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
Borders between neighbors. Restrictions are easing and people can travel freely in Asia again. Malaysians are lucky because it is easy to visit Thailand by air or land. Drive north and you can cross at Padang Besar, Betong or Sadao.
Thailand has recently announced new changes to their Thailand Pass system which take effect on June 1.
Jump on a plane in Kuala Lumpur and you will be here in less than three hours.
Because Malaysia is considered a low-risk country, Malaysians can arrive in Thailand through Visa Exemption and don’t need to apply for a visa. This is great news when you live so close.
Thailand has always been a popular holiday destination for Malaysian travelers because it is close, it is cheap, and it is just different enough to let you feel you are on vacation and not stuck at home. As COVID is brought under control, this is what Malaysians are after, an easy get-away.
Malaysia probably understands better than any other country how COVID affected travel in Thailand. Both countries implemented restrictions and safety measures to protect their citizens. Both countries have eased their restrictions to welcome visitors back.
Like Malaysia, Thailand understands it has to protect not only its citizens but those who are visiting from afar. To help facilitate these safety measures, the Thai government introduced an online system called Thailand Pass.
What is Thailand Pass?
Thailand Pass is a free online registration system where Malaysian citizens who want to 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 system works so Malaysians can jump the border and get away without a worry.
Getting to Thailand
There are two ways a Malaysian visitor can register their entry to Thailand in Thailand Pass; by Air or by Land.
By Air is for those who will be arriving on a flight through an international airport.
By Land is for visitors who are currently in a country that borders Thailand and seek to enter the country through a land border. This is relevant for Malaysians because a land crossing is as popular as a flight.
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.
A Malaysian citizen will fall into one of two categories when they look at applying for their Thailand 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:
Malaysians who are fully vaccinated no longer need to complete any mandatory quarantine when they arrive.
They will apply for a Thailand Pass and upload the required documents for approval. Once they arrive, vaccinated Malaysians are free to travel and stay anywhere in Thailand.
The documents a vaccinated Malaysian needs when applying for a Thailand Pass by Air Travel are:
- Passport details
- A flight itinerary
- Travel insurance with COVID coverage
- Vaccination certificate
Unvaccinated:
A Malaysian visitor who is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated has the option of entering the country without a mandatory 5-day Alternate Quarantine.
Travelers will need to complete an RT-PCR or Pro-ATK test within 72 hours of departure from Malaysia and before they apply for a Thailand Pass. The result needs to be uploaded to the application for approval.
Malaysian visitors 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 coverage
- A pre-departure RT-PCR/Pro-ATK test result no older than 72 hours before traveling
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 Thailand Pass, 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 what you need to apply for a Thailand Pass, let’s look at how you apply.
The first few steps are the same for every visitor.
- Go to the Thailand Pass official 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 Thai Pass QR Code and ID.
Unvaccinated travelers with RT-PCR test or Pro-ATK 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/Pro-ATK 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.
Unvaccinated travelers doing Alternative Quarantine:
- Input personal details. This will include your country of departure, arriving flight number, and address of your SHA+ Quarantine hotel.
- Upload your passport, flight itinerary, insurance policy, and hotel booking confirmation.
- Submit and receive a confirmation email after registration
- Wait for the Thailand Pass approval. They will normally approve within 24 – 48 hours.
Once approved, you will receive an email with your QR Entry Code and Thai Pass ID.
Checking your Thailand Pass 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
Adults have dealt with a lot during COVID. Adults understand what is going on. Children dealt with a lot as well. How do you explain to a child why they can’t go outside or see their friends because of a virus? For many children, the pandemic world is all they know.
Many people are traveling for the sake of their children, to show them there is a bigger world to see that doesn’t involve isolation. Trying to travel to another country with health restrictions can be daunting, so Thailand Pass tries to make the 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.
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.
Kuala Lumpur Airport is a major transit hub for Thailand and flights are available with great promotions. It is time to hop on one and say hi to your northern neighbors again.
Do Malaysian Citizens Need a Visa for Thailand?
Thailand Pass is not a visa or a permit to stay in Thailand. It is a permit to enter Thailand during the pandemic.
Malaysian citizens may enter Thailand without a visa. They can enter under the Visa Exemption program. Under the Visa Exemption program, Malaysian citizens can stay up to 30 days in Thailand. This 30-day permit can be extended for another 30 days at any local immigration in Thailand.
For Malaysian travelers who wish to stay in Thailand longer than 60 days or are entering Thailand for a different purpose other than tourism, they 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 Singaporean citizens 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, Malaysian citizens may visit the Thai Embassy Website.
Thai Embassies in Malaysia
To learn more about the different visa options or for more information on visa application, Malaysian passport holders who are currently in Malaysia may contact the Thai Embassy or Consulate.
Royal Thai Embassy Malaysia
206 Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: (60-3) 2148-8222,
Email: [email protected]
Malaysian Citizens Who Need to Book Hotel for Thailand
Our recommendation for booking hotels in Thailand is to use Agoda.com
