19 Questions about Phuket Reopen Plan ( Phuket Sandbox ) under COVID 19

LATES UPDATE ABOUT PHUKET SANDBOX REOPEN PLAN - by 16th June 2021

Frequently Asked Questions about Thailand Reopen Plan

1. What you should know before plan your trip to Phuket under the COVID19?

• As of 1st July 2021, Phuket, Thailand will be open to international travelers. 

• There will be no quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travelers who are tested negative seventy-two <72> hours before arrival in Phuket.

• You must spend at least fourteen <14> nights in Phuket before being able to travel freely in the rest of Amazing Thailand.

• You may stay for less than fourteen <14> nights and return to your home country.

2. What is the child policy when traveling to Phuket during COVID19?

• Children aged six <6> or above must get a COVID test before departure from their home country.

• In case parents are found to have Covid-19 during their stay in Phuket, the children will be required to be put into isolation for fourteen <14> days thereon.

3. Travelers from which countries are allowed to enter Phuket during COVID19?

• The ‘Phuket Sandbox’ is applicable only for fully vaccinated international travelers from countries/regions with a low to medium risk of SAR-CoV-2 virus as announced and constantly updated by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). 

• High-risk countries are not allowed entry.

• Please keep yourself updated as the lists of countries will be updated timely.

LIST OF COUNTRIES BASE ON HIGH, MEDIUM, AND LOW RISK FOR TRAVEL TO THAILAND (PHUKET SANDBOX): as of 07 JUNE 2021 

4. What should travelers do before flying to Phuket?

• Visa & Certificate Of Entry

  Every traveler must obtain a ‘Certificate of Entry’ (COE) before being eligible to fly into Phuket

• International Airport

  Check the website：https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/   for the required documents and the four easy <4> steps to apply before arriving in Phuket.

  The Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General takes three <3> working days to process steps one <1> and step three <3> respectively so please leave enough time to apply.

  Applicants must continually check the result of their application on the website after submitting each step.

• Insurance

  Foreign travelers must have insurance covering the treatment and medical expenses for COVID-19, with a minimum coverage of One Hundred Thousand US Dollars <100,000 USD>.

  The insurance must cover the total duration of your stay in Thailand. Please print out one copy (with receipt) as you will need to show it at Phuket International Airport upon arrival.

• Accepted Vaccines

  International travelers with the following vaccines are able to enter Phuket.

  1. WHO approved vaccines

  2. Thai FDA approved vaccines:

  Astra Zeneca / Moderna / Johnson & Johnson / Sinovac Biotech / Sinopharm

  You must be vaccinated more than 14 days to 1 year before entering Phuket

  Proof of vaccination must be submitted when applying for a COE.

• Airlines

  Airlines that announced direct flights to Phuket are:

  THAI Airways International / Singapore Airlines / Emirates / Qatar Airways / Hongkong airlines / EVA Air / Korean Air / Jinair / Cathay Pacific / KLM

  Please check airline flight schedules on their websites as this list might change.

  Please be aware that some airlines might not be able to operate in your home country when returning due to their current regulations. Please check carefully.

  You are responsible to check their requirements for returning to your home country.

5. What should a traveler do before checking in for the International Flight to Phuket International Airport?

• Travel must get an ‘RT-PCR’ Covid test within seventy-two <72> hours before arrival in Phuket and submit proof to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as per the requirements of the ‘Certificate of Entry’ (COE) - Step four <4>.

• Ensure that you have printed out:

  1. Your approved ‘Certificate of Entry’ (COE)

  2. Your ‘SHA Plus’ hotel reservation(s) showing at least fourteen <14> nights stay with the ‘SHAPBA’ confirmation (please see ‘Accommodation’  section below).

  3. Your insurance policy summary showing the required coverage and receipt

  4. Your RT-PCR test result

6. What should a traveler do when arriving at Phuket International Airport Arrivals Hall?

• You must download the ‘Mor Chana’ mobile application as soon as possible after landing.

• Upon arrival at Immigration, you are required to:

  1. Your passport

  2. Completed a ‘™.6’ immigrational arrival card

  3. Provide your printed ‘COE’

  4. Provide your Visa (if applicable)

  5. Your “SHA Plus” hotel booking with the ‘SHAPBA’ confirmation (please see ‘Accommodation’ section below).

  6. Your travel insurance

  7. The ‘Mor Chana’ application loaded in your mobile telephone and ‘Check In’ at Phuket International Airport

  8. Your return flight confirmation from Phuket International Airport in the event you are staying in Phuket for less than fourteen <14> nights.

7. What is the 'Mor Chana' Application QR code?

• ‘Mor Chana’ is an application that is simple and easy to use as it helps to track and trace where Thai residents, nationals, and visitors alike in the case a Covid-19 case has been identified and contact needs to be made.

• In the application, there are four <4> points of information to be made accessible, which are ‘Camera’, ‘Location’, ‘Pictures’ and ‘Store’.

• ‘Mor Chana’ will notify users when they are at risk of being near or contacting a COVID-19 infected person.

8. What are the SHA & SHA Plus+?

• 'SHA' is a certification for businesses that meet the basic standards of hygiene and health safety for their products and services in accordance with the nationwide measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

• 'SHA Plus' is a certification for companies/individuals who have received their ‘SHA’ certification ‘PLUS’ at least 70% of their workforce has been fully vaccinated.

•  The'SHA Plus' list is constantly updated as and when businesses are certified.

• Follow this link: https://www.thailandsha.com/shalists/index?type=shaplus-SHA%20Plus   to keep updated on 'SHA Plus'businesses.

9. What are the restrictions when traveling in Phuket?

• You can go anywhere within the Phuket province, BUT you must strictly follow the ‘DMHTTA’ precautions:

  D – Distancing

  M – Mask wearing

  H – Handwashing

  T – Temperature check

  T – Testing for COVID-19

  A – contact tracing application (‘Mor Chana’).

• Masks must be worn at all times in public areas. Fines are in place if you fail to adhere to this.

• A COVID-19 rapid test is required on day five <5>.

• You are required to scan the ‘Mor Chana’ application and do a temperature check at your ‘SHA Plus’ hotel every day during your first fourteen <14> days stay.

10. What are the restrictions in choosing the accommodation?

• It is mandatory that you book a'SHA Plus'hotel for the first fourteen <14> nights in Phuket.

• Residing in a private residence is not allowed on the first fourteen <14> nights for COVID-19 control purposes

• You MAY move to another 'SHA Plus' hotel(s) after your first seven <7> nights in Phuket.

• Once you have made your 'SHA Plus' hotel reservation(s), you must advise the hotel(s)/tour operator(s) or OTA(s) that you are joining the “Phuket Sandbox” project so that the hotel(s) can enter your booking details into the ‘SHAPBA’ (SHA Plus Booking Authentication) system and you will then receive a QR code and Reference number as required by the 'Certificate of Entry' application. No other forms of confirmation of reservation will be accepted.

• All 'SHA Plus' hotel bookings must be fully pre-paid for the first fourteen <14> nights or less if you are planning to stay in Phuket for less than fourteen <14> nights.

11. Where & How to do the Covid Test whilst in Phuket?

• A 'Rapid Antigen' or 'RT-PCT' test on day five <5> is mandatory.

  It is your responsibility to submit the results of the test onto the'Mor Chana'application on day five <5>. Failure to do so will be in violation of the 'Controlled Diseases Act'.

• RT-PCR Covid-19 test

  Every hospital in Phuket can provide an 'RT-PCR' test.

  The cost of an RT-PCR covid test ranges from two thousand five hundred <2,500> to four thousand <4,000> Thai Baht per person.

• Rapid Antigen Covid-19 test

  You can get a rapid test from hospitals, clinics, and private labs in Phuket.

  The cost of a rapid test ranges from seven hundred <700> to One Thousand, Two Hundred <1,200> Thai Baht per person.

• Covid-19 testing is at your own expense.

• If your covid-19 test is positive, you will be immediately admitted to a hospital for treatment.

• The Department of Health, Phuket will investigate your movements and notify and isolate those who have been in direct contact with you since your arrival.

12. What are the restriction when joining the tours & excursions in Phuket?

• We recommend that you only book an excursion with 'SHA Plus' certified companies for your safety.

• On the first fourteen <14> nights, you are allowed to visit islands in Phuket Province which include Koh Naka Yai, Koh Naka Noi, Koh Rang Yai, Koh Maprao (Coconut island), Koh Tapao Noi, Koh Tapao Yai, Koh Lone, Koh Mai Thon, Koh He (Coral island), Koh Bon, Koh Racha Yai, and Koh Racha Noi.

• Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao, and Phang Nga Bay are NOT a part of Phuket province. You are not allowed to visit these places in the first fourteen <14> nights stay.

13. How to choose a restaurant when traveling in Phuket?

• We recommend that you only use'SHA Plus'certified restaurants for your safety

• The consumption of alcohol in restaurants, bars, and other places forms part of the provincial Covid-19 restrictions which are updated regularly by Provincial Governors. Compliance is mandatory under the ‘Disease Control Act’ when restrictions are in place.

14. How to choose a taxi or transportation?

• We recommend that you use only 'SHA Plus' certified taxis, minibusses, and limousines.

• If more than two <2> persons are in a vehicle, masks must be worn at all times.

• Visitors who wish to drive themselves are able to rent a car during the first fourteen <14> night stay in Phuket.

15. What Activities are open to the public?

• The Central Floresta - the largest department store on the island and Porto do Phuket in Cherng Talay

• Many locally owned and managed restaurants are open across the island

• The beaches are all open, but please watch the flag warning system

• Surfing on many of the top beaches is in season

• The vibrant and in trend Phuket down small coffee shops, eateries and markets are open

• Some marine companies offering trips around Phuket island and island hopping within the province

• Dive shops and schools in some areas

• We expect more and more businesses will very slowly re-open as the year moves ahead

16. What are the policies when visitors come to visit their relatives or friends who already stay in Phuket?

•  In the case you have a relative or friend who is already resident in Thailand, they are allowed to visit and stay with you during your fourteen <14> 'SHA Plus' hotel night stays.

• Your friend or relative is responsible to comply with the current domestic travel requirements when traveling to see you.

• At the time of press (and please be reminded that these regulations can/may change by individual

17. For Provincial Governors, the following regulations are required:

• Fully vaccinated (two <2> vaccinations) OR one vaccination of the AstraZeneca vaccine

  OR

• Show a Negative Covid-19 test within the past seven <7> before traveling to Phuket

  OR

• Show evidence that they have fully recovered from Covid-19 in the previous ninety <90> days.

  OR

• Covid-19 Symptoms or Infected

  If you show any Covid-19 symptoms it is your legal responsibility to immediately get a test.

  If you are shown to be ‘positive’ for Covid-19 and traveling with a group or family, everybody in the group or family must undergo a test and stay in an Alternative Hotel Quarantine (AHQ) covered by your insurance.

• In all cases, if you are tested positive whilst in Thailand, you will be responsible for all medical expenses which must be covered by your ‘Covid-19’ insurance sum. In the case your medical insurance does not cover certain items, then you will be personally responsible to settle any outstanding before being discharged from the hospital.

18. When travelers can do domestic travel across the province?

After spending fourteen <14> nights in Phuket, you are free to go anywhere in Thailand but you must follow each province’s restrictions which can change.

19. What is the policy when travelers return to their country from Phuket?

You must follow your home country's entry requirements and Thailand is not responsible or able to assist with such updates by individual countries.