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Thailand's Test and Go scheme for reopening made a return yesterday, as the country looks to inspire the same volume of travelers to its shores that made Bangkok the world's most visited city in 2019. Here's an easy guide on how you can apply for entry via the Test and Go route that will have you on a picturesque island faster than you can say Pad Thai.
What Is Thailand's Test And Go?
Test and Go is a method of entry for foreign travelers into Thailand. It allows travelers to enter the country without having to restrict their travel to one province – as is the case with the sandbox entry schemes – but there are some caveats that make it different from its previous iteration. Travelers must submit proof of prepayment for 2 RT-PCR tests and accommodation in either SHA Extra Plus (SHA++), AQ, OQ, or AHQ facilities for Day 1 and Day 5 of their time in Thailand – a list of which can be found here.
During these nights, travelers will be unable to leave their rooms until their Covid-19 test results come back. If a negative test result returns following their Day 5 test, travelers will be free to travel Thailand without restriction from that point onwards, whereas those who test positive will be forced to enter quarantine.
How To Apply For Thailand's Test And Go
In order to enter through the Test and Go scheme, travelers must first apply for the Thailand Pass, a compulsory document for all travelers heading to Thailand, within 60 days of their planned arrival in Thailand. After clicking on to the website, travelers should select the “Test and Go” method when prompted.
To make a successful Thailand Pass application, travelers must have the following documents ready during registration:
- Scanned copy of passport and visa (where required)
- Proof of fully vaccinated status such as a vaccination certificate, or proof of recovery and one dose of vaccine post-infection
- Insurance with coverage worth $50,000 USD
- Confirmation of fully paid SHA Extra+/AQ hotel reservations (Day 1 and Day 5 with RT-PCR tests and airport transfer). The hotel for Day 1 must be within five hours of the traveler's port of arrival, and the second hotel can be anywhere in the country.
Throughout the course of registration, the above documents will need to be uploaded, which can be a fairly lengthy process. Following the application, travelers should receive notice of whether or not their Thailand Pass application has been accepted within 3-7 working days. They will be issued a QR code, which travelers will have to show prior to boarding and upon arrival in Thailand. In the event that the application is rejected, a reason why is usually offered.
Travelers will then have to take an RT-PCR test no more than 72 hours before their departure to Thailand. Once all documentation has been checked and the flight to Thailand is complete, travelers will then need to take the first of their Covid tests in Thailand on their first day. If negative, travelers may roam at leisure until repeating the process on Day 5. After a negative result is obtained on Day 5, travelers are free once again to explore Thailand.
Common issues that travelers are facing regard the uploading of documents. The Thailand Pass application only supports jpg, jpeg and png file types, despite many travelers having their documents in pdf form. This is easily remedied, as travelers can do a screenshot/screen grab of their file and save as one of the accepted file types. Others reported seeing an “api server error” after submitting their application, which was solved by refreshing the page of changing their web browser. A fairly lengthy and admin-filled process, it'll all be worthwhile once you're on the beach enjoying all Thailand has to offer.
Read More:
Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022
Bali Reopening For Tourism To All Countries February 4
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
MalibuMostWanted
Friday 4th of February 2022
Question: Let's say I test FAKE +ve on day 1 or day 5, and they want me to quarantine at a hospital and pay out of pocket and then bill my insurance cos that's the scenarios I'v read.
1- What happens If I say F you I'm not paying or I don't have money to pay ? 2- Can I refuse to go to hospital since I'm asymptomatic and insist to quarantine at the Hotel.
I'm speaking gin regards to Phuket sandbox not Bangkok, I read on ASEAN.com people did that and it worked fine for them. what you guys think ?
Captain Rod
Friday 4th of February 2022
An absolute rort! I USE TO go to Thailand so often - 4 times in 2017 - but their "Government?" have been doing everything they can to discourage foreign visitors in the last few years. As of Feb. 10 you can enter Philippines truly quarantine free. NO USD$50,000 insurance, NO confirmed SQA+ quarantine hotels for days 1 & 5, NO "hospital, hotel, airport transfer" packages to be bought, NO "false positives" to deal with. And a lot better exchange rate! Sounds like a NO brainer.
Donkrs
Thursday 3rd of February 2022
I was on my way to Ho Chi Minh City from San Diego, CA on February 1st. Bangkok was my connecting city for my flight to Vietnam. Even to transit, the airline required Thailand Pass to fly. The customer service agent said I could register for the pass, then see her again to get my boarding pass. I registered, after buying insurance, paying for sha+ hotel, transportation and covid testing - all things required to get Thailand Pass. As I said, I was transiting through Thailand, not staying. Upon completion of registration, I got a message with a code and a notice saying 3-7 working days for review. Because I had used the first leg of my trip, San Diego to San Francisco, I had to purchase a new ticket to get back to San Diego. Of course, now I am dealing with trying to change my flight to avoid Thailand altogether.
Christian
Thursday 3rd of February 2022
Even if they lift all Covid restrictions, I have banned Thailand for the next 20 years.
garrytravel
Thursday 3rd of February 2022
The second test and hotel makes it kind of absurd. Glad I've travelled there countless times already, I can eat pad thai on a soi Rambutri stall from memory, and it tastes the same.