IMPORTANT: For Thailand Travel Restrictionsin 2023, please click the link below:
Thailand Travel Restrictions 2023
Thailand Travel Restrictions for 2023
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During the global COVID-19 pandemic, measures have been enforced to prevent and control COVID-19 from spreading in Thailand. This includes measures to keep an influx of visitors to Thailand in check.
After two years of dealing with Covid and extensive travel restrictions, international travel is finally returning to normal on the 1st of July, 2022.
From July 1st, the following changes have been implemented for all international travelers.
- Foreigners do not need to show proof of Covid Insurance.
- All mandatory hotel quarantine has been removed.
- Thailand Pass is no longer required for foreign travelers to enter Thailand.
- Vaccinated travelers do not need to provide proof of vaccination before arriving.
- Unvaccinated travelers (including children traveling with unvaccinated parents) will need to complete an RT-PCR or Professional Antigen Test (Pro-ATK) 72 hours before departing for Thailand. Proof does not need to be uploaded before traveling.
- Airlines and Thai Immigration will do random checks to confirm travelers meet Covid prevention requirements (vaccination or Covid test).
Read below and you can see how you can once again visit Thailand with ease.
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.
Step 1 – Check your eligibility
It is important to start your travel plans to Thailand by checking your eligibility. After July 1, you will need to check on what to do depending on your vaccination status, and what type of visa you will use when visiting Thailand.
For a general traveler, you may opt to enter Thailand without a visa under the Visa Exemption program. If you are entering Thailand for a holiday, you may be eligible to receive a “Visa on arrival”.
For those entering Thailand for a different purpose of stay, they need to obtain a Thai visa from their local Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to coming to Thailand.
In the next step of the process, you may check the available visas for you.
Step 2 – Apply for the Visa
Thailand Elite Visa
Do you want to stay in Thailand for 5, 10, or 20 years? You may consider the Thai Elite Visa program. It is an easy-to-apply and hassle-free visa application for your long-term stay in Thailand. For more information about the Thai Elite Membership and Visa application, you may check this page: https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/thai-elite-visa
Visa Exemption
Nationalities under the Visa Exemption Program are allowed to enter Thailand without a visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate. Upon arriving in Thailand, most nationalities who are part of the Visa Exemption Program are allowed to stay for 30 days. Certain nationalities can arrive as part of this program but for a shorter period of time. It is best to check the country exemption list and confirm how long you can visit Thailand without needing to apply for a Visa.
Tourist Visa and Special Tourist Visa (STV)
Foreigners may also apply for a Tourist Visa from the Thai embassy or consulate. There is the normal 60-day tourist visa that can be extended for additional 30 days, and the 90-day Special Tourist Visa (STV) which can be extended for two 90-day visa extensions at the local immigration office. There are certain requirements needed for the STV, but it allows a visitor to stay in Thailand for a potential 9 months.
Non-Immigrant Visa
Foreigners may also apply for a wide range of non-immigrant visas:
- Non-immigrant B Visa – for conducting business or employment
- Non-immigrant O visa – for visiting Thai spouse and family
- Non-immigrant ED visa – for students of recognized institutions in Thailand as well as their Parents or Legal Guardians
- Non-immigrant O retirement visa – for those who wish to retire in Thailand
- Non-immigrant OA and OX visa – for those who wish to obtain a Thailand retirement visa for long stay (it is different from type O visa)
Stay on track with your travel plans to Thailand. Download your Complete Thailand Pass Guide HERE! 
Step 3 – Book a Flight, Hotel, and COVID-19 Insurance
There are many changes for how to enter Thailand after July 1, so it is important for a traveler to know what is required before departing their country and entering Thailand.
Flights to Thailand
At present, most airlines such as Qatar, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon, Finnair, Thai Airways, and other major airlines are now permitted to operate flights to Thailand whether it is on a daily or weekly basis.
Vaccinated travelers are required to have their vaccination certificates on hand. Unvaccinated travelers will need to complete an RT-PCR or Pro-ATK 72 hours before departure from their home country.
Though Thailand Pass has been removed from July 1, and travelers no longer need to upload proof of vaccination or Covid Test, Airlines will do random checks and if travelers do not meet Covid requirements they will not be allowed to board their flight.
Before booking flights to Thailand with the airlines, travelers should ensure that they study the different categories of Thai visas granted to foreign nationals at this time to determine the possibility of travel. Please note that having plane tickets does not guarantee entry to Thailand, non-Thai travelers must have the correct Covid documents to enter Thailand.
Since all mandatory quarantine conditions have been removed, travelers no longer need to worry about booking “sealed” flights if they wish to transit directly to a domestic flight.
Hotel Updates
From July 1, travelers are no longer required to book a SHA+ hotel and undergo an RT-PCR test on arrival. Travelers can enter the Kingdom and travel freely, booking any of the many wonderful hotels in Thailand.
Unvaccinated travelers do not need to provide proof of a hotel booking as mandatory quarantine measures have been removed for all travelers.
It is recommended to browse hotels in Thailand on Agoda.com before arriving as it is easier to organize transport to your first night’s rest if pre-booked.
Travelers are free to travel anywhere in Thailand when they arrive and do not need to worry about any testing or Province restrictions.
Book Your Insurance
Having Travel Insurance was a good practice before the world had to deal with Covid. During the Covid pandemic it was mandatory.
It is recommended for all visitors coming to Thailand to purchase travel insurance. Testing positive for Covid is still a possibility, and though people hope for an incident-free holiday, injuries and illness can happen.
Foreign visitors are not eligible for free medical care in Thailand. If the worst happens, a traveler could have expensive medical bills. Having a quality insurance policy can save a traveler potential medical expenses and allow them to enjoy a worry-free holiday.
A good insurance policy will also cover incidents like delayed flights, damage to personal possession, and loss of luggage.
Step 4 – Do I Need to Apply for the Thailand Pass?
From July 1st, 2022, foreign travelers no longer need to apply for a Thailand Pass before entering Thailand. The system is still in place but is now a platform where visitors can notify the Thai authority and medical facilities, and seek advice if they are diagnosed positive for Covid during their stay.
If you need to access the Thailand Pass system while in Thailand, please visit https://tp.consular.go.th/ and register by filling in your personal details on the Thailand Pass registration page.
Step 5 – Prepare the documents for your flight
Once you have booked your flights and ready to travel, it is recommended to prepare some documents for your holiday.
- Valid Thai visa in your passport or electronic visa approval (if applicable)
- COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate in case you are asked to present it to the airline or Passport Control for a spot check on arrival.
- RT-PCR or Pro-ATK test result if you are asked to present it for a random Covid check before boarding or on arrival.
- Travel insurance for Thailand is recommended by the Thai Government
Get a Copy of the Complete Thailand Pass Guide. CLICK HERE!
ALERT
Siam Legal has received reports from potential clients that some hospitals are creating difficulties for them until full payment is made for their medical expenses. Also, foreigners have allegedly been threatened with lawsuits for not settling their medical bills before being discharged. Using out-of-country policies can be problematic. We recommend using insurance providers headquartered inside Thailand with proper cover to avoid any undesirable outcomes.
Siam Legal International, a premier law firm in Thailand, recommends purchasing the proper insurance and so endorses AXA Insurance for your travel to Thailand insurance needs.
HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT POINTS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE PURCHASING TRAVEL INSURANCE
- Please review the details of any insurance before purchasing to understand if the policy has adequate cover. Cheap policies with inadequate levels of cover can lead to significant personal liability, and scenarios where policy holders incur hundreds of thousands of baht in out-of-pocket medical expenses have been reported. There are significant financial risks to being underinsured during your stay in Thailand.
- These policies do not cover medical costs from accidents (like motorcycle accidents) or common unexpected illnesses (common fever or food poisoning). Best to pay a few baht more for the peace of mind that comes from having proper coverage.
- AXA covers medical expenses (outpatient and inpatient) for accidents and illnesses, including COVID-19. Other insurance coverage might not.
- AXA also covers telemedicine and teleconsultation, which may be required during the quarantine period of any traveler.
Thai hospital staff are familiar with AXA cover, which should prevent any inconvenience during hospital admission or medical treatment from your hotel room. AXA Thailand also offers 24/7 local support during your stay in Thailand.
You can buy your Thailand Travel insurance today at:
https://u.axa.co.th/Sawasdee_Siamlegal
List of Approved COVID-19 Vaccines
As of December 1, the MoPH has approved the following vaccines:
- Pfizer–BioNTech or Comirnaty
- Janssen or Janssen/Ad26.COV2.S
- AstraZeneca or Covishield
- Sinopharm or COVILO
- Moderna
- CoronaVac or SinoVac
- Covaxin
- Sputnik V
- Medigen
- Sputnik Lite
How to Obtain COVID-19 Insurance
Though COVID-19 travel insurance is no longer mandatory for entry to Thailand, it is recommended to have comprehensive insurance for the duration of your stay. Good travel insurance covers not only medical expenses relating to Covid, but also accident cover, personal damage or loss of possessions and missed or delayed flights.
It is best to purchase insurance before you travel. The easiest way to buy your policy is online through a reputable insurance provider. The insurance company will provide you with the all-important certificate of cover that you can present to authorities or medical professionals if you need to make a claim.
You may also be asked to present this certificate to the airline before they will allow you onboard. It’s quick and easy to do online. You can choose your length of policy from 7, 15, 30, 60 days, and 180 days. Just make sure that the policy covers your entire period of stay in Thailand as foreigners are not eligible for free medical care in Thailand and insurance companies will not cover claims for existing conditions.
You may purchase AXA COVID-19 travel insurance within a few minutes. Check them below.
You can buy budget insurance here: https://www.siam-legal.com/axa-insurance
How to Open a Bank Account in Thailand
Siam Legal offers and provides aid for a smooth and hassle-free way to open up a Thai bank account.
- You will receive help in opening a saving/current bank account
- You will receive a Bankbook and a debit/ATM card
- Online Banking (Thai mobile number is required)
Requirements
- Passport
- Guarantee letter (to be provided by Siam Legal)
Process
- The applicant may book for our service online.
- Our staff will prepare the application and necessary documents for the bank and arrange an appointment with the applicant.
- The applicant will collect the application form and documents from Siam Legal Bangkok office and proceed to the specific bank branch. Opening the account at the bank takes 1 to 2 hours.
Service Fee
Our service fee is 150 USD for opening a Thai savings account in Bangkok.
City Travel Guide
- How to Travel to Bangkok
- How to Travel to phu*ket
- How to Travel to Pattaya
- How to Travel to Chiang Mai
- How to Travel to Samui
- How to Travel to Hua Hin
Useful Links
- Best COVID-19 Insurance for Foreigners
- Thailand Elite Visa – long term visa option for Thailand
- How to Travel to Thailand in 2022 – Your Ultimate Guide
Download the Complete Thailand Pass Application Guide. CLICK HERE!
Most Visited Pages:
1. Thailand Travel Restrictions
2. Thailand Pass
3. COVID-19 Guide for Travelers to Thailand
4. AXA Sawasdee Thailand Insurance
5. How to Travel to Thailand in 2022
6. COVID Insurance for Foreigners in Thailand
7. COVID Insurance for Foreigners in Thailand
8. Thai Elite Visa
