Thailand question: End of December for 30 days to Thailand
Dear readers,
At the end of December I want to travel to Thailand with my wife (Thai) and 2 children (0 and 5 years old) for 30 days. We leave for BKK and from there to Chiang Mai where we stay with the family for the rest of the period.
Is there an up to date checklist, or can someone name the checklist so that I can carry out what is necessary for the trip? My wife and I are fully vaccinated with Pfizer and are in possession of the corona check app (to what extent it is valid in Thailand…).
Here are some things I know and have looked up on the internet:
- Insurance that covers Covid (does anyone know if there is an exemption for children/infants, or Thai residents)….
- T8 form (is this current)?
- I assume, because I'm going for a maximum of 30 days, that I can fill in a visa form, as I'm used to on the plane…? Or has this been changed?
- CoE application: https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ (do you have to do this 1 month before departure, or can I start now)?
- Booking a flight ticket.
More points of interest?
And then hope someone can give the tip what the desired order is from the start to the end to make this go correctly.
It may also be the case that it is better to wait until November 1 and then start the process.
Many thanks to all in advance.
Regards,
Mac
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Latest posts on new covid entry proposals published on PBS.
From November 1st, foreign tourists arriving in Thailand, without being required to enter quarantine, must meet seven conditions, according to the Bureau of Risk Communication and Health Behavior Promotion of the Disease Control Department, today (Wednesday).
Foreign arrival must:
-Come from countries specified by the Thai Public Health Ministry as being low risk and arrive by air.
-Have certificates to confirm that they have received two doses of a recognized COVID-19 vaccine.
-Have negative COVID-19 results from RT-PCR tests conducted within 72 hours prior to arrival in Thailand.
-Have a minimum of US$50,000 health insurance coverage.
-Have written/electronic confirmation of hotel bookings in Thailand.
-Download and install a specified app upon arrival at the airport and undergo RT-PCR tests within 24 hours
or arrival.
-Have negative test results before traveling domestically without quarantine.
We still have to wait and see what will be published in the government gazette (Royal Gazette), so far we see new and different messages from various Thai authorities every day. The above will roughly be the plan, with the first day possibly required in a quarantine hotel while awaiting the test results after arrival. But that concerns 'safe countries', so far the Netherlands is not on that list and according to my crystal ball it is not expected that the Netherlands will still be seen as a 'safe country' this year. Entering in November or December would simply mean a quarantine of 1+ weeks (10 days? 14?)…
For the regular holidaymaker who wants to go away for 3-4 weeks, a trip to Thailand with departure in 2021 does not seem to be an attractive option, I think. If Mac doesn't want to waste his time in quarantine, I'm guessing you'd better wait until early 2022... If the Netherlands is then hopefully 'safe' according to the Thai authorities.
@ Mac: that form you fill out on the plane is not a 'visa form', it is a TM6 arrival & departure card. Until not long ago, this also had to be completed by Thai nationals. Has nothing to do with a visa, visa exemption, etc. Is simply a paper sample to see who is entering and leaving the country and what that person's intended destination (address) is.
Jan,
Only when the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), chaired by PM Prayut, agrees to this agency's proposal will it become a reality.
The CCSA has also still not announced which 10 (+) countries would be allowed to enter the country from November 1 under less strict conditions. To date, only China, US, UK, Germany and Singapore have been mentioned in a televised speech by PM Prayut.
What is now clear is that as of November 1 applies to all countries that arrive via a 30-day visa exemption:
– application via a new Thailand pass website – no more CoE - should go faster, no more filling out papers on the plane
– you need extra insurance, now 100,000 usd covid. Can be 1usd general health insurance as of Nov 50,000st provided NL are among the lucky ones. For some, an English statement from your health insurer is sufficient. This depends on which insurer
– now 7 days of confinement in a hotel, perhaps shortened to 1 day, if NL is one of those 10 countries. Include proof of hotel bookings with your Thailand pass application
So wait until November 1 before entering the Thailand pass. Until then, the CoE will still rule
Mac,
Did you read this?: https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/content/118896-measures-to-control-the-spread-of-covid-19
It remains to be seen what the entry conditions will be at the end of December. As soon as there are changes, they will be published on this website.
1. You could now orient yourself where you can purchase the currently mandatory corona insurance.
2. The T8 form is still current and must be presented upon arrival.
3. For a stay of up to 30 days, you can enter with a Visa Exemption (GROUP 12 on the website).
4. It is better to wait until the beginning of December to apply for the CoEs. 2 weeks before departure is sufficient.
5. You could now also orient yourself with which airline you will purchase a return AMS-BKK and in which hotel you would like to complete the 7-day Alternative Quarantine (AQ).
6. For the application of the CoE and check upon arrival in BKK, you must make a printout of the vaccination data from the CoronaCheck app. The Corona vaccination registration card and the 'yellow booklet' can also be used for the CoE application. Also take the 'yellow book' with you to Thailand. (It doesn't help, it doesn't hurt either.)
Completely agrees with what Rob says. On the other hand , I also want to know what the situation is for children . I can't find anything about that!?
– The Netherlands is one of the 46 countries that can travel to BKK “quarantine free” from 1 November
– On arrival required to book 1 day in SHA+ hotel pending the outcome of the PCR test (which will usually be taken in the hotel itself)
– Still obliged to do a PCR test in the Netherlands (max 72 hours before departure)
– CEO is replaced by Thailand Pass. Here too, you must upload a number of things: international proof of vaccination (coronacheck.nl), passport, proof of paid booking for 1st night) and proof of health insurance with cover for COVID 19 (coverage €50.000). The T8 form must also be completed on the Thailand pass application…. So no more hassle with not being able to find a pen or a quick trip to Suvarnabhumi
The website is expected to become active on November 1: http://www.thailandpass.go.th
– Health insurance is still necessary (Not for travelers with Thai nationality). It is unclear whether statement from your own NL basic insurance (which simply provides cover against COVID 19 in orange and red areas) is sufficient. Most insurers are not prepared to issue an English statement that explicitly mentions the €50.000. I only know that OOM insurance does issue this statement with their supplementary zkv abroad. Incidentally, premiums are much lower than with Thai insurers.
-Airline tickets to BKK are currently very competitively priced (depending on your wishes of course). You can probably expect these to increase when opening to 46 countries on November 1 (although the big question remains whether the relaxation of these entry requirements is enough to convince people…. )
Hope there are enough answers to your questions.
Good news!
But what is your source Jan Willem?
Small correction: the cover for COVID-19 during the stay in Thailand must be at least US$50.000.
Tourists must also be fully vaccinated with a vaccine recognized by Thailand.
ThaiPBS erroneously reports that the RT-PCR test must be taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2201875/thailand-welcomes-visitors-from-46-countries-from-nov-1
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-to-open-to-46-covid-19-low-risk-countries-on-november-1st/
https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/posts/4814595748559319
The list of countries is published on the websites of all relevant ministries.
It is true that the minimum cover is $50.000 (was min. $100.000 or 3.500.000 THB)
The list of 46 countries only applies to people who have been fully vaccinated. All vaccines used in the Netherlands are approved in Thailand.
You have to look carefully, the entry is free, you no longer have to stay in a hotel, you can just travel on
That doesn't seem right to me. You have to book one night and then wait for the results of the test on arrival.
Direct travel is only possible after a negative result from the PCR test upon arrival. In practice, this means that you have to stay 1 day in a SHA-plus Hotel or AQ hotel, a maximum of 2 hours from Suvarnabhumi. (So also possible in Pattaya)
You are obliged to book a night, the hotel takes care of your test, then you can go wherever you want if the result is negative.