This article was updated November 18. The second-last paragraph has been altered. The description of the process followed in the Thailand Sandbox Program has been altered.
Thailand now has its own “Thailand Pass”.
It’s a free, web-based system designed to add efficiency to the document processing of inbound travellers entering Thailand.
Just like the Certificate of Entry (COE), (which it has replaced) it collects the necessary data for entry forms, but, unlike the Certificate of Entry, it collects both travel and health information like vaccine certificates, and it then generates a QR code. The forms may be found at https://tp.consular.go.th
The aim of the Thailand Pass is to help support the country’s “Ease of Travel” system after Thailand reopens and to expedite the process of filling out information and uploading travel documents.
All travellers, both Thai and foreigners are required to have a Thailand Pass. They also require travel insurance. According to thaiembassy.com (which is not the Thai Embassy in Pretoria, but a travel assistance company in Thailand), a common reason for Thailand Pass applications being rejected is that some insurance policies are “not properly worded”. The COVID-19 insurance policy must expressly state that it covers up to US$50 000 ( approximately R763 000) in medical expenses, including COVID-19 and it must cover the whole stay in Thailand. The Thailand Pass system only accepts one attachment therefore it is important to have a one-page Certificate of Insurance with all the required information.
But nothing about the Thailand Pass changes the fact that travellers from only 63 countries are eligible to enter Thailand without quarantine. South Africa is not on that list nor is any other Southern African country.
So, South Africans and others from countries not listed among the 63 “green” countries, may still only enter Thailand under the “Thailand Sandbox Program”, also referred to by Thailand’s Tourism Authority as “Living in the Blue Zone”.
Guests in the "Thailand Sandbox Program" will receive a PCR test on arrival, and proceed to their resort, and then after receiving a negative result (available in approximately eight hours) they are free to move around the destination. It is a seven-night/eight day program, and after a second negative test six days later, they may tour the country at will.
“People who want to visit Thailand under this system are required to spend their first seven nights within one of the 17 Blue Zone Sandbox destinations – including, amongst others, Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket and Ko Samui. After testing negative for COVID upon arrival and for a second time six days later, travellers are free to tour the rest of Thailand while following COVID safety protocol. We look forward to welcoming South Africans as we head into the busy season,” says Chiravadee Khunsub, Director of TAT.
