25 Mar
Thailand has reopened its borders for tourists. International visitors can once again visit Thailand as long as they meet specific requirements under the Thailand Pass System.
What is the Thailand Pass?
The Thailand Pass system is a free online system meant to document tourists traveling to Thailand more efficiently. The Thailand Pass is intended to be more efficient than the Certificate of Entry (COE) application.
The Thailand Pass system collects both your health and travel information from the required entry forms. This information can include information from your vaccine certificates.
The main goal of the Thailand Pass system is to assist with the country’s “Ease of Travel” system after the government reopened its borders. The system is also meant to fill out the information and upload your travel information faster.
Who Can Apply for the Thailand Pass
Both foreigners or Thai nationals have to apply for the Thailand Pass based on the following travel requirements:
Test and Go Program
Travelers and returning residents that are fully vaccinated can travel to and enter Thailand without going through a sandbox stay or a mandatory quarantine. However, they will need to spend one night in a Test and Go hotel or ASQ while waiting for their COVID 19 RT-PCR test result. This test will need to be taken on their arrival and then an ATK test on day five.
Sandbox Program
Any fully vaccinated tourist will be allowed to enter the country with no quarantine or sandbox stay. However, as tourists under the Sandbox Programs, they will need to stay in Samui Sandbox, Phuket, Hua Hin, and Pattaya.
However, travelers will need to spend seven nights in an approved SHA+ Hotel in these areas. After they’ve paid a minimum of seven days in quarantine in an approved Thailand Pass Hotel, tourists will be allowed to different parts of Thailand.
Note: If you are fully vaccinated, it is better to enter Thailand under the Test and Go program.
Quarantine Program
At this time, partially vaccinated or even non-vaccinated travelers are still permitted to travel to Thailand. However, they are required to undergo a mandatory ten-night quarantine.
The quarantine needs to occur in an approved ASQ or AQ quarantine hotel. After the quarantine, travelers will be allowed to travel all over Thailand.
Thailand Pass Requirements
To make it easier to enter Thailand, you only need a few requirements to meet to get a QR entry code to enter Thailand. Below are the requirements to enter Thailand:
- Passport
- Vaccination Certificate or Card (for Test & Go and Sandbox only)
- COVID-19 Health Insurance Certificate
- Confirmed ASQ hotel booking or Confirmed SHA+ hotel booking (with a pre-booked RT PCR test)
- Flight Booking
Thailand Pass Insurance
To have a successful Thailand Pass application, your COVID-19 insurance must expressly state that it covers up to 20,000 USD medical expenses including COVID-19 while in Thailand.
You may use your own health insurance or purchase insurance from your own country, however, for the best COVID insurance for the Thailand Pass it is recommended to purchase from an insurance company in Thailand such as AXA Insurance Thailand to make sure that you meet the requirement in obtaining the Thailand Pass successfully.
Different ways to complete a Thailand Pass application
There are various ways that you can apply for the Thailand Pass. You can use the Thailand Pass system yourself or pay for Thailand Pass assistance.
The Thailand Pass system generates a QR code that tourists can get. To get a QR code or a Thailand Pass ID, tourists will need to do the following:
- Register at the Thailand Pass web portal
- Input personal details
- Upload the required documents
- Receive a confirmation email after registration (within seconds after registration)
- Wait for the Thailand Pass approval (up to 7 days)
When your application has been approved, the system will send you an email with your QR entry code or your Thailand Pass ID, which you will need to enter Thailand.
Apply for Thailand Pass by Yourself
You can apply for the Thailand Pass on the MFA website with this link: https://tp.consular.go.th/.
If you want to check your status, you can use the following link: https://tp.consular.go.th/en/check-status.
If you haven’t received your Thailand Pass or your application was rejected, you can email the following email address: testgo@consular.go.th
Siam Legal Visa and Thailand Pass Application Assistance
Applying for the Thailand Pass is entirely free when you don’t use any professional assistance to apply. But in some cases, you can choose to pay for a law firm to assist you with the application.
These service providers can prepare your documents and even submit them on your behalf. Using these services can help prevent struggling with your papers that haven’t been uploaded correctly or submitting inappropriate information.
These reasons mentioned above mean that it will be handy to use a service provider to assist with the application. Service providers such as Siam Legal will often have service packages to help with the application.
Package 1: 200 USD (Visa + Thailand Pass)
- Online Visa Consultation
- Extensive checklist of required documents
- Assistance in Thai e-visa application (non-immigrant O marriage visa and 60-day TR visa)
- Assistance in Thailand Pass application
- 3 to 4 weeks process
- Available in the US, UK, Ireland and Canada visa applications only
Package 2: 100 USD (Thailand Pass)
- Consultation with our Immigration Specialist
- Extensive checklist of required documents
- Assistance in Thailand Pass application (including Visa holders and Visa Exemption)
- 5 to 7 days process
- Available for Thai and foreign nationals from any country
Thailand Pass FAQ
It can be exciting to travel to Thailand. Still, many questions can pop up, especially with the new travel laws and restrictions, including the Thailand Pass, that the Thai government enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How long does the Thailand Pass approval process take?
The process can take at least three to seven business hours for your application to be approved. It’s recommended that tourists submit their application seven business days before they intend to depart for Thailand.
Is a Thailand Pass registration required for all three schemes traveling into Thailand?
Anybody traveling by air to Thailand under the three schemes must register for the Thailand Pass to be allowed to enter the country. The three schemes are the following:
- Test and Go
- Sandbox Programs
- Alternative Quarantine (for unvaccinated travelers)
If I plan to travel to Thailand by land or sea, do I need to register with Thailand Pass?
No, if you’re traveling by sea or land won’t need the Thailand Pass. This pass is just for visitors who are traveling to Thailand by air. However, you will need a COE to enter Thailand. It’s recommended that you contact the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulates in your country to apply for a COE.
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