Thailand has finally decided to scrap the Thailand Pass for foreigners, starting for entry from 1 July 2022. The Thailand Pass entry requirement for Thais 1 June, and also simplified for foreigners. With today’s news, foreigners will also no longer be required to apply for Thailand Pass prior to travel, which is fantastic news for anyone travelling to Thailand from July onwards. Along with the discontinuation of Thailand Pass, the insurance requirement will also be discontinued, removing another administrative hurdle for travel to Thailand.
What are the new entry requirements for Thailand?
With Thailand Pass removed, travel to Thailand will almost be similar to pre-Covid times. Vaccinated travellers will still be required to show proof of vaccination to airlines at check-in, and may be subject to random checks on arrival. For unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers, a pre-departure test (PDT) will be required but there will be no quarantine required (this was already removed from 1 May). This test may be a PCR or antigen test, taken no more than 72h before departure for Thailand. Unvaccinated travellers who are unable to produce their PDT at the random checks will be required to take a professionally-administered antigen test at point of entry. While Thailand Pass registration will no longer be required, the Thai government will be keeping the website alive for foreigners to report if they develop symptoms.
Of course while the Thailand Pass registration requirement has been removed, do ensure you have the appropriate visa if required, and sufficient passport validity before travel, as always. While insurance is no longer mandatory, the Thai government still encourages foreign arrivals to have insurance coverage.
Other changes to Covid regulations
Apart from removing Thailand Pass, the Thai government has also made other changes to the domestic regulations regarding Covid, effective. These include:
- Whole of Thailand will now be declared a green zone
- Thermal scanning will be removed, including at border entry points
- Masks will no longer be required in “non-crowded” settings where social distancing is possible
- Alcohol consumption in restaurants will return to normal pre-Covid hours
- Nightlife and entertainment venues will be allowed to open till later, and serve alcohol later as well
Conclusion
This announcement from the Thai government is all sorts of good news for people who love visiting Thailand and have been looking forward to an experience akin to pre-Covid. Singaporeans love making weekend trips to Bangkok, and the easing of entry requirements will just make that easier. I have a trip planned to Ko Samui in July, so these changes are perfectly timed for me.
Let me know in the comments if you’re planning to head to Thailand and looking forward to the eased regulations!