Travel to Thailand from Canada

With the world’s current COVID-19 situation, it is best to exercise caution wherever you might be. This includes practising precautionary measures, like wearing masks and social distancing.

If you are a Canadian citizen who wishes to travel to Thailand, read on for more information about current travel advisories and entry requirements to Thailand.

Traveling to Thailand – Degrees of Caution

Thailand has opened its borders to international travelers. It is no longer considered a restricted country and as long as visitors adhere to current entry requirements, people are welcome from around the world.

To help minimize the spread of Covid-19 in the country, the Thai Government has implemented safety measures for those visiting from abroad. Current entry requirements differ for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.

All visitors must apply and be approved for a Thailand Pass. Vaccinated travelers can enter Thailand without any quarantine restrictions. Unvaccinated travelers can now enter the country under the Alternative Quarantine scheme or by completing an RT-PCR test 72 hours before leaving Canada.

As there are constant changes to policy within the country, travelers are advised to remain updated with any changes. They are advised to monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Canada, A Visa Exempt Country

If a Canadian citizen wants to visit Thailand as a tourist, there is no need to apply for a visa. Canada is included in the list of visa-exempt countries and its citizens can enter Thailand for a maximum of 30 days as a tourist.

If you would like to extend your stay, you can apply for a 30-day extension of stay at a local Thai Immigration office.

If 60 days is not long enough to enjoy the Land of Smiles, or if you need to travel for a purpose other than tourism, it is recommended to contact your local Thai Embassy or Consulate and discuss what visa options are available to you.

Traveling Requirements to Thailand from Canada

Governments from all over the world, including Thailand, have strict requirements for foreigners who want to pass through borders during the pandemic. It is important to know these requirements to avoid delays.

Currently, Canadians can enter Thailand in one of three ways depending on their vaccination status:

Vaccination status and entering Thailand

From May 1, 2022, Thailand Pass application and approval requirements will depend on a traveler’s vaccination status.

Fully Vaccinated travelers will no longer need to apply to enter Thailand under the Test & Go or Sandbox scheme. A vaccinated traveler does not need to book 1 night’s accommodation in an approved SHA+ hotel or complete an RT-PCR test on arrival.

Fully vaccinated foreigners will need to provide proof of insurance and their vaccination certificate when applying for a Thailand Pass. Thai Nationals only need to provide their vaccination certificate as insurance is not required.

Unvaccinated children under 18 years old may travel with vaccinated parents without quarantine.
Unvaccinated travelers will be able to enter Thailand under the existing 5-day Alternate Quarantine scheme. OR
Unvaccinated travelers will be able to avoid the 5-day Alternate Quarantine by completing an RT-PCR test and uploading the result into their Thailand Pass application. The test cannot be older than 72 hours before their arrival date.

As you can see, the requirements for entering Thailand will depend on whether or not you are vaccinated. All Canadian citizens will require a confirmed flight, Covid-19 insurance, and an approved Thailand pass. All documents must be in English or Thai.

Flying from Canada to Thailand

Of course, when traveling from Canada to Thailand, you need transport! More airlines are getting back in the air every week. When looking at flights from Canada to Thailand, here are some airlines that are currently operating and offering flights:

Air Canada
Air France
Thai Airways
Qatar Airways
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Purchasing Travel Insurance

If a Canadian is to travel outside of Canada, it is important (and required by Canadian & Thai authorities) to purchase travel insurance before leaving.

Why does a Canadian traveler need to purchase travel insurance?

The traveler’s medical bills will not be paid by the Canadian government.
Foreign hospitals might be expensive and may require you to pay in cash.
Canadian health insurance, provincial or territorial, may not cover the traveler’s medical expenses when outside of Canada.
If one does not have adequate insurance or money to pay the costs of treatment, there might be a possibility that hospitals and clinics will refuse to treat you.
Medical insurance with a minimum coverage of $10,000 USD and Covid-19 cover is required to enter Thailand and for approval of a Thailand Pass.

COVID-19 Coverage from Travel Insurance

When purchasing travel/health insurance for travel to Thailand from Canada, there should be at least $10,000 USD coverage for COVID-19 related incidents and other specific incidents noted by Thai authorities. Covid-19 cover should include:

Medical coverage that will cover COVID-19 treatment costs.
Life Insurance Coverage that will cover COVID-19 death costs.
Unexpected Expenses Coverage that will cover COVID-19-related unexpected situations, like missing flights and loss of baggage.
Your insurance should be valid for your entire stay in the country.

You can purchase the COVID Insurance on this link:

Booking a Hotel

Vaccinated Canadian citizens or unvaccinated travelers who complete a 72-hour pre-departure RT-PCR test are welcome to book any accommodation. There are no quarantine requirements.

Unvaccinated Canadian citizens who choose to complete the 5-day Alternate Quarantine will need to book a hotel that is SHA+ approved and offers Alternate Quarantine packages.

The package will include transport from the airport to the hotel, 5 nights of accommodation, meals and services, and an RT-PCR test before you leave.

During the 5 day quarantine, you will not be allowed to leave your room.

Need help in booking your SHA+ hotels? You can book at Agoda now.

Apply for Thailand Pass

To apply for Thailand Pass, head over to https://tp.consular.go.th/. You will need the following documents.

Vaccinated travelers:

Your passport profile page
Flight itinerary to confirm the arrival date
A certificate of full (2 doses) vaccination
A medical insurance policy with at least USD$ 10,000 minimum coverage

Unvaccinated travelers NOT doing Alternate Quarantine:

Your passport profile page
Flight itinerary to confirm the arrival date
An RT-PCR test result no more than 72 hours before your arrival date
A medical insurance policy with at least USD$ 10,000 minimum coverage

Unvaccinated travelers doing Alternate Quarantine:

Your passport profile page
Flight itinerary to confirm the arrival date
Confirmed booking of SHA+ hotel 5-day Alternate Quarantine package
A pre-booked RT-PCR test on arrival (if not included in your package)
A medical insurance policy with at least USD$ 10,000 minimum coverage

To obtain a QR entry code and Thailand Pass ID, travelers will have to:

Register at the Thailand Pass web portal
Input personal details
Upload the required documents per their vaccination status
Receive a confirmation email after registration (within seconds after registration)
Wait for the Thailand Pass approval (normally within 1-3 days)

Once approved, you will receive an email with your QR Entry Code and Thailand Pass ID.

Bonus Step: Arriving in Thailand – Best Practices

Once you have your flights, hotels, and an approved Thailand Pass, you are ready to leave Canada for Thailand.

To help streamline your visit to Thailand, it is a good practice to print all your documents and have them ready to present to Immigration Officers when you arrive and pass through Passport Control. You should print your:

Thailand Pass QR code
Certificate of Insurance
Vaccination certificate (vaccinated travelers)
Hotel booking confirmation (unvaccinated Alternate Quarantine)
72-hour RT-PCR test result (unvaccinated with NO Alternate Quarantine)
Covid-19 recovery certificate (if previously tested positive)
TM8 – Health declaration form
TM6 – This is the blue card they give you on the plane.

This will speed up your processing time before leaving your country and entering through Thailand’s Passport Control. Immigration and Health Officers will appreciate the extra effort you make.

Royal Thai Embassy, Ottawa

There is a Thai Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. The address is 180 Island Park Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0A2.

Thai consulates can be found in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.

For assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected]aiembassy.ca or 722-4444.

For the application for a visa, please visit Royal Thai Embassy, Ottawa website.

Note: Canadian traveler is solely responsible for his/her decision to travel and are advised to take care of his/her security and safety during their travels in Thailand.