IMPORTANT: For Thailand Travel Restrictions in 2023, please click the link below:
Thailand Travel Restrictions for 2023
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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
Thailand has recently announced new changes to their Thailand Pass system which take effect on June 1.
The past two years have been a rollercoaster ride of fear, hope, apathy, hope, isolation, and hope. As we progress further into 2022, hope is getting the upper hand and people are starting to seek foreign shores in this post-pandemic world.
COVID changed the way we look at things and for those who enjoy traveling, things became harder. It was no longer as easy as clicking a button, grabbing a passport, and boarding a flight. For a while there, travel was impossible.
But as the word adjusts to COVID, countries realize we need to get away. They are opening borders, easing travel restrictions, and finding safe ways for people to travel again.
Thailand is no exception. It has always been a popular destination for American citizens seeking warm weather, long beaches, abundant nature, and exotic food. Thailand understood it needed to protect its people while welcoming visitors and keeping them safe as well.
Their answer was to implement an online system called Thailand Pass.
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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What is Thailand Pass?
Thailand Pass is a free online registration system where people who travel to Thailand can provide some basic health information and be approved to visit the country. It confirms the vaccination status of travelers arriving in Thailand and ensures they have the necessary protection in case they are diagnosed with COVID while here.
You will be pleased to know there were big changes to the Thai Pass system from June 1st, 2022.
- Thai Pass approvals are now instant on submission.
- All mandatory quarantine periods have been removed.
- Unvaccinated travelers now have the option of completing an RT-PCR test or the faster Professional Antigen Test (Pro-ATK).
Let’s break down how the Thailand Pass works so American travelers can get here with no worries or confusion.
Getting to Thailand
There are two ways an American can register their entry to Thailand: by Air or by Land.
- Air is for those who will be arriving on a flight through an international airport.
- Land is for visitors who are currently in a country that borders Thailand and seek to enter the country through a land border.
Vaccination Status
Thailand welcomes all travelers no matter their state of vaccination. They have eased their travel restrictions and try to make it easy for people to visit while keeping them safe.
Your vaccination status will determine what you need to provide when applying for a Thailand Pass.
An American citizen will fall into one of two categories when they look at applying for their Thai Pass.
- Vaccinated
- Unvaccinated
The paperwork and process are a little different for each category, so have a close read to work out which works best for you.
Thailand Pass Requirements
Vaccinated:
Americans who are fully vaccinated no longer need to complete any sort of mandatory quarantine when they arrive.
They will apply for a Thailand Pass and upload the required documents for approval. Once they arrive, vaccinated Americans are free to travel and stay anywhere in Thailand.
The documents a vaccinated American needs when applying for a Thai Pass are:
- Passport details
- A flight itinerary
- Travel insurance with COVID cover
- Vaccination certificate
Unvaccinated:
An American visitor who is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated has the option of entering the country without a mandatory 5-day Alternate Quarantine.
Travelers who choose this option will need to complete an RT-PCR or Pro-ATK test within 72 hours of departure from their home country and before they apply for a Thailand Pass. The result needs to be uploaded to the application for approval.
Americans who choose this method will be free to travel anywhere in Thailand on arrival.
The documents needed for this method of entry are:
- Passport details
- A flight itinerary
- Travel insurance with COVID cover
- A pre-departure RT-PCR/Pro-ATK test result no older than 72 hours
COVID Insurance Requirements for Thailand Pass
Because foreign travelers are not eligible for free medical care in Thailand, the Thai government has included travel insurance with covid cover as part of their entry requirements.
They understand no matter how hard we try to curb the spread of COVID, things can still go wrong and people can still test positive.
If a visitor tests positive for covid, they will need to quarantine or isolate until fully recovered. The standard of insurance cover ensures a foreign traveler is protected and can cover any medical costs or treatments that accrue during their recovery.
To have your insurance approved in the system, it must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum cover of $10,000 USD for medical expenses and treatment.
- It must specifically state that it covers Covid-related incidents.
- It must remain valid for the entire length of your stay in Thailand.
If your policy meets these requirements, it will be approved. However, if you would like a policy that is flexible and designed specifically to meet the standards set by Thai authorities, check out the AXA Sawasdee Thailand policy. As a trusted insurer in Thailand, this policy is guaranteed to be approved.
Get your Thailand Pass Insurance here: https://u.axa.co.th/Sawasdee_Siamlegal
Applying for your Thailand Pass
Now that you know the requirements, let’s look at how to apply.
The first few steps are the same for each category of visitor.
- Go to the Thailand Pass web portal: https://tp.consular.go.th/
- Choose whether you will enter Thailand by Air or Land.
Now your vaccination and choice of entry scheme come into effect.
Vaccinated travelers:
- Input personal details. This will include your country of departure, arriving flight number, and address of where you will stay on your first night.
- Upload your passport, flight itinerary, insurance policy, and vaccination certificate.
- Submit and receive a confirmation email after registration
- Check your email for the instant Thailand Pass approval.
Once approved, you will receive an email with your QR Entry Code and Thai Pass ID.
Unvaccinated travelers with RT-PCR test:
- Input personal details. This will include your country of departure, arriving flight number, and address of where you will stay on your first night.
- Upload your passport, flight itinerary, insurance policy, and RT-PCR test result.
- Submit and receive a confirmation email after registration
- Check your email for the instant Thailand Pass approval.
Once approved, you will receive an email with your QR Entry Code and Thai Pass ID.
Thailand Pass: https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/thailand-pass
Thailand Pass Support: https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-pass
Checking your Application Status
“How do I know if my Thailand Pass has been approved?”
We get asked this a lot, so it’s worth covering.
When you hit submit on your application, you will receive an email confirmation. You should then receive your approval and Thai Pass QR code in a second email.
If you do not receive your QR code within an hour, you can check the status of your application at: https://tp.consular.go.th/en/check-status
You will need your:
- Access code
- Passport Number
- Email address
Thailand Pass for Children
Introducing your children to the Land of Smiles is a fulfilling experience. Kids can be a handful, so Thailand Pass tries to make their entry as simple as possible. This is how Thailand Pass works for kids.
- Children under the age of 18 can be added to a parent’s application. They do not need a separate application. Once the Thailand Pass is approved, the parent and the child will receive their own QR code.
- Children under 18 will need to be covered by insurance. They can have their own policy or be included in a family policy. If you are getting a family policy, make sure all names are clearly stated.
- Children enter the country under the same scheme as their parents. If you are vaccinated and don’t need a test, your child does not need one. If you are doing an RT-PCR test, your child will complete a test as well.
That’s it! Visiting Thailand with your children is simple if done right.
Now you know what you need to complete your Thailand Pass application and how you get it approved.
The world is ready to welcome visitors on foreign shores as airlines take to the sky again. It is time to leave those feelings of isolation behind and rediscover what it means to leave America and visit beautiful Thailand.
Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Thailand?
Thailand Pass is not a visa and it is also not a permit to stay in Thailand. It is only a permit to enter Thailand during the COVID pandemic.
American citizens may enter Thailand without a visa. Americans can enter under the Visa Exemption program. Under the Visa Exemption program, US citizens will be allowed to stay up to 30 days. This 30-day permit can also be extended for another 30 days at any local immigration in Thailand.
American travelers who are planning to stay in Thailand longer than 30 days or entering Thailand under different purposes of visit aside from tourism are required to apply for a proper Thai visa. They may apply for one of the following visas:
- Tourist Visa (TR visa) for tourists who can stay up to 60 days with 30 days extension.
- Non-Immigrant B Visa for business or employment purposes
- Non-Immigrant O visa for Americans married to a Thai or a parent of a Thai national
- Non-Immigrant O visa for retirees
- Non-Immigrant OA visa for retirees
- Non-Immigrant ED visa for students
To apply for a Thai visa, US citizens may visit: https://www.thaievisa.go.th/
The application for the Thai Visa is only through the website. Walk-in and mailed applications are no longer permitted.
Thai Embassy and Thai Consulates in the USA
To learn more about the different visa options or for more information on visa application, US passport holders who are currently in the US may contact the Thai Embassy or Consulate.
Thai Embassy in Washington DC
2300 Kalorama Rd. N.W.,
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202-684-8493
https://thaiembdc.org/contact/
Thai Consulate General in New York
351 East 52nd Street,
New York, NY 10022
Tel.: 212-754-2536
Email: [email protected]
Thai Consulate General in Chicago
Address: 700 N Rush St,
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: 312-664-3129
Email: [email protected]
Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles
611 N.Larchmont Blvd., 2nd Floor,
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel.: 323-962-9574 ext. 230
Email: [email protected]
US Citizens Who Need to Book Hotel for Thailand
Our recommendation for booking hotels in Thailand is to book via Agoda.com
