Pre-arrival

Preparing to Travel

Kindly note that in order to be eligible to enter in Thailand under the ‘Sandbox’ program, fully vaccinated international tourists still need to have all of their advance arrangements and documents in good order for arrival and entry.

These include:

• A passport with at least 6 months validity.
• A certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health or the World Health Organization (WHO) no less than 14 days before their travel date. Tourists who have recovered from COVID-19 also need to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before travel.
• A confirmed return flight ticket. 
• Payment confirmation for no less than seven nights stay at SHA Plus-certified hotels.
• Payment confirmation for the RT-PCR COVID-19 tests that cover the whole duration of stay in Thailand via www.thailandpsas.com.
• Copy of an insurance policy in English covering healthcare and treatment expenses for COVID-19 per applicant for the whole duration in Thailand with coverage clearly identified as no less than US$100,000.

After you meet all the above points, you can go to https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ to apply for a Certificate of Entry (COE). Interested vaccinated foreign tourists are recommended to enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in their home country for more details.

Day of Travel

Bring along the printed documentation – which must be in English – that was required for the COE, along with a negative RT-PCR test result (COVID-19 not detected) issued no more than 72 hours before travelling, when undergoing the exit screening before departure. Tourists may need to be able to present all the required documentation upon request during the flight check-in.

Tourists under 18 years of age, travelling with their parents or guardians, must have a negative RT-PCR test result (COVID-19 not detected) issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.

Please note that failing to comply with your respective airline’s guidelines can result in denied boarding.

Arrival

Entry Screening

Tourists on direct international flights to Phuket International Airport are subject to health screening, including a COVID-19 nasal swab RT-PCR testing and Immigration procedures at the point of entry. Children under 6 years of age will receive a COVID-19 saliva RT-PCR testing.

Tourists on transit/transfer flights from Bangkok are subject to health and Immigration procedures at the first point of entry into Thailand, and undergo the steps as required at Phuket International Airport. 

Day 0-1

Tourists must download and install an alert application, as well as set the application on at all times for the whole duration in Thailand.

Then, proceed directly to the reserved SHA Plus hotel on the approved airport transfer service.

Wait for the result of the first COVID-19 RT-PCR test in the hotel room only.

• If testing negative for COVID-19, tourists can go anywhere in Phuket.
• If testing positive for COVID-19, tourists will be referred to a healthcare facility for medical treatment, for which the expenses must be covered by the required insurance.

During the Stay

Day 1-7

Tourists are welcome to visit Phuket only and can stay less than seven nights. However, they must leave Phuket immediately on an international flight to another country.

Tourists who intended to stay more than seven nights must undergo the second COVID-19 RT-PCR test on Day 6-7. After receiving a negative test result on Day 7, tourists can obtain a ‘Release Form’ and from Day 8 continue their journey to other destinations in Thailand.

During the seven-night period, while tourists can go anywhere in Phuket, they shall not stay overnight in any other places than the reserved SHA Plus hotel. In addition, they are required to report to the hotel’s SHA Plus Manager on a daily basis, or upon returning to the hotel from their outing and excursion.

While in Phuket, it is recommended that tourists use SHA Plus operators for tours and transportation and SHA Plus restaurants for dining although this is not compulsory. Renting a vehicle is possible, but again, it is recommended that tourists use a SHA Plus rental car service.

Phuket Cruise Excursions & Shore Trips

• Phuket excursions by sea can be enjoyed by using SHA Plus boat and ferry services from the approved piers (Ao Po, Chalong, Rassada, and Wisit Panwa).
• Phuket cruising and yachting excursions can be enjoyed by using SHA Plus cruise and yacht services from the approved piers (Yacht Haven Marina, Ao Po Grand Marina, Phuket Boat Lagoon, Royal Phuket Marina, and Chalong Pier)

Health & Safety Precautions

Protect yourself and others from COVID-19

While in Thailand, tourists are advised to continue with the D-M-H-T-T-A precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19: D – Distancing, M – Mask wearing, H – Hand-washing, T – Temperature check, T – Testing for COVID-19, and A – alert application. Masks must be worn at all times in public areas and in any vehicle with two or more people.

Kindly note that it is recommended that tourists use SHA Plus certified businesses and services for their added safety, as SHA Plus certification indicates hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, and tour services who meet the safety measures to control COVID-19, and also that at least 70% of their workforce has been fully vaccinated.

Tourist safety

The Royal Thai Government places the highest priority on the safety and well-being of every visitor to Thailand. As the main government agency responsible for the promotion and marketing of Thailand as a preferred destination, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is working closely with all the concerned public and private organizations to ensure the utmost efforts to prevent any unfortunate incidents occurring on tourists and the local Thai people.

Departure

International Departure

For travelling from Phuket to other countries, tourists are advised to follow the guidelines and measures announced by the respective country of their destination.

Domestic Departure

For travelling from Phuket to other Thai destinations, tourists are required to show proof that they have completed a seven-night stay in Phuket together with the negative results of their two COVID-19 RT-PCR tests along with other required documentation per the guidelines and measures announced by the respective destinations.

Samui Plus Program

Samui Plus accepts fully vaccinated tourists coming from overseas and transferring flights at Suvarnabhumi Airport to Ko Samui or other approved domestic destinations or taking direct flights into Ko Samui.

If tourists stay in the Samui+ program less than 7 nights, they must leave Thailand via Samui Airport only. If they are leaving via Phuket Airport, they can do so only after staying in Samui+ for at least 7 nights.

DAY 0-1

• DAY 0 Tourists download Samui Health Pass and Mor Chana applications upon arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
• Take the first RT-PCR test at Samui Airport or at a location determined by Ko Samui Command Center.
• Upon arriving at Samui Airport, tourists proceed to stay at SHA+ accommodations on Ko Samui only.
• Tourists can take transportation from the airport to the accommodation only with licensed companies that have received the Samui+ symbol.
• Tourists must remain in the hotel room while awaiting the result of the first RT-PCR test.

DAY 1-7

• If the result of the first RT-PCR test is negative, they can travel on Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao.
• Tourists must travel between islands from the following piers only:
• Ko Samui: Lom Phraya Na Phra Lan, Buri Rasa (hotel guests only) and Phu Yai Non
• Ko Phangan: Thong Sala
• Ko Tao: Ban Mae Hat (Sala Vibhavadi)
• Boats to Mu Ko Ang Thong: Na Thon Municipal Pier
• Stay only in SHA+ accommodations.
• Turn on Samui Health Pass and Mor Chana applications while staying in Samui+.
• Day 6-7 take the second RT-PCR test at swab sites at Central Festival Ko Samui, Ko Phangan Hospital, Ko Tao Hospital, or a location determined by Samui+ Command Center (Day 6 test is recommended for Ko Phangan or Ko Tao).
• Day 7 If the result of the second test is negative, a release form will be given and tourists can travel freely around Thailand on Day 8.
• Tourists can change SHA+ accommodations on the 3 islands no more than 3 times. Accommodation and RT-PCR charges must be paid in full prior to entry into Thailand. Tourists are recommended to check inter-island boat schedules prior to booking accommodations (tourists can book and pay RT-PCR tests with Ko Samui SHA+ accommodations).
• All rules, regulations and conditions are according to those determined by Surat Thani Province.