Updated on 20 January 2022 (New)
UPDATED! Sandbox programme expanded from 1 February 2022
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.
From 1 February, 2022, Thailand will reopen Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray – in Chon Buri, and Ko Chang in Trat as Sandbox destinations, in addition to Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, and Ko Samui/Ko Pha-ngan/Ko Tao.
The Sandbox Extension programme will also be introduced between Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, and Ko Samui/Ko Pha-ngan/Ko Tao, where Sandbox travellers can travel within these destinations during the first 7 days in Thailand.
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
• Existing: Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao).
• From 1 February 2022: Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) and Trat (Ko Chang).
• From 1 February 2022: 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.
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 twice within the first 7 days (can book 2 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.
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.
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 (Currently only Samui Airport, and from 1 February 2022 also at Phuket International Airport) 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.
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. Travellers who intend to stay less than 7 nights in a Sandbox destination must undergo the second RT-PCR COVID-19 test 1 day prior to their departure date to another country. A negative RT-PCR test result (COVID-19 not detected) issued no more than 72 hours before travelling is required when exiting/entering the Sandbox destinations.
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.
Kindly note the information is to serve as reference only and is subject to change without prior notice. It is especially important to check in regularly on www.tatnews.org to stay current on what remains a very fluid and fast changing situation.
List of Swab Centres in Phuket for Sandbox travellers
List of Swab Centres in Phang-Nga for Sandbox travellers
Updated on 6 January 2022
Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved a new round of relaxed entry measures for international arrivals to Thailand, reopening 3 more Sandbox destinations – Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) from 11 January 2022 – in addition to Phuket.
Updated on 18 August 2021
The Phuket Sandbox reopening scheme, the so-called “Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension” has been approved by Thailand's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). This allows travelers from overseas who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter Phuket, stay on the island for seven days, and then travel on a sealed route to specified destinations in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Krabi, Khao Lak, and Koh Yao.
Updated on 14 July 2021
Following the footsteps of the Phuket Sandbox Model, the Samui Plus program including Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao is set to open for fully vaccinated international travelers from 15 July 2021.
Updated on 1 July 2021
Phuket is now officially open for fully vaccinated tourists without quarantine from 1st July. Oversea travelers from certain countries — including the Nordic and Baltic countries — who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 can travel to Phuket without the need to quarantine. The Phuket Sandbox model is the first step of the Thailand reopening roadmap and the plan to fully open the country within 120 days. Travelers 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 traveler must leave Thailand to another country immediately.
Guidelines of Thailand Sandbox Programme
1. Eligible Travellers
1.1 Travellers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by Thai Ministry of Health and WHO for no less than 14 days prior to departure, except travelers under the age of 18 accompanied by parents.
1.2 Obtain valid health insurance that covers medical expenses including treatment relating to COVID-19 with a minimum of 100,000 USD throughout the period of stay in Thailand.
For more information about health insurance, please visit https://covid19.tgia.org/
1.3 Obtain a confirmed and fully paid booking of stay at SHA+ hotels in Sandbox areas for 7 days (List of SHA+ hotels can be found at entrythailand.go.th\ or shathailand.com
1.4 For travelers wishing to stay in sandbox areas less than 7 days, they must obtain air tickets with a firm departure date from Thailand, together
with proof of fully paid booking of SHA+ hotel and proof of payment for RT-PCR COVID-19 test during the entire stay in Thailand.
1.5 Obtain proof of payment for RT-PCR COVID-19 test during 7 days of stay in Thailand. The traveler must fully pay the said expenses with the chosen hotel of stay.
During 7 days in the Sandbox areas, the travelers must take 2 RT-PCR tests (first test upon arrival at the airport; second test on day 6-7)
1.6 Must stay in the Sandbox area for no less than 7 days before traveling to other provinces in Thailand.
1.7 For travelers staying in the Sandbox area for less than 7 days, they must leave Thailand via the Sandbox area only.
2. Procedure for Certificate of Entry (COE) Application under Sandbox Program
2.1 Visit: coethailand.mfa.go.th
2.2 Select – “Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra” if you reside in Australia (VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, ACT), Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and Kiribati
or – “Royal Thai Consulate, Sydney” if you reside in New South Wales (NSW)
2.3 Select category of permitted persons to enter Thailand (for non-Thai nationals)
2.4 Select “Sandbox Programme” and select “Phuket” under Sandbox destination
2.5 Fill out required details and upload the following documents
(1) Copy of bio-data page of your passport
(2) Valid visa (for non-Thai nationals)
(3) Valid health insurance that covers medical expenses including treatment relating to COVID-19 with a minimum of 100,000 USD throughout the period of Stay in Thailand.
(4) Vaccine Certificate
(5) Proof of confirmed and fully paid booking of stay at SHA+ hotels in Phuket (SHABA Certificate)
(6) Proof of payment for RT-PCR COVID-19 test during 7 days of stay in Thailand
(7) Air ticket
3. Obtain a medical certificate (RT-PCR) with a laboratory result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected and issued no more than 72 hours before departure.
4. Arrival Requirements for Phuket Sandbox visitors who wish to apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA) are listed as below: