Thailand updates entry rules

Thailand updates entry rules

From March 1 the rules of entry into the Land of Smiles will be eased a little more. The most significant change is the much hated mandatory hotel booking for a day five RT-PCR test. This has been changed to a rapid antigen self test which must be recorded via the MorChana application that is to be downloaded and installed on phones prior to arrival.

Fully vaccinated visitors will be allowed to arrive by air, land or sea. Air passengers may only transit domestically if they are continuing their journey on a dedicated sealed flight. Visitors from neighbouring countries may enter via the land borders at Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Songkhla. All visitors arriving by land or air must apply for the Thai Pass. Those arriving by sea should apply for a certificate of entry (COE).

All visitors must take a RT-PCR test no greater than 72 hours prior to departure. On arrival by air or land they must spend the first day in a pre-booked, government approved SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) hotel to await the results of another RT-PCR test. Arrivals by sea must wait on their yacht until the results are confirmed. On day five the results of a self-ATK must be reported via the MorChana app.

The mandatory covid-19 specific insurance has also been reduced to US$ 20,000 (from US$ 50,000 currently) though foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement. The new insurance coverage rule will also apply to people entering the country via one of the Sandbox programmes at Phuket, Krabi, Phang-Nga, Pattaya and Ko Chang.

Picture: A Tuk Tuk passes the walls of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kheo in Bangkok, Thailand

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