Thailand Will Resume Accepting Test & Go Applications Starting February 1

The country’s Thailand Pass Test & Go has been restarted, and fully vaccinated travelers can now register for quarantine-free travel to Thailand beginning February 1.

The requirements have been somewhat revised. The Test & Go program requires travelers to provide a booked SHA+ hotel reservation for the first and fifth days of their stay in the country where they will undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing. The previous version of the program only required 1 PCR test upon arrival.

The country’s State of Emergency status has also been extended for 2 months. The directive, which was first announced by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in March 2020 allows the government with broad authority to impose restrictions and guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Thailand through the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration or CCSA.

Currently, the CCSA has decided to reopen registration for the Test & Go entry program, which offers a QR code for all arrivals regardless of their nationality in Thailand, provided that all paperwork is uploaded and gets approval. The update must be published in the Royal Gazette before it becomes official (the Test and Go selection on the Thailand Pass website is unlikely to be accessed and accept new applications until the updated guideline is published in the Royal Gazette).

Travelers from all countries are welcome to enter under Test & Go. Those who are fully inoculated against Covid-19 must apply for a Thailand Pass QR code on the Thailand Pass website in order to visit the country.  All travelers must undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival and remain in an authorized hotel for up to 1 night while waiting for the test results.

All arrivals who want to visit Thailand under the Test & Go program are now required to reserve a hotel room for their 5th day in the country for them to complete their 2nd RT-PCR test. Travelers are not required to remain at the same hotel and may move across Thailand in between examinations.

Test & Go Entry Requirements

* Hotel booking confirmation for day 1 and day 5 in Thailand
* Confirmed booking on a SHA+ accredited hotel.
* Advance payment for the 2 mandatory RT-PCR tests
* Proof of Vaccination (Vaccine passport or Vaccination certificate)
* A negative RT-PCR test result was conducted not more than 72 hours before departure.
* Thailand Pass QR code which travelers can apply through their official website. (Note: Application for Thailand Pass is 100% free.  Be aware of fake websites offering Thailand Pass QR code for a fee.)  View beginner’s guide to Thailand Pass here.

Test & Go registration period ended last month after the first local transmission of the Omicron variant in the country.  After the New Year’s break, the number of COVID-19 cases increased prompting authorities to tighten border controls temporarily.  At the CCSA’s press conference, a spokeswoman said that the decision to relax restrictions and reopen Test & Go was made after careful study, noting that the COVID-19 related death rate has been declining.

There is an increased number of COVID-19 cases but still tolerable and currently on a downtrend. The number of patients with severe cases is decreasing and the mortality rate is fairly low when compared to the Delta variant.

Aside from restarting the Test & Go entry program, the CCSA also expanded the Sandbox entry scheme which enables fully vaccinated travelers to visit approved sandbox areas for a week rather than being quarantined at a hotel or facility.  The newly added sandbox destinations are Koh Chang, Pattaya, Bang Sare, Na Chom Tian, and Koh Sichang.

Unvaccinated travelers are required to enter via the Alternative Quarantine program, which requires them to stay in an authorized hotel or resort for 10 days and submit to COVID-19 testing before being allowed to go anywhere in the country.

On the other hand, restrictions have been eased in 25 provinces as a result of changes to the province’s color-coded zoning system based on COVID-19 cases. Starting January 24, provinces will transition from “orange” to “yellow” zones.  Alcohol sales will be permitted until 11 p.m. in “yellow” and “blue” zones.  This decision was made carefully and although the infection rate has increased, the number of patients experiencing severe symptoms and Covid-related deaths remain low.

The “blue” zones approved for pilot tourism programs remain unchanged. Bangkok, Chon Buri, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phang Nga, and Phuket are in blue zones. Areas around Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan are also assigned as “blue” zones.

Starting January 24, alcohol sales at restaurants are allowed until 11 p.m. for areas under “yellow” and “blue” zones.  Alcohol sales in restaurants are still prohibited in 44 provinces under “orange” zones. Below is the updated list:

Additionally, a ‘Special Sealed Route’ from Bangkok to Phuket has been announced. The route will start after February 1.  Bangkok Airways has announced that it would operate 2 daily special sealed-route flights from Bangkok (BKK) to Phuket (HKT).

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