On August 23, the Division of International Disease Control and Quarantine, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), and the Ministry of Public Health came to a consensus to reintroduce the requirement for the Thailand Pass for several countries in response to recent news of a monkeypox outbreak in Thailand.
What is the Thailand Pass?
The Thailand Pass was first introduced in November 2021 and replaced the Certificate of Entry (COE), a certificate that individuals needed to acquire from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate before being allowed entry into Thailand.
It offers a more streamlined process than the COE, as everything can be applied for and obtained online. The purpose of the Thailand Pass is to ensure that those coming into Thailand from certain countries are clear of any dangerous diseases such as yellow fever and monkeypox by having applicants provide their travel and medical information to an online form. Once approved, applicants will receive a QR Code that will allow them to travel to Thailand.
Less than a year after it was introduced, the requirement to obtain a Thailand Pass before traveling to Thailand was dropped in July 2022. However, it has become a requirement once more after a European traveler was confirmed to have a dangerous variant of monkeypox after traveling through Central Africa then arriving in Thailand on a flight that originated from the Middle East on August 14, 2024.
Measures Against The Monkeypox Outbreak in Thailand
The traveler was found to have Clade 1b Monkeypox, which spreads through close contact with infected individuals and animals. The Department of Disease Control advises travelers, especially those who have had contact with an infected animal or individual, to continually check their symptoms upon reaching Thailand. Common symptoms of this monkeypox variant include severe rashes, fever, headaches, or muscle aches.
To support the surveillance of the current monkeypox outbreak in Thailand, the Division of International Disease Control and Quarantine, the CAAT, and the Ministry of Public Health issued the requirement for a Thailand Pass when traveling from high-risk countries (as shown below).
In conjunction with this, the Thailand Pass system is also a collaboration between:
- Medical departments
- Airline operators
- Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited
- International Air Transport Association
- Thai Airways Ground Customer Services Co., Ltd.
- Phuket International Airport
The Division of International Disease Control and Quarantine requested that airlines ensure their passengers who are traveling from high-risk countries register online for the Thailand Pass.
This measure is to record the entry and exit dates and times of passengers, which will ease the tracking process and management of cases if infected individuals are found. In the event the passenger did not register prior to travel, they can register upon arrival at Thai airports.
Countries that Now Require a Thailand Pass
Travelers from the following countries must provide a Thailand Pass to enter Thailand:
- Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda
- South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Thailand Pass Requirements
As the Thailand Pass has been used for various cases, including COVID-19, the complete application requirements remain uncertain, as of this writing. That being said, the general requirements are as follows:
- A valid passport
- A Thai visa (if required)
- Travel information (itinerary, etc.)
- Medical information
It is important to note that the application may also require health insurance.
Contact Siam Legal International
If you are in need of a Thailand Pass but don’t know how to apply for one, retain the services of Siam Legal International. We are a full-service law firm and visa consultancy that has aided clients with the Thailand Pass since its introduction in 2021, so we have the knowledge and experience to determine the requirements for your unique situation. With our help, you will have all the correct documents gathered and submitted on your behalf as we ensure a swift and stress-free process for your planned trip here in Thailand.
Should you have any further questions regarding the Thailand Pass, do not hesitate to contact Siam Legal.
