The contents of this page may no longer be relevant. For updated information about traveling to Thailand, please go to: How To Travel to Thailand in 2022. To purchase your Thailand Travel Insurance please visit: https://www.siam-legal.com/axa-insurance
Latest Updates:
- The Test and Go and Sandbox programs have been removed and travelers may now enter under the No Quarantine program with fewer requirements.
- For up-to-date information and weekly updates regarding current Thailand travel restrictions, please visit the Weekly Updates for Thailand Travel Restrictions.
- Starting May 1, 2022, Thailand will have new entry requirements. To learn more about the new entry requirements, please visit: Thailand Travel Restrictions for May 1.
- YouTube Video showing you how to apply for the Thai Pass:
Instructional Video for Thailand Pass Application - For the Best COVID Insurance for Thailand Pass, we recommend AXA Thailand.
- To book your hotel in Thailand, we recommend Agoda.com
- Travelers may join our Facebook Group to ask questions and read the latest developments: https://www.facebook.com/groups/howtoenterthailand
Note: This page may no longer be relevant so please head to this page for the latest Thailand Travel Restrictions.
The information highlighted in this article serves as an easy-to-follow guide on how to enter Thailand without quarantine.
Easy Steps on How to Enter Thailand under Samui Plus Sandbox Program:
1. Check Your Eligibility
- Foreign travelers must travel from any country.
- Thai nationals and foreign expatriates returning to Thailand, it is not necessary to have stayed in the country for 21 days before travel.
- Foreign and Thai travelers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine registered with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) or approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) no less than 14 days before the travel date, and must have a vaccine certificate or card to verify their vaccination;
- Unvaccinated children under 18 years of age traveling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians are required to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours before traveling to Thailand in lieu of the COVID 19 vaccination.
As of January 11, 2022 the Samui Plus Sandbox Program is available to traveler from any country in the world.
Do you need a Thai Visa?
The foreigner may enter without a visa (depending on your nationality) or you must determine the appropriate visa to enter Thailand. Here are the most common types of visas you may obtain:
- Visa Exemption (for visiting Thailand for tourism purposes not longer than 30 days)
- Visa on Arrival (for selected countries)
- Tourist Visa (for visiting Thailand not longer than 60 days)
- Special Tourist Visa or STV
- Non-Immigrant Visa (for visiting Thailand based on the different purpose of stay and the visa is valid for 90 days and it can be extended in Thailand up to 1 year
- Thai Visas with Re-entry Permit
- Thailand Elite Visa
2. Book your Flight, COVID 19 Insurance and Samui Extra Plus or SHA+ Hotels
Book your Flight to Thailand
You can fly to Samui on a direct international flight or international flight via Bangkok and be connected with approved sealed flights as details below.
For the flight via Bangkok, the ticket must be issued on the same booking with an international flight in conjunction with such approved Bangkok-Samui-Bangkok flights. Any flight reservations booked separately will not be allowed.
Bangkok Airways Flights: PG5125, PG5151 and PG5171
Book your Samui Plus Hotels
Despite the fact that there will be no quarantine requirements, all travelers will continue to be restricted to stay at some accommodations.
- For travelers who wish to visit Samui only, no minimum stay is required but they must leave Samui (Thailand) for another country on or before the intended departure date;
- For travelers who wish to continue the journey to other Thai destinations, they must stay in Samui for 7 nights and thereafter will be allowed to travel to other parts of Thailand.
Samui Extra Plus or SHA+ Hotels (Day 1-7) in Samui, Koh Phang Ngan or Koh Tao
Travelers will be allowed to travel freely around Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao but you will have to stay at an accommodation with a SHA+ certificate, which is issued by the Thai government for safety and health measures standards. You will need to stay at SHA Plus hotel for no less than 7 nights and the hotel(s) will need to be pre-booked in advance.
Purchase your COVID 19 Insurance
You’ll need to secure COVID-19 Insurance that meets the requirements of the Thai authorities such as:
- Coverage of at least USD $10,000 for medical expenses due to injury or sickness including COVID-19
- The insurance policy must cover the length of your stay in Thailand. It can be 10, 20 days, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 6 months, or even 12 months.
To purchase the correct COVID Insurance and receive the certificate within minutes, please check this page: https://www.siam-legal.com/axa-insurance
3. Apply for the Thailand Pass
All travelers must apply for the Thailand Pass at least 5 to 7 working days prior to the intended date of arrival.
To apply for the Thailand Pass, please visit https://tp.consular.go.th/ and register by filling in your personal details on the Thailand Pass registration page and upload supporting documents such as a copy of passport, copy of the valid visa, and COVID-19 travel insurance.
4. Obtain COVID-19 Test
After receiving your Thailand Pass, you must obtain the Medical Certificate with a laboratory result indicating that COVID -19 is not detected. The COVID test must be by the RT-PCR method, conducted within 72 hours before departure. Some airlines do not accept home kit tests so please check specific requirements with the airlines you are traveling with.
5. Prepare your documents before departure
You should print and present these documents to your airline before departure:
- Thailand Pass
- Valid visa in your passport (if needed)
- Vaccination Record/Certificate/Card
- Printed Medical Certificate with a laboratory result indicating that COVID -19 is not detected. The COVID test must be by the RT-PCR method, within 72 hours before departure.
- COVID 19 travel insurance certificate
- Confirmation Letter of Samui Extra Plus or SHA+ Hotel booking
- Confirmed of travel itinerary
- Receipt of prepaid COVID 19 RT-PCR tests in Samui
Siam Legal Visa and COE Application Assistance
Samui Sandbox Package 1: 200 USD
- Unlimited Online Visa Consultation
- Extensive checklist of required documents
- Assistance in visa application (non-immigrant O visa and tourist visa)
- Assistance in Thailand Pass application
- 2 to 3 weeks process
- Available in the US, UK and Canada Only
Samui Sandbox Package 2: 100 USD
- Consultation with our Immigration Specialist
- Extensive checklist of required documents
- Assistance in Thailand Pass application (including Visa Exemption)
- 5 to 10 days process
- Available in eligible countries only
Do you want to stay in Thailand for 5 to 20 years?
- Smooth immigration procedures
- Elite personal assistance
-
- Exclusive spa and golf courses
- 90-day reporting service
27 Responses
I am a US citizen traveling to US in May and June. I have lived full time in Koh Samui since 2016. I have a Thai goverment Vaccination Certificate passport with 3 vaccinations 2 AstraZeneca and 1 Pfizer (Dec 26 2021). Do I need to get a 4th vaccination in Thailand before I leave or in the US before I return to Thailand?. I am 63 and in excellent health.
Dear Mari,
You don’t have to. We only require each tourists to get a complete 2 doses in order to do Test and Go. A booster shot is a plus.
I will fly from Finland – Doha – Bangkok – Samui and the flight number for Samui flight is PG 5179. All the flights are on the same booking. Is the PG 5179 flight allowed without quarantine in Bangkok?
Dear Tommi,
Yes, that is correct. PG5179 is a sealed flight.
Thank you.
Good afternoon,
We are safe now. In the case we do test positive (on day 1 or day 6), what happens then (if we have NO symptoms)?
We are a couple thraveling with 2 children (2 or 3).
Thanks .
Dear Thijs,
The hotel may require for you to isolate within the hotel or moved to a hospitel.
Thank you.
Hello, I want to fly from Sri Lanka to Samui via Bangkok. The international flight to BKK and the flight from BKK to Samui are on the same booking. However, they are done by two different companies (Sri Lanka Airways and Bangkok Airways). I just wanted to double check if this is also allowed to enter Samui under the Sandbox program?
Dear Simrat,
Good day.
You can do a domestic transfer in Bangkok as long as the domestic flight is one of the flights of Bangkok Airways: PG5125, PG5151 or PG5171 which is booked together in the same ticket with your international flight.
Thank you.
If I fly from Los Angeles, can I use a flight that flies to Singapore then to Samui for the Sandbox program? Or do I need to fly from LAX to Singapore to Bangkok and then a sealed flight to Samui?
Dear Lily,
Yes, you can use the flight Singapore to Samui for Test and Go or No Quarantine Program. Since both USA and Singapore are low risk countries.
Thank you.
Hi
We are due to fly to Samui in April with Ethan’s from Manchester to Abu Dhabi and then onto Bangkok and then onto Samui- we are on the correct flight number. We were unable to book straight through so had to do the Bangkok to Samui and back separately. Does this mean we have to quarantine in Bangkok before going onto Samui ? Thank you
Dear Roisin,
Good day.
You can do a domestic transfer in Bangkok as long as the domestic flight is Bangkok Airways PG5125, PG5151 or PG5171 which is booked together in the same ticket with your international flight.
Thank you.
Dear thaiembassy,
we do have a flight from Zurich to Bangkok – booked a long time ago. We now want to make it a Samui+ Stay.
Unfortunately our airline is not able to include the flight Bangkok – Samui – Bangkok on this booking. Can we book the flight separately, do you have any advice?
Thanks in advance
Stefan
Dear Stefan,
Good day.
You need to book the Samui flight included in one ticket only. Your current travel arrangement requires you to quarantine in Bangkok before you can fly to Samui. To avoid it, you nee to contact your airline if they can add the Bangkok-Samui flight in one ticket.
Thank you.
Hi,
Can you advise if Vietnam is on a red list restricting entry to Thailand at the moment?
Thanks,
Hi C,
Good Day!
Vietnam can enter Thailand under two ways:
1. Bangkok Quarantine Program (with quarantine)
2. Phuket or Samui Sandbox Program (no quarantine for fully vaccinated traveler)
Thank you.
Dear Cormac,
At the moment, Vietnam can enter Thailand through Quarantine program or through Phuket Sandbox.
Thank you.
I have a similar situation, booked to Bangkok via Swiss Air from Zurich. I am told not possible to issue a single ticket with Samui as the final destination even though connection time is no problem.
There is still no way to use Samui Sandbox with a 2nd ticket connection to a sealed route flight to Samui?
Dear Fred,
Good day.
You can do a domestic transfer in Bangkok as long as the domestic flight is one of the flights of Bangkok Airways: PG5125, PG5151 or PG5171 which is booked together in the same ticket with your international flight.
Thank you
Hello everyone, at Phuket Sandbox you have to arrive before 6pm so that the night is counted. Does the same principle apply to the Samui Sandbox?
If so, does the arrival time at the airport or the check-in at the hotel count?
Dear Julia,
Yes, that is correct. The Bangkok to Samui flights (2 flights only per day) are limited so it is not difficult to determine whether your arrival is counted as Day 1 or not.
Thank you.
I’m quarantining in Bangkok and then hoping to fly to samui, will I have to then do the sandbox when I arrive? I get vaccinated 7 days before I fly to Bangkok.
Dear Christian,
Good day.
The Samui Sandbox is only applicable to travelers coming from abroad. If you are quarantining in Bangkok already, you will travel to Samui as if you are a resident of Thailand. You can travel on domestic flight and no specific flight. You do not need to stay in an accredited hotel. Just make sure that you meet the entry requirements of Samui for domestic travelers such as COID test before traveling to Samui. Also, Bangkok is a dark red zone so there may be other requirements for entry to Samui or other provinces.
Thank you.
Hi there, is it possible to combine this programme with the Phuket Sandbox?
So for instance we would fly to Phuket, stay there for 8 days in an SHA+ hotel, and then fly Koh Samui to stay in an SHA+ hotel there for the rest of the initial 14 day period?
Dear Hugo,
Good day.
At the moment it is not possible. You are unable to leave Phuket to go to Samui without completing the 14-night stay requirement in Phuket.
Thank you.
Dear Rex,
Is it possible to first join the Phuket Sandbox for 14 days and travel from Phuket to Koh Samui / Koh Tao / Koh Phangan? Does it require 7 days of Extra Plus Quarantine Hotel stay still? Or it can directly be an SHA+ hotel?
Thanks.
Dear Elsa,
Good day.
The Samui Sandbox is designed for travelers directly coming from abroad. If you are coming from Phuket, that is a domestic travel already, therefore it is not required for you to stay in an SHA+ hotel in Samui or Extra Plus hotel.
Thank you.