Latest COVID-19 entry restrictions and requirements to Thailand (January 2023)
As Thailand moves into the post-pandemic era, most of the travel restrictions introduced to contain the spread of COVID-19 have all been lifted!
As of 9 Jan 2023, the government has overturned an announcement on 8 Jan 2023. All travelers entering Thailand are not required to show proof of vaccination or provide a letter certifying they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 6 months.
Previous Situation Updates
As of 8 Jan 2023, foreign travelers entering Thailand will be required to show proof of vaccination or provide a letter certifying they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 6 months.
This measure excludes Thai nationals and passengers on transit, and will be in effect until at least end of January 2023.
Foreign nationals arriving from a country where a pre-arrival COVID test is mandatory will be required to purchase a travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage.
Read more: Travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage for Thailand as recommended by Thailand Pass
On 23 September 2022, the Thai government announced the end of the ‘Emergency Decree’. COVID-19 will be reclassified from ‘a dangerous communicable disease’ to ‘a communicable disease under surveillance’. Tourists will no longer need to show certificate of vaccination or a negative ATK test upon entering Thailand from 1 October 2022.
Apart from that, travelers who were originally entitled to 30-day visa exemption will get the period extended to 45 days. Those who were eligible for 15-day visa-on-arrival will get the period extended to 30 days. This scheme will take effect from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2022.
In July 2022, the requirements for Thailand Pass application and travel insurance were dropped.
From 1 July 2022 until 30 September 2022, tourists only need the following when visiting Thailand:
- Travel Visa (depending on the passport you hold)
- Show proof of either
- a certificate of vaccination, or
- a negative RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction) or professionally administered ATK (Antigen Test Kit) test result within 72 hours of travel
Proof of vaccination or ATK test result will be randomly verified at points of entry at all airports and land checkpoints. Those who are unable to show the proof will be required to undergo a professionally administered ATK on the spot. It was not explicitly announced what would happen if a person is found to be COVID positive, but it is highly likely that the person will be quarantined or hospitalized.
In May 2022, Test & Go and the Phuket Sandbox schemes were phased out. Since then, there was no quarantine required for vaccinated travelers. However, foreign travelers were still required to apply a Thailand Pass online prior to arrival and a travel insurance with COVID coverage was mandatory.
Are pre-arrival or on-arrival COVID tests required?
No COVID tests, be it PCR or ATK are required, before or on-arrival in Thailand.
Who are considered as fully vaccinated in Thailand?
Different countries have their own definition of a fully vaccinated person. In Thailand, one who had taken the following vaccines and dosage is considered as fully vaccinated:
- CoronaVac (Sinovac) – 2 doses
- AstraZeneca (AZD1222, Vaxzevrria, Covishield) – 2 doses
- Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2, Comirnaty, Tozinameran (INN)) – 2 doses
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson / Ad26.COV2.S) – 1 dose
- Moderna (Spikevax) – 2 doses
- COVILO (Sinopharm, Hayat-Vax) – 2 doses
- Covaxin – 2 doses
- Novavax (NVX-CoV2372, Nuvaxovid, Covovax) – 2 doses
- Sputnik V – 2 doses
- Medigen (MVC-COV1901) – 2 doses
- TURKOVAC (ERUCOV-VAC) – 2 doses
- Sputnik Light – 1 dose
- CanSino (Convidecia, Ad5-nCoV) – 1 dose
- Anhui Zhifei Longcom’s Zifivax (protein subunit) – 3 doses
- Livzon Mabpharm’s V-01 (protein subunit) – 1 dose
- Shenzhen Kangtai KCONVAC (inactivated virus) – 2 doses
To be considered as a vaccinated traveler without providing negative ATK test result when entering Thailand, one needs to get a second dose of a 2-dose vaccine no less than 14 days before their travel date to Thailand. For 1-dose vaccine, it needs to be taken not less than 14 days before their travel date.
The vaccination certificate should clearly display this information:
- Full Name
- Date of Birth
- Nationality
- Passport or National Identification Number
- Name of the COVID-19 vaccine
- Vaccination dates for all doses
- Vaccine manufacturer and lot/batch number
- Certificate issuance authority
