Home Outbound International Thailand maintains ‘fully-reopen’ entry rules, COVID vaccination proof not required

Thailand maintains ‘fully-reopen’ entry rules, COVID vaccination proof not required

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has issued a statement clarifying that Thailand continues to welcome all international tourists under the fully reopen-to-tourism policy that was introduced on 1 October, 2022.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul, said “International travellers arriving in Thailand are not required to show proof of vaccination.”

In addition, foreign tourists are not required to show ATK or RT-PCR test results.

The Health Ministry further added that foreigners travelling to Thailand from a country where a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result is a condition for entry, will be required to show proof of health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment.

As part of the full reopening to tourism, Thailand is also offering a longer period of stay for visitors. Effective through to 31 March, 2023, the period of stay is extended to 45 days (from 30 days) for tourists from countries/territories entitled for visa exemption, and to 30 days (from 15 days) for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival (VOA).

However, while Thailand is welcoming all visitors, a visitor source market may require incoming visitors including their own nationals returning home to have a negative PCR result.

Thus, Thailand is aiming to correspond with rules of these countries and does require COVID insurance for visitors from these countries or visitors to Thailand continuing on to these countries, in the case they test positive while in Thailand. Among such countries are China and India.

TAT expects tourism revival to continue to pick up momentum in 2023 and is aiming for 25 million foreign tourists – over twice the 11.5 million visitors recorded in 2022 – and back to over 50% of the 40 million international arrivals 2019.