This Weekly Update was originally posted on August 20, 2021. For the most recent update, click here.
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The Phuket Sandbox program has welcomed more than 22,389 travelers since it started on July 1, 2021. Fully vaccinated travelers visiting Thailand through the Phuket Sandbox are not required to undergo a mandatory quarantine. For travelers who wish to avail of this program, please see some of the updates and travel restrictions this week:
Phuket Sandbox 7 + 7 Extension Areas
Starting August 17, 2021, the Thai government has introduced the Phuket Sandbox 7 + 7 Extension program. This program allows fully vaccinated travelers to reduce the mandatory stay in Phuket from 14 nights to 7 nights only, after which another 7 nights can be spent in any of the extension areas in Krabi, Phang Nga, and Surat Thani provinces.
For travelers who wish to avail the Phuket Sandbox program, you may plan your travel itinerary as follows:
Phuket Sandbox 14 Nights
- You can stay in Phuket for 14 nights before traveling to other parts of Thailand
- You must stay in SHA+ Hotel
- You can book your SHA+ Hotel here
Phuket Sandbox + Krabi
- You can stay in Phuket for 7 Nights + 7 Nights in Ko Phi Phi
- You can stay in Phuket for 7 Nights + 7 Nights in Ko Ngai
- You can stay in Phuket for 7 Nights + 7 Nights in Railay
- You may stay in SHA+ Hotel and you must travel on SHA+ certified boat and ferry services
- You can book your Krabi SHA+ Hotel here
Phuket Sandbox + Phang Nga
- You can stay in Phuket for 7 Nights + 7 Nights in Khao Lak
- You can stay in Phuket for 7 Nights + 7 Nights in Ko Yao Noi
- You can stay in Phuket for 7 Nights + 7 Nights in Ko Yao Yai
- You may stay in SHA+ Hotel
- You must travel on SHA+ certified boat and ferry services or car transfer services
- You can book your Phang Nga SHA+ Hotel here
Phuket Sandbox + Samui Plus Sandbox
- You can stay in Phuket Sandbox for 7 Nights + Samui Plus 7 Nights (Samui, Ko Phang-ngan, Ko Tao)
- You may stay in SHA+ Hotel
- You must travel via Bangkok Airways direct domestic flight before transferring on SHA+ certified boat and ferry services
- You may book your Samui Sandbox Hotel here
Domestic Flights to/from Phuket
For the month of August, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand or CAAT suspended domestic flights to and from Phuket due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, domestic flights will resume in September, catering to the Phuket Sandbox travelers at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. Thai Airways also announced that the Bangkok-Phuket flight will leave every Thursday and Phuket-Bangkok flight will leave every Friday.
How to book your COVID Test in Phuket
Travelers who are arriving in Phuket through the Sandbox program are required to arrange the RT-PCR COVID 19 test before applying for the COE or Certificate of Entry. You have to book a test for Day 1(date of arrival), Day 6 or 7 and on Day 12 or 13. You may book this through your SHA+ Hotel or for convenience, you may book and pay in advance your RT-PCR tests in Phuket through the website:
Sputnik V Has Been Approved
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration or CSSA approves the Russian Sputnik Vaccine as one of the accepted vaccine brands for international travelers entering Sandbox destinations (Phuket and Samui) in Thailand. The Department of Disease Control is expected to finally approve the order from CCSA by the end of August, moving one step closer to the ability for Russians and other travelers from the dozens of countries who used the Sputnik vaccine to travel to Thailand soon.
Book your COVID Insurance for Thailand
Based on experience, the common problem for COE applications being rejected is that some insurance policies are not properly worded. Your COVID 19 insurance must expressly state that it covers up to 100,000 USD medical expenses including COVID 19. To purchase the most reliable and, based on our experience, insurance that has never had any problem with the Thai Embassy or Consulate, please click the link below:
COE Application Service by Siam Legal
Application for the COE is free of charge and you do not need any assistance to apply for the COE. However, there may be instances where some individuals voluntarily choose a paid service provider such as a law firm to assist them to prepare their documents and submitting them on their behalf. Individuals may encounter problems with their documents that are not being uploaded properly or some information or documents that are deemed unacceptable to the Thai embassy or consulate that may cause delay or rejection of your COE application, so it may be helpful to retain a service provider to assist you with the application. These paid services offered by Siam Legal are listed below.
Siam Legal Visa and COE Application Assistance
Sandbox Package 1: 200 USD
- Unlimited Online Visa Consultation
- Extensive checklist of required documents
- Assistance in visa application (non-immigrant O marriage visa and tourist visa)
- Assistance in COE application
- 3 to 4 weeks process
- Available in the US, UK, and Canada visa applications only
Sandbox Package 2: 100 USD
- Consultation with our Immigration Specialist
- Extensive checklist of required documents
- Assistance in COE application (including Visa holders and Visa Exemption)
- 5 to 10 days process
- Available in eligible countries only
- Available for Thai and foreign nationals
For the latest information and daily updates about Thailand Travel Restrictions, you may check:
