Due to the concerns over the Omicron coronavirus variant, Thailand has temporarily suspended the new application of Thailand Pass under the Test & Go and Sandbox programs starting December 22 until January 4.
The move means that all international travelers planning to enter the Kingdom under the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes will not be able to register for a Thailand Pass. However, Phuket Sandbox is still open for tourists.
The Thailand Pass website states that “applicants who have registered but have not received their QR Code must wait for their Thailand Pass to be considered/approved. Once approved, they can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.”
In a press release, the Tourism Authority mentioned that approximately 200,000 visitors had applied to visit Thailand through the Test-and-Go and Sandbox programs, while about 110,000 of them had already arrived. The remaining 90,000 are still cleared for travel to Thailand without quarantine.
Before the Suspension
On November 1, Thailand introduced three schemes for inbound travelers:
- Test & Go (Quarantine-Free Entry)
- Sandbox (Relaxed Quarantine Rules for the fully vaccinated)
- Alternative Quarantine System (AQS).
Travelers were previously allowed to register for a Thailand Pass based on their countries of origin and vaccination status. The reopening of the borders is part of Thailand’s action to slowly revive the tourism industry to boost the economy.
Changes to be Expected
Travelers approved for the Test & Go scheme and who arrive in the Kingdom from December 24 onwards must do a second RT-PCR test, shouldered by the government, on the 5th or 6th day at a government-approved medical facility.
Meanwhile, new travelers (except those participating in the Phuket Sandbox program) will be subject to a quarantine of seven to 10 days, depending on their country of origin.
The Thai government will review its suspension measures on January 4, 2022.