As you may have heard by now, Thai Prime Minister Prayut announced the suspension of the Test and Go scheme yesterday afternoon due to concerns over the Omicron variant. Unfortunately, the Thai media has once again brought out incorrect information about this, which has led to a lot of confusion, including among the editors of Thailandblog. Our apologies.
An official from the consular section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called well-known Thailand blogger Richard Barrow to clarify what is really going on. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is also a reliable source: https://www.tatnews.org/2021/12/thailand-pass-temporarily-suspended-those-received-qr-code-can-enter/
The new situation regarding the Test & Go program:
This is now official:
- The Thailand Pass will close at 22:2021 on December 00.00, XNUMX for all new Test and Go and Sandbox applications (except Phuket Sandbox).
- The following new measures apply to all applicants for the Thailand Pass;
- Applicants who have received their Thailand Pass QR code can enter Thailand according to the schedule they have registered.
- Applicants who have registered but have not received their QR code will have to wait for their Thailand Pass to be considered/approved. Once approved, they can enter Thailand according to the schedule they have registered.
- New applicants can no longer register for Test and Go and Sandbox scheme (except Phuket Sandbox).
- Thailand Pass only accepts new applicants who wish to enter Thailand under Alternative Quarantine (AQ) or Phuket Sandbox.
- Airline passengers arriving in Thailand under the Test and Go and Sandbox program must undergo their 2nd PCR test (not an ATK self-test) at a government-designated facility (at no additional cost).
Thailand does not close its borders!
Just to be clear, Thailand is NOT closing its borders. It is just a suspension of the Test & Go and the Blue Zone Sandbox schedules (except Phuket Sandbox). You can go to Thailand using the Phuket Sandbox (stay on Phuket for 7 days, you can move freely on the island after the first negative test and then you are free to travel around Thailand).
Good news
First the good news: if you are one of the 22.000 people who have already applied for a Thailand Pass for Test & Go, Sandbox or the Alternative Quarantine, your application is still being processed. If your application is approved, you can travel to Thailand under the original conditions. This means that for Test & Go people you only have to wait for the results of the first test and then you are free to go. So no 7-day quarantine as some media said. But you need to do a second RT-PCR test on day 7. More about that later.
Bad news
The bad news is, if your application is rejected after midnight, you're out of luck. You will then need to enter through the Phuket Sandbox or hotel quarantine arrangements.
The date of January 10 is NOT correct!
A very important piece of information that has been misinterpreted by the Thai media is the deadline for arrival in Thailand. Basically there is not. It was previously suggested in the media (and also on Thailand blog) that you should arrive before January 10 if you do not want to be quarantined. That is not correct. You can simply arrive on the date of your original application and it has been approved. For example, if you arrive on January 25, you can still use Test & Go and you only have to wait one night for the test results.
Many people wonder if they arrive under Test & Go program today if they have to undergo a second PCR test on day 7? The answer to that is: no. This is because the amendments are not yet law. The Prime Minister must first sign the bill and then it must be published in the Royal Gazette. So if it's in the government gazette on Friday, then everyone arriving from Friday has to take the second PCR test on day 7. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is free. More details on this soon.
Will the Test & Go program be cancelled?
Does this mean that there will be no more Test & Go in the future? No, the program is only temporarily suspended. On January 4, the Thai government will re-evaluate the situation and there will be a new announcement.
Sources: TAT, Richard Barrow, NNT- National News Bureau of Thailand and PR Thai Government
About this blogger
-
Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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Situation: I have booked my flight to Bangkok and SHA+ in Bangkok, which will start February 5th. No insurance yet and therefore no Thailandpass. In short, Test&Go no longer applies to me. But now I want to know what my alternatives are.
Can I still land in Bangkok and then arrange a direct transfer to Phuket for the 7 day Phuket Sandbox program? (In that case I just have to arrange an extra flight and a new hotel booking)
I myself am also hesitant that the Netherlands will be on the black list from 4 January. So to spend extra money now, I'm also hesitant.
I'm curious what options I have now (without having to blow everything off)
You can go for the Phuket Sandbox option, there are no other options at the moment. You have to fly directly to Phuket.
i have booked a flight on bkk can i take a stopover there and with another flight to phuket?
As far as I understand not and you have to go directly to Phuket, but if that is not the case, a reader will correct me.
Indeed, that is still the situation. You must land in Phuket on a flight that departed from abroad. A transfer/transit in Bangkok is not possible.
you cannot book a flight BKK-HKT separately..
then you would already go through immigration in Bankok, so you first have to AQ before being allowed to continue.
I hope you have wisely booked a flexible ticked and can convert it to a flight (with a transfer abroad) to Phuket. (if you have ticket with etihat, emirates or singapore airlines flying to phuket this is probably not a problem, subject to your ticket conditions to pay additional price & any rebooking fees)
Good luck,
Erik
I did indeed buy a flexible ticket directly from KLM. I will have to find out whether I can arrange a combi ticket through them, otherwise it will be separate tickets. Option would be, for example, instead of AMS – Bangkok, then AMS – Singapore and then fly to Phuket via, for example, Singapore Airlines.
But I think I'll wait until January 4th. Perhaps everything will be reversed and/or the Netherlands will be blacklisted.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) is also temporarily no longer accepting transfer passengers.
Previously (until this week) Amsterdam had just been added to the “Vaccinated Transit Lane”, but those VTLs have all been suspended again. Whether you can go to Singapore with KLM and then transfer to a flight to Phuket with SQ, I'm not sure.
A better option would be with Qatar or Emirates. They do fly (have continued to do so in the previous lockdowns), both from Amsterdam and also to Phuket. Qatar flies via Doha, Emirates via Dubai
Dear readers
I am planning to go to Thailand again on February 13.
Now that the test and go has been cancelled, I have to start using the sandbox.
Is it true that you can only do that in Phuket and not in bkk?
A requirement is that you have to fly directly to Phuket, but I cannot find direct flights on Skyscanner…
And is the 10-day quarantine also possible?
John Gaal
Phew, the Thailand Pass has been in my possession for a while.
The departure is scheduled for January 30 and it will still take a while.
This welles notes game is not good for my blood pressure 🙂
all tribute to Ingrid, Remond and Ralph from Thailand Travel in R'dam.
I was told at 16 pm (22 pm in BKK) that we had to hurry.
They arranged for me, via mobile, email and internet, my coveted Thailand Pass and just before the deadline in my Thailand Pass,
Chapeau
Very good news for all travelers! A huge relief for many of us! I wish everyone a good journey and happy holidays in advance and a good 2022!
What a nice response.
Indeed, good news. I leave Saturday 25/12. So glad it can continue.
Thank you and happy holidays to you too!
Did I understand correctly that if you want to go for the Sandbox program, this is only possible for Phuket
and that you can book an AQ hotel in any city, including Pattaya, for example?
Good Morning,
Same situation as above, only nothing else booked except flight on Feb 1. @Peter you mean flying straight from BKK right? (Not from abroad, I am from AMS).
FriGr
Casper
No, you have to fly directly to Phuket from abroad. Can't go through Bangkok.
Made the application for the test and go yesterday. My husband and daughter's were already approved last night. My application was approved an hour ago.
So for now we can go, under the old conditions of test and go with 24 hours of quarantine.
However, we are on the rocking chair now. Is there anyone who can tell what daily life on the street looks like now? I have been to Thailand several times. We make a small route. From bangkok to joh lanta. Then on to joh phi phi . Then to Phuket. On to Bangkok and River Kwai.
Anyone have any idea if you can still do excursions? Visiting temples? Food streets and night markets?
If someone can tell us something about this, maybe we can make a better decision,
Arrival Jan 2- Departure Jan 17, 2022
Hans Anne and Sabine
Dear Sabine, did you request this yesterday and have it already arrived? We applied for the pass on Monday morning, my daughter's was immediately approved, but I haven't heard anything yet. When I look at where my application is in the procedure, I see 'reviewed'. Our departure is scheduled for Dec 28, I just hope it gets approved in time…
Nathalie
In Thailand there are no bears on the road that make traveling and sightseeing difficult. Everything is doable at the moment. You can guess what the future will bring, but I no longer expect the conditions that were. However, there are fewer bus services between the provinces on some routes and sometimes only a travel option is available in the evening and at night.
That is different from what I experience. I've been in Bangkok for almost a week now and my wife and I are going to the far North today or tomorrow where we have our own house. Once there we have to undergo another PCR test and then quarantine for 7 days, luckily it seems to be possible in our own house because last year you had to stay in a specially equipped old building for a week.
Thank you
Live in Bangkok yourself. Life there is completely normal. Almost everything is open. Alcohol is available in all restaurants. I don't notice much difference with the past, except that you see far fewer foreigners.
Came in through Phuket Sandbox in October. In Phuket you notice that a lot is still closed due to a lack of customers. But there is enough open to have a great time. Alcohol with meals is not a problem.
Been in Hua Hin for a few days. Similar to Phuket.
I think it's a great time to visit Thailand if they let you in.
Hua Hin similar to phuket? LOL. Hua Hin is all open and lots of nightlife until 06:00 in the morning. Alcohol available everywhere, only soy 80 sometimes in those stupid cups instead of bottle. Phuket is ghost town. Hua Hin is alive and kicking
Jasper, I think you are staying in a different Hua Hin than where I live. Alcohol is only available in restaurants and sales must cease at 22 p.m. The police take strict action in such cases.
Just returned today from a 88 day trip from Chumphon to Hua Hin. Stayed as usual in the Hua Hin Terminal hotel in Soi XNUMX. Was there with a Belgian couple in transit from Korat to Kao Lak…..
Everything on soi 88 was open as usual. Open a carafe of wine on the dinner table…and it was a French restaurant……. afterwards have a pint in a bar owned by a Norwegian, also in Soi 88…. sat there until 01.00 and could just drink a pint open and naked.
It's DIFFERENT everywhere….TIT
https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/hua-hin-police-meet-with-restaurant-owners-to-warn-of-illegal-alcohol-sales/
I've been in Bangkok for about 5 days now and the atmosphere is significantly less. Everyone really wears a face mask everywhere and keeps as much distance from each other as possible, especially from farangs now that the reports about lockdowns are on the news, the Netherlands is also often mentioned. Traffic is just as busy as usual, but people walk past each other like zombies and hardly make eye contact with each other.
Pffffff. Just booked 5 days ago for March 18th. KLM flight ticket and 1 Test and Go Hotel and Insurance. Fortunately KLM so I can convert it.
Hope this is only short-lived and that TEST and GO will be back soon.
Does anyone know if you get a refund from the hotel if the TEST and GO doesn't come back? Of course it is not capital but I still think it is a waste of money ……..
Have a nice day everyone.
That depends on where you booked. Different per hotel and booking site
Did you book it through asq.in.th or in booking.com or agoda. Did you choose cancel options or not, did you choose one or the other hotel (each has its own conditions). You can usually see it through your booking confirmation.
Happy I am now again; because with my Thailand Pass I can just go to Thailand on the agreed test and Go. Yesterday, I had the feeling that someone had sawed through the legs under my chair when I saw January 10 as a benchmark. I fly on January 20. So now breathe a sigh of relief. Although the January 4 update of the situation by the Thai government remains as an exciting moment.
“Same same, but different” for us. We fly on January 13.
But for now it's ′′ yippee ′′ we can breathe again. After January 4, 2022 we will see further. Luckily everything can be canceled.
If I understand correctly "good news" for all those who have a Thailand Pass, regardless of when they leave for Thailand, even if it is the end of January or February 2022.
So the only thing that can still go wrong is:
– Positive PCR test
– that Belgium and/or the Netherlands is/are removed from the admitted countries.
Should this be the case, this should also apply to the USA, UK, Russia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy .. not much remains then ... would therefore be a big line through the account of the tourism sector, airlines … allé den al and back to square one.
Of course, never say never because that Omicron beast is going to see / hear for Olympic gold in terms of infections, although it turns out not in the toughest Olympic discipline.
With the Thailand pass I was on Dec 12th. Do I want to move to 27 Dec. Am I still on schedule?
No, you can no longer apply for a Thailand Pass for Test & Go. Try it and you will see that you can no longer click that option.
As always, of course, we have to wait and see if there are any more changes to come. Owning a Thailand pass now feels a bit like Willy Wonka's golden ticket.
Does the Netherlands now also expect you to do a PC test before the return flight? I cannot find this piece of information. Happy holidays everyone!
Yes, that's right, you must have a PCR test done within 48 hours before departure, or an antigen test within 24 hours. These are the requirements of NL, which can also be found on the website of the central government
https://reizentijdenscorona.rijksoverheid.nl/
Barely.
Because we kept getting no confirmation from our test & go hotel in Bangkok, yesterday my stepdaughter, who lives in Thailand, called the hotel to ask for our confirmation of booking to be rushed, luckily they did so, so I was able to Applying for the Thailand pass at 22.15 pm Thai time, I had already given up hope, but it was still accepted.
And yesterday evening at 22.40 pm Dutch time, my wife and I received the QR code for test & go, so really in the nick of time, and we can still travel to the family on January 16 for 6 weeks.
When we discussed the 10th of January yesterday, I based myself on an English message stating that you could still arrive on the 10th. We leave on the 9th with Qatar Airways.
When the later reports came through that the date of the 10th is not really correct after all, we were of course very happy. I also consulted various websites. Those of the Thai embassy in The Hague, De Bangkok Post, De Thaiger and the Nation. My wife also said that the Thai news channels said that the January 10 date would not apply.
But just like Philippe says above, I still see 2 possible pitfalls. The PCR test (before departure) must of course give a favorable result.
In addition, the list of 63 countries can still be adjusted. That's where the greatest danger lurks for me. I read today that Indonesia, for example, has already blocked access for people from the UK, Denmark and Norway. Who knows what's next.
For now, we seem to be in the right place, our Thailand Passes have a green bar. We will see.
Phew. Applied for a Thai Pass on 20 December with an insurance policy from Menzis (adapted by myself). Initially put on hold for 3 to 7 days. Submitted again but very accurately updated those QR codes. Within 5 seconds. So you don't have to take that insurance so accurately, but you do need to take those QR codes.
Good afternoon, I applied for my Thaipass a week ago and got the approval today 23 12! So it is being looked at seriously, I'm leaving 11-1-2022, actually didn't expect it anymore, but there is definitely a chance if you have submitted the application before 22-12 in the middle of the night
Dear everyone,
Yesterday the loft was about to explode thanks to the fake news from Thailand. What media idiots send such information out into the world? The next day an update was given of the situation for which thanks to Thailandblog.nl. After reading all the responses, I regret to note that the multiple responses came from people who were lucky enough to be among the lucky ones just before January 10, 2022. So this news is fake, but the reactions are there in the form of " I , AND THE REST CAN CHOKE " I'm going to sit there with my ass in the sand and the rest can go home.
Well, my Thai wife and myself are finally going to visit my parents-in-law on 14/01/2022 after 2 years of following the corona measures properly in Belgium. Not to sit with our butts on a beautiful sandy beach, but to finally be able to take the urn of my deceased father-in-law to the temple with the whole family. The piece of family that is still missing is WE . I would like to politely ask all those "IK" people to respect all those who are still doing their utmost to apply for a Thailand pass. Have you looked at the costs when the fake news would become reality, multiplied by the number of approved Thailand passes for all already approved passes? Do the math > 126.000 approved applications X … ? …Thai Bath .
Finally, I wish all those ′′ ME & ME ONLY ′′ people, a nice holiday. If I happen to meet you somewhere in Thailand I will also think of my own ME!!
Happy Holidays,
Eddie ( BE )
What is fake news? And how does your response differ from the rest? Because you also tell here nicely that you WILL go and there are also plenty of people who CANNOT go. Also "me, me, me" seems to me
Hello, me here. Don't worry so much dude haha. Christ on horseback, the frustration is dripping from it. And then you ramble on about ME ME ME but put your story here about your family and your urn. Nobody cares dude. Good luck.
First throw a few reproaches at our heads and then wish us happy holidays.
Sorry, you just think about your own “I”, we will make sure that we have a nice Christmas.
PS: I find it strange that such answers get through the moderation, this shows that the editors are lenient when refusing certain comments - and that is to their credit.
Bit of a strange reaction from Eddy. 🙁
I think everyone who initially commented on the January 10 date was just happy to go anyway. We also.
My wife has not seen her son and other family for 3 years now. Because of my serious illness and the pandemic. Our last trip was in November 2018. In the meantime, the oldest granddaughter is almost 4 and we have only been able to hug her once. Our youngest granddaughter is 1 2/1 and we have only seen her via skype.
Of course we find it annoying for those people who do not yet have or cannot apply for a Thailand Pass. But I can't and don't want to hide the fact that we are very relieved, because we can still go. But it will take more than 2 weeks before we can leave. Who knows what else happened.
Eddy Boogaerts, I had to swallow when I saw your comment above. I don't know what possesses you to be so aggressive?
You can have a 'bad day' but to label the members as selfish because they are happy to get a Thailand Pass at the very last minute I think is totally inappropriate.
Where do you get the idea that some claim that others can "get the hell out"? Maybe think twice before sending your message. No one cares about such reactions.