Thailand, travellers are advised to strictly follow standard, good personal hygiene practices; such as, wear a mask in public, maintain hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or using hand sanitiser), and keep physical distance of at least 1 metre from others.
   • Travellers who experience COVID-like symptoms should get tested. If testing positive, they must get the appropriate medical treatment. Those with a COVID-19 testing appointment must get tested.
5. All travellers must download and install the MorChana application, and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the result on Day 5-6 in the application.
6. The second RT-PCR test will not be required if the traveller’s length of stay in a Sandbox destination is less than 6 nights, or his/her scheduled international departure date out of Thailand is on Day 5 or before. For example if the traveller plans to stay in Thailand for 4 days, then he/she does not have to undergo the second RT-PCR test, but he/she must leave for another country immediately. However, whether the traveller will be required to take another RT-PCR test depend on the airline and the final international destination. For travellers who intend to stay 6 days (nights), they will be required to undergo the second RT-PCR test on Day 5-6 although they are scheduled to leave for another country.
7. Travellers who intend to stay more than 7 nights and to continue their journey to other parts of Thailand must undergo the second RT-PCR COVID-19 test on Day 5-6. After receiving a negative test result on Day 7, travellers can obtain a ‘Release Form’ and from Day 8 continue their journey domestically.

Guidelines for Domestic/International Departure

For domestic departure, after having stayed the first 7 days in the above-mentioned eligible Sandbox destinations, travellers must obtain a ‘Release Form’ from their accommodation and from Day 8 are free to go anywhere in Thailand.

For international departure, it is the responsibility of travellers or their organisations to make sure that the travellers meet the requirements of their specific international destination regardless of the point of departure.

List of Swab Centres in Phuket for Sandbox travellers

List of Swab Centres in Phang-Nga for Sandbox travellers