Thailand Sandbox Guide

               Fully vaccinated international travelers can also enter Thailand under the Sandbox program at Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), in addition to Phuket.

 

The Blue Zone Sandbox (Sandbox Program) from 11 January, 2022

Conditions:

– Travelers from any country or territory who are stay in the Sandbox area for 7 days

– Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no less than 14 days before travelling

– Booking for 7 days on approved SHA Extra+ or AQ hotel

  (Approved List: Sha Extra Plus)

– Obtain a negative COVID-19 test result (RT-PCR), issued within 72 hours before travelling

          * RT-PCR result must be not detected or negative.

          * If RT-PCR revealed detected or positive then medical certificate proof of covid recovery at least 14 days but less than 90 days from onset or first date of detection.

Documents:

– Passport

– Thai Visa (if required)

– Certificate of Vaccination

– Paid AQ / SHA Extra+ hotel reservation confirmation throughout the 7 days period (including the fee for 2 RT-PCR tests)

– Insurance with minimum coverage of 50,000 USD

Eligible travelers:

– Thai citizens

– Foreign travelers

** Not limited to diplomats, guests of the government, Thai work permit holders, students, their family, and patients seeking medical treatment

Eligible countries:

– All countries and territories

Points of entry:

– By air: At Phuket International Airport for Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Phuket

– By air: At Bangkok’s International Airport, then transit on a sealed flight for Ko Samui, or by air at Samui International Airport

– By water: On board the vessels meet the vaccination, testing, and entry requirements

** We will provide an update on this as soon as the official information becomes available.

Eligible Sandbox destinations:

Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao)

 

Pre-Arrival Requirements

All eligible travelers travelling from the eligible countries must have the following documents for entering Thailand:

– A Thailand Pass, which can be applied via https://tp.consular.go.th/.

– A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab, result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.

• Travelers under 6 years of age, travelling with parents with a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling. They are not required to have a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result and can have a saliva test when entering the Kingdom.
• For arrivals by water, everyone on board the vessels must have a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected within the officially specified time frame. Anyone on board with a history of COVID-19 infection within a period between 14-90 days must have a medical certificate of recovery. 

** We will provide an update on this as soon as the official information becomes available.

– An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000

• Except Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage

– A confirmed payment for at least 7-day stay at approved accommodation establishment such as a SHA++ hotel, within Krabi, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao)

• Travelers to Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Phuket can change accommodation twice within the first 7 days (can book 2 different hotels) within the province.
• Travelers to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao can change accommodation three times within the first 7 days (can book 3 different hotels). But they must stay the first night on Ko Samui and must receive a negative result for their first RT-PCR test, before being able to change accommodation to other hotels on either Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan or Ko Tao. Or they can choose to book 3 different hotels on Ko Samui alone.

– A confirmed payment for 2 RT-PCR tests;

• Krabi, Phang-Nga and Phuket: 
  Travelers can reserve and prepay for the 2 mandatory RT-PCR tests via thailandpsas.com (2,100 Baht / test, or 4,200 Baht / 2 tests).
• Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao): 
  Travelers can book and prepay for the 2 mandatory RT-PCR tests when booking and prepaying for accommodation at SHA++ Hotel/s (2,200 Baht / test, or 4,400 Baht / 2 tests).

** The first test will be conducted at Samui International Airport, and the second test at any of the designated hospitals on Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, or Ko Tao).

 

– A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery

• Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand.
• Travelers 12-17 years of age travelling to Thailand unaccompanied must get vaccinated with at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this requirement.
• Travelers 6-11 years of age, travelling with parents, are exempt from this requirement.
• For arrivals by water, everyone on board must be fully vaccinated. This is except for travelers under 18 years of age, travelling with parents or guardians. *We will provide an update on this as soon as the official information becomes available.
• Travelers with a history of COVID-19 infection who have recovered by medical treatment and travelers who have received at least 1 dose of an approved vaccine after post-infection must have a certificate of COVID-19 recovery.

** All travelers must undergo ‘exit screening’ at the point of departure, i.e., at the airline check-in counter and present the required documents to the person-in-charge to carry out the checks.

 

On-Arrival Requirements / During the Stay

Protocol for Sandbox travelers:

1. Travelers must complete the TM6 Immigration Form (while on the plane).
2. Upon arrival in the airport’s terminal, travelers must complete and sign the Quarantine Form before proceeding to the Health Control screening point. Children under 12 years of age can use the same form as their parents/guardians. *Soon this step will be conducted while on the plane.
3. Present the required documents, including the Thailand Pass, arrival date, and RT-PCR test results to the Communicable Disease Control officers to carry out the checks. Provided that all documents are in order, the officers will then affix the Quarantine Form with the official seal of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, along with instructions on either to undergo a quarantine or mandatory stay, and the 2 required RT-PCR tests.
4. Travelers will receive a copy of the affixed Quarantine Form, along with a QR code indicating the requirement to under the 2 mandatory RT-PCR tests, which must be prepaid by the travelers prior to applying for the Thailand Pass.
5. Travelers can then proceed to Immigration. As well as going through the Immigration procedures, travelers must also present their copy of the affixed Quarantine Form and passport to the Immigration officer to carry out the checks. Provided that all are in order, travelers will then be allowed to proceed to a prearranged transfer to the reserved hotel.
6. Upon arrival at the hotel, travelers must present their copy of the affixed Quarantine Form to the hotel staff to carry out the checks on the type of entry scheme permitted to the travelers. The travelers’ information will then be registered on the COSTE system. Afterwards, travelers must undergo the first RT-PCR test (except for those who have already taken the test at government-designated hospitals/lab centers prior to their arrival at the hotel).
7. If receiving a negative RT-PCR test result, travelers can enjoy travel activities within a Sandbox destination throughout the 7 days, but must return to their prearranged accommodation on a nightly basis. They are not allowed to stay overnight in any other places.
8. On Day 5-6, travelers must go to their appointment at the government-designated hospitals/lab centers to undergo their second RT-PCR test (must be prepaid by the travelers prior to applying for the Thailand Pass).
9. Travelers give their copy of affixed Quarantine Form/prepaid RT-PCR testing number to the hospitals/lab centers for reference.

** Remarks

– Travelers with a negative test result can enjoy travel activities within a Sandbox destination throughout the 7 days, but must return to their prearranged accommodation on a nightly basis. They are not allowed to stay overnight in any other places.

– Travelers whose test result returns as positive will be referred for appropriate medical treatment in accordance with Thailand’s Communicable Diseases Act B.E. 2558 (2015). The expenses must be covered by the required insurance for foreign travelers, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates.

• Pending on their conditions, they may be medically advised by to receive treatment in either hospital hotel isolation or community isolation.
• During receiving the medical treatment – at least 10 days, they must remain in their accommodation only. They should not leave their accommodation unless utmost necessary, and must notify the Communicable Disease Control officer in-charge.
• After having recovered from COVID-19, they will receive a medical certificate of recovery.

– While in Thailand, travelers are advised to strictly follow standard, good personal hygiene practices, such as, wear a mask in public, maintain hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer), and keep physical distance of at least 1 meter from others.

– Travelers who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms should get tested. If testing positive they must get an appropriate medical treatment. Those with COVID-19 testing appointment must get tested.

– Travelers must stay at least the first 7 nights within a Sandbox destination if planning to continue the journey to other destinations in Thailand. If staying less than 7 nights, the traveler must leave Thailand to another country immediately.

– All travelers must download and install the MorChana application, and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the result on Day 5-6 in the application.

– For travelers who intend to stay less than 7 nights, it is recommended that they undergo the second RT-PCR COVID-19 test one day prior to their departure date. A negative RT-PCR test result (COVID-19 not detected) issued no more than 72 hours before travelling is required when exiting/entering the Sandbox destinations.

– For travelers who intend to stay more than 7 nights and to continue their journey to other parts of Thailand, it is recommended that they undergo the second RT-PCR COVID-19 test on Day 5-6. After receiving a negative test result on Day 7, travelers can obtain a ‘Release Form’ and from Day 8 continue their journey domestically.

 

Guidelines for Domestic/International Departure

For international departure, it is the responsibility of travelers or their organizations to make sure that the travelers meet the requirements of their specific international destination regardless of the point of departure.

For domestic departure, after having completed the required 7-day mandatory stay within a Sandbox destination, travelers are free to go anywhere in Thailand.

** Kindly note the information is to serve as reference only and is subject to change without prior notice. It is especially important to check in regularly on www.tatnews.org to stay current on what remains a very fluid and fast changing situation.

 

Sample Quarantine Form

List of Swab Centers in Phuket for Sandbox travelers

List of Swab Centers in Phang-Nga for Sandbox travelers