Thailand is opening up to tourists once again. And boy, aren’t we excited to return to the Land of Smiles? However, with Omicron still ravaging the country (and much of the world), the Thai authorities has laid out a comprehensive series of measures that will make even the most experienced public servants break out in cold sweat. Which is why I thought it would be good to tidy up the info and come up with a checklist for those of you who are raring to scoot off to Thailand.
Other than a checklist, I have also included elaboration for those who are interested to understand the details. To keep the article short, however, I’ve also included links to external resources for all of you who prefer to check the sources and stay up to date with the latest measures from the Thai government.
Good to know
Thailand had eased travel restrictions since the start of 2022. Recently, the authorities have even removed the mandatory pre-Departure RT PCR COVID Test, so that travelling into and around Thailand from 1 Apr 2022 and onwards would be more stress free.
There are a few programmes for travellers, with the Test and Go Thailand being the most relevant for tourists like us who only visit Thailand for weekend getaways.
Under Test and Go, travellers are only required to stay “quarantined” for a few hours. After the on-arrival RT PCR test results are out in about 6 hours, travellers are free to move about Thailand. Just like the good old days!
Book A Hotel With SHA+ Package
With Test and Go, the first and most important step to start your Thailand getaway would be to book a stay at a Test and Go hotel. All it takes is to go and search for hotels that offer SHA+ packages.
Such SHA+ packages include the RT PCR test and airport transfers. In other words, the hotel would take care of the logistics for their guests to take their RT PCR tests, while complying with the authorities’ requirements.
Agoda.com is “the authorised booking website” for travellers opting for Test and Go. By selecting the “Thailand Pass” filter on the website, one can be assured that the hotels are offering the right SHA+ packages.
The Thai Embassy also has a step by step guide for travellers to get their SHA+ packages: https://www.thaiembassy.com/weekly-updates/thailand-pass-test-and-go-bangkok-test-and-go-pattaya-test-and-go-samui-test-and-go-chiang-mai-test-and-go-phuket
If the hotels aren’t to your liking, no worries. One is only obliged to book a night’s stay at one of the Test and Go hotels. Thereafter, you are free to book any hotels of your preference.
After booking your Test and Go hotel, take note of its name, address and the booking ID.
“Notarise” You Vaccination Certificate
For Singaporeans, we have to go to https://www.notarise.gov.sg/ to get our vaccination certificate “certified”. As you can see from the screenshot below, it comprises of just 4 steps, each of which just requires 1 action from the applicant.
After completing all 4 steps, a vaccination certificate will be sent to your verified email address. Download the attachment with a “.oa” extension and take a screenshot of the vaccination certificate. You will be required to upload this screenshot when applying for the Thailand Pass.
Buy a COVID-19 Travel Insurance
This is a rather straightforward process. Choose any insurance provider of your choice for your COVID-19 travel insurance. Take note of the transaction number.
Apply for Thailand Pass
The previous 3 steps were all done for the sake of applying for the Thailand Pass. Go to https://tp.consular.go.th/ and follow the steps on the site to complete your application.
Some notes to take note of:
- Make sure to select Test and Go and select non-Thai;
- Ensure that your passport has not expired;
- Only .jpg files are accepted
Screenshot the page that showed the application is complete. The approval will take a few days, so this will come in handy when you want to return to check on your application.
You will be notified by email once your application is approved. The email will contain a PDF attachment, which will be useful for when you arrive in Thailand.
Download the Morchana App
The next step is to download the Morchana app, which is the Singapore’s TraceTogether app equivalent. Do not wait till you are in Thailand to download the app, for you will need it immediately at the customs and you might not get a stable/reliable data connection to let you download the app successfully.
Upon landing in Thailand, fire up your app and follow the steps to set up your app. One of the steps will require you to enter the details of your Thailand Pass. Remember that the email notifying you of your Thailand Pass approval contains a QR code in a PDF? You can scan that QR code instead of entering the details manually. This means you either have to have a 2nd phone, or send the QR code to your travel partner, so that he/she can show you the QR code when you are at this stage of setting up your Morchana app.
Till date, no one could set up the app successfully before their trip. Everyone had to scramble to set up the app upon arrival, before reaching the customs.
Book Tele-ART
Returning Singaporeans, Singaporean PRs and work pass holders can now fulfil their pre-departure Covid-19 tests through “tele-ART”. A tele-ART is where one takes antigen rapid tests (ARTs) under supervision remotely, through video conferencing platforms like the publicly available Zoom, or that of the medical service providers’.
The tele-ART has to be taken within 2 days before one departs for Singapore. For Singaporeans who are visiting Thailand for a weekend getaway, this could be done anytime before you leave Singapore, or while you are in Thailand. All it takes is some forward planning (and remembering that Thailand is 1 hour behind Singapore’s time.
The list of approved tele-ART providers can be found in the following link:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiI_cv47Yn3AhXjmuYKHSRJBrQQFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.moh.gov.sg%2Fdocs%2Flibrariesprovider5%2Fdefault-document-library%2Flist-of-approved-art-providers-for-remote-supervised-self-swab-for-overseas-travellers-(31032022).pdf&usg=AOvVaw30-6sc9tShxytR_oblajpe
10-Step Pre-Departure Preparation For Your Thailand Holiday
The above information could be quite a handful for one to digest at one go. Here’s a full run down of the pre-departure preparation one should do before setting off for the long due Thailand holiday!
- Bookmark the following websites and check them regularly for updates to travel rules:
- Test and Go Thailand: https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/test-and-go-thailand
- How to book your Test and Go Hotel: https://www.thaiembassy.com/weekly-updates/thailand-pass-test-and-go-bangkok-test-and-go-pattaya-test-and-go-samui-test-and-go-chiang-mai-test-and-go-phuket
- Thailand Travel Restrictions: https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/thailand-travel-restrictions
- Check the validity of your passport
- You must have at least 6 months of validity period at the time of entering Thailand
- Book your flight and accommodation
- The first night of stay must be at a Test and Go hotel offering SHA+ packages
- Buy COVID-19 travel insurance
- Notarise your vaccination certificate
- Apply for Thailand Pass
- Download Thailand “TraceTogether” Morchana
- Book a tele-ART for your trip back to Singapore
- Save all documents / emails into a folder
- Pack your luggage (include plenty of masks! Mask wearing is still required in public, both indoors and outdoors)
Do let me know if there are errors in the information. Till then, stay wanderlust!
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