Thailand has announced that from June 1st, they will implement more changes to their existing Thailand Pass system. The changes will ease travel restrictions and help foreigners visit Thailand.
After two years, people are tired of COVID-19. We are tired of seeing it on the news and in our media feeds. People don’t want to talk about COVID anymore. They want to look toward the future and chat about things they can do, instead of mourning what they can’t.
After so many variants, countries have adapted and international travel is possible again. Though each country approached COVID with different measures, they all had the same thought in mind, “Keep our citizens safe and protect our visitors.”
Thailand took this to heart. When COVID arrived, the country locked down hard and has been slow to ease its restrictions. But things are changing. Thailand knows people yearn to return and enjoy the Land of Smiles, so they need to find a safe way to help people visit.
If you are unfamiliar with Thailand Pass, it is an online registration system that Thai authorities introduced to monitor and verify the health status of visitors before entering Thailand. After providing insurance and vaccination details, visitors receive approval and can visit.
Thailand changed its entry requirements in May, removing Test & Go, and Sandbox, and reducing mandatory quarantine times. The Thailand Pass system was streamlined and people received faster approvals.
Required Documents for Travel to Thailand
Please have the following documents ready.
- Passport with at least six month validity
- Visa or visa exemption qualification
- Buy Thailand Travel Insurance
- Boarding pass to be presented at Passport Control
- Hotel booking confirmation if asked by Immigration Officer
- Note: Vaccination record no longer required
Incorrect documents will delay the entry screening by rules from the Thai immigration bureau and its Thai immigration officials.
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On May 20th, the Thai government announced further changes for Thailand Pass and people entering Thailand.
- Thai Nationals will no longer need a Thailand Pass.
- Foreign visitors will receive instant approval when applying for a Thailand Pass.
- All mandatory quarantines will be removed, and unvaccinated travelers will have more options for entering Thailand.
These changes will be implemented from June 1.
Although foreign visitors will still need a Thailand Pass to enter Thailand, the process is simpler than ever and we are one step away from pre-covid travel conditions.
Here are the things you need to know to obtain your Thailand Pass after June 1:
1. Register Early
After June 1st, all visitors will receive an instant approval (1 to 2 hours) after uploading the necessary documents and submitting their Thailand Pass application.
You can apply for your Thailand Pass up to 60 days before your arrival date, and if your travel plans change, you can use your approved Thailand Pass up to 7 days before or after your initial entry date.
All travelers can apply for Thailand Pass at https://tp.consular.go.th/.
2. Prepare the Necessary Documents
With mandatory quarantine removed from June 1, visitors will no longer need to provide proof of hotel bookings. The Thailand Pass system will still ask for an address when completing your application. The address can be a hotel you are staying at on the first night, a family home, or a friend’s address.
The documents you need to upload for approval will still depend on your vaccination status.
Vaccinated travelers:
- Your passport profile page
- A certificate of full (2 doses) vaccination
- A medical insurance policy with at least USD$ 10,000 minimum coverage
Unvaccinated travelers:
- Your passport profile page
- A negative RT-PCR or professional antigen test result issued no more than 72 hours before your travel date (instead of a vaccination document)
- A medical insurance policy with at least USD$ 10,000 minimum coverage
3. Vaccination
Your vaccination certificate needs to show one or more of the vaccines that are approved by the Thai Ministry of Public Health:
- CoronaVac (Sinovac)
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, Covishield)
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty)
- Moderna
- COVILO (Sinopharm)
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
- Sputnik V
- Covaxin
- Medigen
- Sputnik Light
Children under 18 can enter without a vaccination certificate since they will be registered under their parents or legal guardian. All adults, however, need to register separately.
If you are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, you can still enter Thailand, but with a 72-hour RT-PCR or Pro-ATK test result.
4. Pre-departure testing for unvaccinated travelers
The June 1st changes will benefit unvaccinated travelers.
Unvaccinated travelers can complete an RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure to Thailand. An RT-PCR test can take 24 hours to receive a result.
Unvaccinated travelers can now complete a Pro-ATK(RAT) test instead of RT-PCR. A Pro-ATK test must be completed within 72 hours of departure but is cheaper and faster than an RT-PCR test. Travelers will now receive a result in minutes instead of hours or days.
Both tests must be completed by a medical professional and the result uploaded into your Thailand Pass application for it to be approved. You cannot apply for a Thailand Pass before receiving a test result. Unvaccinated children traveling with unvaccinated parents or guardians are also required to undergo a COVID test and enter Thailand in the same scheme as the parents.
5. Travel Insurance for Thailand
To avoid complications, it’s best to get a one-page insurance certificate that clearly states:
- the policy number
- a minimum coverage of USD$ 10,000
- covers Covid-19-related incidents
- effective date
- that the period covers the total duration of your stay in Thailand.
You are required to upload this document to the Thailand Pass official website. If you are traveling with children, make sure your travel insurance for Thailand covers them too. Our recommended Covid travel insurance provider to Thailand is AXA Insurance. The best COVID insurance available to foreign travelers is the AXA Sawasdee Thailand package and now it offers an even lower cost of premium coverage, starting at 990 baht for 7-day cover.
Get your Thailand Pass Insurance. CLICK HERE 
6. Prepare your Children
There are many questions about how to visit Thailand when traveling with unvaccinated children.
Children under the age of 18 are included in a parent’s Thailand Pass application as additional applicants.
Children enter Thailand under the same scheme as their parents.
- If parents are vaccinated, then a child does not need to complete any pre-departure tests.
- If an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated parent needs to complete a Pro-ATK/RT-PCR test before traveling, then a child must also complete the test and have the result uploaded into the Thailand Pass application. Children below 6 years of age are exempted from this requirement.
7. Approval of Your Thai Pass
With fewer documents to check and confirm, the Thailand Pass approval time will be quicker. In fact, it is now instant.
Once approved, you will receive a Thailand Pass QR code by email. Keep the code in your mobile phone, as this is what will allow you entry into Thailand. Past feedback from travelers is that it is also good to print a copy of the QR code.
This QR code is valid for 3 days after your registered date of arrival. So if your flight to Thailand is delayed, you can still use it as long as you arrive within 3 days. Your QR code is valid for entering Thailand once, so if you’re planning a second trip to Thailand, you will need to register for a new Thailand Pass. Simply stated, one Thai Pass application covers one entry into Thailand.
8. Your stay in Thailand
With mandatory quarantine removed for all visitors, you are free to travel anywhere in Thailand once you disembark your flight.
Though an RT-PCR test is not required on arrival, it is still recommended by Thai authorities to complete an ATK self-test during your visit to Thailand. An ATK test kit can be bought from any pharmacy or convenience store at a very low price.
There is no longer a need to upload a test result to Thai authorities, but it is recommended to monitor personal health while in Thailand.
As per pre-pandemic Thai immigration rules, you can stay up to 30 days under the visa exemption or 60 days under a tourist visa. In either case, you can apply for a 30-day extension at an immigration office for a cost of 1,900 baht.
The Thailand Pass system may seem confusing, but we hope this Thai Pass registration information helps you understand and plan your trip to Thailand. Whether for business or pleasure, it’s still a wonderful country to visit. If you need more help, please watch our Thailand Pass Step by Step video on how to register for your free Thailand Pass.
Book your Hotel in Thailand here:
FAQs
Does a foreigner need to apply for a Thailand Pass after June 1?
Yes. Foreigners still need to have a valid Thailand Pass to enter Thailand. There is a proposal that if the “No Thailand Pass for Thai Nationals” is successful, then the change will be rolled out to foreign visitors. There is no official time frame for this yet.
We are traveling to Thailand but also going to Cambodia and Vietnam. We will then return to Thailand. Do we need two Thai Passes or will just one for the original entry be acceptable?
A Thailand Pass is valid for 1 entry into Thailand. If you leave the country and then return, you will need to apply for a new Thailand Pass.
Do I need to arrange a transfer from the airport via the hotel or can I simply reserve this transfer with a SHA+ approved taxi?
Mandatory quarantine is now removed for all travelers. Visitors can book any transport when departing the airport on arrival.
What is a Pro-ATK test?
A Pro-ATK test is an Antigen Rapid Test that is conducted by a medical professional. It provides a more thorough test result than a self-test kit but provides a result faster than an RT-PCR test. The Pro-ATK test is cheaper than RT-PCR testing.
How do I book a Pro-ATK test?
You will need to search for Pro-ATK test providers in your home country.
I am flying to Thailand in June. When applying for the Thailand Pass, the booking of the SHA Plus hotel is requested. Without booking details, you will not progress. But according to my information, the hotel obligation is no longer valid in June. How do I solve this?
You do not need to provide proof of a hotel booking but will still need to enter an address. This address can be a hotel or home. You only need to provide an address for where you will stay on the day of arrival.
We are arriving in BKK from the US and staying for four nights. On the fifth day, we are taking a domestic flight from BKK to HKT. On the eight-day, we are flying from HKT back to BKK to connect with our flight back to the US. What do we need to show for domestic flights?
If you are flying domestically, you can show your vaccination certificate or ATK test result at the airport before boarding as it may be required by local airlines.
For foreigners with a Non-O (Thai spouse) Visa and proof of residence, is it still necessary to book a SHA+ hotel for arrival in Thailand?
No. Expats returning to Thailand can now return home the moment they land. There is no need to book a hotel no matter their vaccination status.
What is the procedure for a Thai person returning to Thailand from Malaysia?
From June 1st, Thai Nationals no longer need to apply for a Thailand Pass.
We are coming to Bangkok in June. How do I go about testing for Covid? What steps do we take? What paperwork should we fill out? We are vaccinated.
Vaccinated travelers will not need to test for Covid. To have your Thailand Pass approved you will need:
- Your passport profile page
- A certificate of full (2 doses) vaccination
- A medical insurance policy with at least USD$ 10,000 minimum coverage
Thailand Pass Support: https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-pass
Success Story
Traveler from Singapore
“Just checked into Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.
The arrival experience was seamless. After getting off the plane, the 1st checkpoint was to check your passport, boarding pass, arrival/departure card, and your Thai Pass (make sure you have a physical copy printed out).
Once the 1st checkpoint is cleared (takes less than 2 mins) you will proceed to the immigration counter. Same thing, they will check the same documents as the 1st checkpoint. (Less than 5 mins wait)
Then off you go to collect your luggage, exit and look for your airport transportation. The car will be waiting outside the Arrival Hall. Off you go…”
City Travel Guide
- How to Travel to Bangkok
- How to Travel to Phuket
- How to Travel to Pattaya
- How to Travel to Chiang Mai
- How to Travel to Samui
- How to Travel to Hua Hin
Useful Links
- Best COVID-19 Insurance for Foreigners
- Test and Go Thailand -Enter Thailand Without Quarantine
- Phuket Sandbox -Enter Thailand Without Quarantine
- Phuket Sandbox SHA+ Hotels
- ASQ Hotels in Thailand
- Thailand Elite Visa – long term visa option for Thailand
- How to Travel to Thailand in 2022 – Your Ultimate Guide
- Samui Plus Sandbox – Enter Thailand Without Quarantine
- Thailand Pass Assistance – Apply for Thailand Pass Now
