Thailand Travel Restrictions Updates

On September 27, the CCSA agreed to reduce the quarantine period for vaccinated international travelers to 7 days from 1 October. Those who have not been vaccinated will quarantine for 10-14 days.

• Group 1: Vaccinated travelers from countries not eligible for the Sandbox program need to do a 7 days quarantine.
• Group 2: Vaccinated travelers from all countries arriving in Bangkok will be subject to a mandatory quarantine of 7 days.
• Group 3: Not vaccinated travelers arriving by air/sea must undergo mandatory quarantine for 10 days.
• Group 4: Not vaccinated travelers arriving by land must undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

Travelers who are eligible for the Phuket or Samui Plus Sandbox programs will not be affected by these new entry requirements.

On September 20, 2021, the Thai Immigration Bureau extended the deadline for the COVID extension applications to November 26, 2021. For foreigners who are currently in Thailand, regardless of your visa type or category, you are still allowed to request the 60-day COVID extension at any local immigration office. The extension of stay will commence on the date of application. Please note that this extension of stay is never automatic, you must apply for this at your immigration office and it will be at the discretion of the officer to approve the application.

This week the Thai cabinet greenlighted an economic stimulus and investment promotion package aimed at attracting wealthy foreigners and highly skilled professionals from overseas to help revive the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a brief summary of this package:

The list of countries and territories from where travelers may enter Thailand’s Sandbox program has been updated from 70 to 78.

This is a reminder that for all countries entering Thailand under the Visa Exemption Program, the 45-day permit to stay shall only be given until September 30, 2021. Starting October 1, 2021, you will be permitted to stay in Thailand for 30 days under this Visa Exemption Scheme. For foreigners who are currently in Thailand, you are still allowed to request the 60-day COVID extension on or before September 27, 2021. Should there be any changes or extensions in one of these programs, our firm will inform you in our next weekly updates.

Currently, the Ministry of Public Health  has approved the following manufacturers and vaccines:

1. CoronaVac by Sinovac Biotech Ltd – 2 doses needed / 2-4-week interval;
2. AstraZeneca or Covishield by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, SK Bioscience (South Korea), Siam Bioscience, and Serum Institute of India (Covishield) – 2 doses needed / 4-12-week interval;
3. Pfizer–BioNTech or Comirnaty by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech 2 doses needed / 3-week interval;
4. Janssen or Janssen/Ad26.COV2.S by Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. – 1 dose needed;
5. Moderna by Moderna Inc. – 2 doses needed / 4-week interval);
6. Sinopharm or COVILO by Sinopharm Co., Ltd. – 2 doses needed / 3-4-week interval);
7. Sputnik V by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology – 2 doses needed – 3-week interval).

With hundreds of hotels and resorts to choose from, we feature one of the best SHA+ Hotels in Phuket for your Phuket Sandbox stay. Andamantra Resort & Villa is the 5-star resort located at the prime area of the famous North Patong and Kalim beach. The resort faces the west side of the Andaman sea, commands panoramic seaview from its elevated hillside location. Guests may enjoy stunning sunset views from their balconies and most areas of the resort. It features a spa, fitness center and 3 outdoor pools. The resort is a 15-minute walk to Patong Beach and a 15-minute drive to Jungceylon Shopping Centre and Bangla Road. To book this hotel, please check: https://www.agoda.com/andamantra-resort-and-villa-phuket/hotel/phuket-th.html

This week, we feature one of the Samui Extra Plus Hotels for your Sandbox application. Situated on beautiful Chaweng Beach, The Briza Beach Resort, offers spacious and luxurious villas with private pools and free WiFi. It enjoys convenient access to Koh Samui's entertainment spots as well as restaurants and bars. The Briza Beach Resort is a 5-minute stroll to various shopping and dining options along Chaweng Beach. It only takes 15 minutes by car from the resort to Samui International Airport. To book this hotel, please check:

https://www.agoda.com/the-briza-beach-resort/hotel/koh-samui-th.html

Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced an update on its domestic, regional, and international flights from August to October 2021, including dedicated Phuket Sandbox services.

On August 20th, the Ministry of health and the Tourism Authority of Thailand has published the latest list of countries eligible for the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus Sandbox, and Phuket Sandbox 7 + 7 Extension as follows:

Starting from 25 August 2021, Bangkok Airways will resume its direct flights between Samui and Phuket in support of the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus programs that were launched on 1 July and 15 July 2021, respectively signaling the beginning of Thailand’s reopening to tourism. The resumed services will be operated by ATR 72-600 aircraft starting with 3 flights per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Flight PG253 will depart Samui at 11.25 Hrs. and arrive at Phuket at 12.25 Hrs, with the return service Flight PG254 departing Phuket at 13.00 Hrs. and arriving at Samui at 14.00 Hrs.

Thai Smile Airways will operate a special charter flight from Phuket to Bangkok effective on August 26, 2021. The flight WE 8784 will depart Phuket at 14:30 hours and will arrive at Bangkok at 1600 hours. They will temporarily suspend the flight operations until August 31, 2021 and will resume on September 1, 2021.

Starting from 16 August 2021, the “Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension” program allows eligible international travelers to reduce the mandatory stay in Phuket from 14 to 7 days, after which another 7 nights can be spent in the provinces of Krabi, Phang Nga, and Surat Thani. Travelers planning to spend another 7 nights outside of Phuket must obtain a ‘Transfer Form’ issued by their hotel in Phuket indicating that they have stayed in Phuket for 7 nights, which they will need to show together with the negative results of their two COVID-19 tests.

This bus travel from Phuket to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is arranged only for international travelers under the Phuket Sandbox program and their family members. Available from 4-16 August 2021, every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, the bus leaves Central Festival Phuket at 05.00 Hrs. and PTT Thalang at 05.30 Hrs. and arrives at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the same evening at around 21.00 Hrs. Fare starts from 1,500 Baht per person depending on the number of passengers per trip. Booking must be made through SHA+ Manager at the hotel.

Thai Smile Airways is offering a flight from Phuket to Bangkok for "Phuket Sandbox" passengers starting on 14 August 2021. Flight WE8087 will depart Phuket at 14.30 Hrs. and arrive in Bangkok at 16.00 Hrs. The ticket price is 4,300 Baht per person all-inclusive. Payment must be made by 12.00 Hrs. on 12 August 2021. For further information on this flight, email charterflightwe@thaismileair.com

On September 27, the CCSA agreed to reduce the quarantine period for vaccinated international travelers to 7 days from 1 October. Those who have not been vaccinated will quarantine for 10-14 days.

• Group 1: Vaccinated travelers from countries not eligible for the Sandbox program need to do a 7 days quarantine.
• Group 2: Vaccinated travelers from all countries arriving in Bangkok will be subject to a mandatory quarantine of 7 days.
• Group 3: Not vaccinated travelers arriving by air/sea must undergo mandatory quarantine for 10 days.
• Group 4: Not vaccinated travelers arriving by land must undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

Travelers who are eligible for the Phuket or Samui Plus Sandbox programs will not be affected by these new entry requirements.

The list of countries and territories from where travelers may enter Thailand’s Sandbox program has been updated from 70 to 78.

With hundreds of hotels and resorts to choose from, we feature one of the best SHA+ Hotels in Phuket for your Phuket Sandbox stay. Andamantra Resort & Villa is the 5-star resort located at the prime area of the famous North Patong and Kalim beach. The resort faces the west side of the Andaman sea, commands panoramic seaview from its elevated hillside location. Guests may enjoy stunning sunset views from their balconies and most areas of the resort. It features a spa, fitness center and 3 outdoor pools. The resort is a 15-minute walk to Patong Beach and a 15-minute drive to Jungceylon Shopping Centre and Bangla Road. To book this hotel, please check: https://www.agoda.com/andamantra-resort-and-villa-phuket/hotel/phuket-th.html

Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced an update on its domestic, regional, and international flights from August to October 2021, including dedicated Phuket Sandbox services.

On August 20th, the Ministry of health and the Tourism Authority of Thailand has published the latest list of countries eligible for the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus Sandbox, and Phuket Sandbox 7 + 7 Extension as follows:

Starting from 25 August 2021, Bangkok Airways will resume its direct flights between Samui and Phuket in support of the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus programs that were launched on 1 July and 15 July 2021, respectively signaling the beginning of Thailand’s reopening to tourism. The resumed services will be operated by ATR 72-600 aircraft starting with 3 flights per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Flight PG253 will depart Samui at 11.25 Hrs. and arrive at Phuket at 12.25 Hrs, with the return service Flight PG254 departing Phuket at 13.00 Hrs. and arriving at Samui at 14.00 Hrs.

Thai Smile Airways will operate a special charter flight from Phuket to Bangkok effective on August 26, 2021. The flight WE 8784 will depart Phuket at 14:30 hours and will arrive at Bangkok at 1600 hours. They will temporarily suspend the flight operations until August 31, 2021 and will resume on September 1, 2021.

Starting from 16 August 2021, the “Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension” program allows eligible international travelers to reduce the mandatory stay in Phuket from 14 to 7 days, after which another 7 nights can be spent in the provinces of Krabi, Phang Nga, and Surat Thani. Travelers planning to spend another 7 nights outside of Phuket must obtain a ‘Transfer Form’ issued by their hotel in Phuket indicating that they have stayed in Phuket for 7 nights, which they will need to show together with the negative results of their two COVID-19 tests.

This bus travel from Phuket to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is arranged only for international travelers under the Phuket Sandbox program and their family members. Available from 4-16 August 2021, every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, the bus leaves Central Festival Phuket at 05.00 Hrs. and PTT Thalang at 05.30 Hrs. and arrives at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the same evening at around 21.00 Hrs. Fare starts from 1,500 Baht per person depending on the number of passengers per trip. Booking must be made through SHA+ Manager at the hotel.

Thai Smile Airways is offering a flight from Phuket to Bangkok for "Phuket Sandbox" passengers starting on 14 August 2021. Flight WE8087 will depart Phuket at 14.30 Hrs. and arrive in Bangkok at 16.00 Hrs. The ticket price is 4,300 Baht per person all-inclusive. Payment must be made by 12.00 Hrs. on 12 August 2021. For further information on this flight, email charterflightwe@thaismileair.com

On September 27, the CCSA agreed to reduce the quarantine period for vaccinated international travelers to 7 days from 1 October. Those who have not been vaccinated will quarantine for 10-14 days.

• Group 1: Vaccinated travelers from countries not eligible for the Sandbox program need to do a 7 days quarantine.
• Group 2: Vaccinated travelers from all countries arriving in Bangkok will be subject to a mandatory quarantine of 7 days.
• Group 3: Not vaccinated travelers arriving by air/sea must undergo mandatory quarantine for 10 days.
• Group 4: Not vaccinated travelers arriving by land must undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

Travelers who are eligible for the Phuket or Samui Plus Sandbox programs will not be affected by these new entry requirements.

The list of countries and territories from where travelers may enter Thailand’s Sandbox program has been updated from 70 to 78.

This week, we feature one of the Samui Extra Plus Hotels for your Sandbox application. Situated on beautiful Chaweng Beach, The Briza Beach Resort, offers spacious and luxurious villas with private pools and free WiFi. It enjoys convenient access to Koh Samui's entertainment spots as well as restaurants and bars. The Briza Beach Resort is a 5-minute stroll to various shopping and dining options along Chaweng Beach. It only takes 15 minutes by car from the resort to Samui International Airport. To book this hotel, please check:

https://www.agoda.com/the-briza-beach-resort/hotel/koh-samui-th.html

On August 20th, the Ministry of health and the Tourism Authority of Thailand has published the latest list of countries eligible for the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus Sandbox, and Phuket Sandbox 7 + 7 Extension as follows:

Starting from 25 August 2021, Bangkok Airways will resume its direct flights between Samui and Phuket in support of the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus programs that were launched on 1 July and 15 July 2021, respectively signaling the beginning of Thailand’s reopening to tourism. The resumed services will be operated by ATR 72-600 aircraft starting with 3 flights per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Flight PG253 will depart Samui at 11.25 Hrs. and arrive at Phuket at 12.25 Hrs, with the return service Flight PG254 departing Phuket at 13.00 Hrs. and arriving at Samui at 14.00 Hrs.