Thai Cabinet readjusts entry rules set to begin 16 December

Thai Cabinet readjusts entry rules set to begin 16 December

Thailand’s Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed the Cabinet’s decision to maintain the RT-PCR COVID-19 testing for international arrivals under the Exemption from Quarantine (TEST & GO) entry scheme, reversing the plan to change to an ATK method approved last Friday by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) – also chaired by the Thai PM.

The Prime Minister said this latest move was part of the country’s precautionary measure to prevent and control the spread of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. (See Thailand imposes travel restrictions on arrivals from Africa)

This will mean that the current 1-night waiting period in a hotel and a confirmed payment (for a 1-night stay at a SHA++ hotel, 1 RT-PCR test, and prearranged airport transfer) will continue to be required.

Important note: The change to an ATK method of testing on arrival has been cancelled.

In addition to arrival by air, travellers will be allowed to enter by land (at Nong Khai’s border checkpoint, starting 24 December, 2021) and sea provided that they meet the vaccination and testing requirements.

The mandatory stay will be reduced to 5 days from the current 7 days within one of the Blue Zone Sandbox destinations. This also means a confirmed payment for 5 nights at SHA+ accommodation is required.

On arrival (the first) testing will continue to use the RT-PCR method, but the second testing by an ATK method will be done sooner on Day 4-5 from currently Day 6-7.

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 saliva test when entering to the Kingdom.

Travellers 6-11 years of age, travelling with parents, must have a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling.

Travellers 12-17 years of age, travelling with parents, are not required to be vaccinated but must have a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling. Those unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least one dose of an approved vaccine and must have a negative RT-PCR test result. 

Travellers previously infected within 3 months before travelling must have a medical certificate of recovery or get vaccinated with at least one dose of an approved vaccine for an unspecified period of times before travelling.

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Reference: https://www.tatnews.org/2021/12/thailand-eases-entry-rules-from-16-december-2021/