New access conditions for Belgium from 25 December
There are new access conditions for Belgium from 25.12.2020, for travelers from “red zones”. The countries belonging to the red zones are shown in the list below: https://diplomatie.belgium.be/nl/covid_tabel (This hyperlink opens a new window)
On December 23, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia were on this list, but Thailand was not. You are kindly requested to check the evolution of this list before you undertake a trip to Belgium
For Belgium, we draw your attention to the obligation, from December 25, 2020, for persons not residing in Belgium, regardless of their nationality, and from the age of 12, to present a negative medical PCR certificate upon arrival on Belgian territory, based on a test that was carried out at the earliest 48 hours before arrival. Before boarding, the airline must check whether the passengers can present the negative PCR test result. If the negative test result cannot be shown, the airline must refuse boarding.
Nevertheless, we can only encourage you in all countries of jurisdiction to continue to carefully follow the recommendations of the local authorities and to take all measures that can protect you. The measures are taken in function of the evolution of the health situation and can therefore change at any time.
thailand.diplomatie.belgium.be/nl
It strikes me that for Belgium the PCR test may not be older than 48 hours before arrival, for the Netherlands that is 72 hours.
No idea why that difference. 48 hours seems quite short.. Mainly to get that result, I think, but I have no experience with those tests, so maybe that won't be too bad in the end.
Anyone who has experience with those tests in Thailand or has been tested before leaving Thailand?
For your information. Yes, I have read that this obligation only applies from December 25…. but perhaps there are people who have already had themselves tested before departure or have experience with it in Thailand.
And also read that Thailand is not currently a red zone….
The text contains a link to the red zones indicated by Belgium.
On this link, Thailand is marked as a red zone (together with the United Kingdom)
https://imgur.com/a/ElIbiM5
Maybe you should read the link in the text first
You will see that leaving for Thailand is red and is not recommended. Also has to do with the entry conditions imposed by Thailand.
Return has a green thumb.
With all the billions the EU is wasting arguing about the number of ashtrays allowed in a cafe it is astonishing that there is no unified EU travel/entry policy.
The EU has no powers here, member states decide on this themselves. Getting the Member States on the same page is difficult, so much time is wasted because reaching a unanimous agreement or decision takes a lot of time. There is a proposal, but country A wants this, country B wants this, they make some changes, but country C is not happy with it, they make some changes again, B again does not agree. Brussels does not have much say, the Member States do not want that. So a lot of time will still be lost in meetings.
And when an agreement is reached, we see that not everyone adheres to it. Take the closing of the external border, for example, after some time the member states agreed for which groups of travelers the border would still be open. For example, the husband/wife of an EU citizen could come again, it was decided. Belgium agreed to that, but then decided not to do so. Flying in your partner directly at Zaventem was canceled… (you can get around that via Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol…).
Solution? Or more power to Brussels, or hang Schengen from the willows or leave the union entirely. I don't see all 3 happening soon, so we remain unwieldy and slow without a fast 1 line within Europe.
It strikes me that for Belgium the PCR test may not be older than 48 hours before arrival, for the Netherlands that is 72 hours.
IF Thailand would be red zone :
So if you fly from Thailand as a Belgian would you fall under the NL requirements, with a longer time period for testing?
Since arrival at Schiphol is usually , (with the exception of a few who prefer Brussels as their arrival route.)
Since the flight already takes 12 hours + the previous waiting time (3 hours recommended + travel time to Suvharnabumi), those 48 hours are very risky. Because it is calculated on arrival time, not departure time!