2021 Thailand travel update: Can I still travel to Thailand?
Goodbye 2020. You won’t be missed.
With Thailand closing its borders to most international travelers from many countries, a lot of us are still left wondering, what does 2021 have in store of us? Will Thailand borders be opening anytime soon? Are Bangkok wholesale clothing markets still open?
Change in Thailand entry requirements due to COVID-19
At the time of writing, Thailand borders have reopened, and if you want to travel to Thailand, you must apply for permission to travel via the Royal Thai Government’s online platform.
It is highly advised you keep up to date with the latest information on the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, and the Ministry of Public Health.
For foreigners with Thai residency status currently outside Thailand
If you possess a Thai resident visa (for work, business, family, or retirement) and normally live in Thailand but cannot return within the year, you will be granted an extension of your required return deadline. However, you will be advised to return to Thailand as soon as possible.
Upon arrival
If you have been granted permission to travel to Thailand, on arrival you will be tested for COVID-19 on entry and will be subject to 14 days quarantine.
14 days quarantine period
All travellers to Thailand, (whether with or without Thai residency status) are required to complete 14 days quarantine at a State Quarantine or Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) facility.
The Thai government has put together this list of government-designated Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) facilities for the imposed 14 days quarantine. Travellers to Thailand need to book a 14 days stay at any of these approved facilities at their own expense.
As official as these facilities may sound, these are actually luxury hotels in partnership with local hospitals. If you’ve ever stayed in one of those all-inclusive hotels, this is exactly what it feels like, but perhaps a longer, fancier version.
The Infinity Sky Pool at the Amara Hotel in Bangkok. You could spend your 14 days quarantine here.
How the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) facility works
Make a room reservation directly to the ASQ hotel, when you know your date of entry to Thailand.
The hotel will inform the relevant immigration and airport authorities and will pick you up from the airport upon your arrival date and time.
How do you make a reservation at an ASQ facility?
Contact a hotel directly for reservation or
Make a reservation on one of these authorised online platforms
If you test positive while in quarantine
You and anybody travelling with you will automatically be transferred to the hotel’s partner hospital and held in isolation.
You will be required to remain in hospital for 14 days, even if you have a negative test.
If you test positive you will be required to provide 2 negative tests, 5 days apart, before being considered for release.
If you still test positive after 14 days, the hospital may consider further quarantine either in hospital or self-isolating at home.
Coronavirus Tracking App
You may also be required to download the Thai Chana COVID-19 tracking app upon arrival in Thailand.
Extending your stay
You need a valid visa to stay longer in Thailand. If you do not have a valid visa you will be subject to daily overstay penalties. You should visit your local Immigration Office or seek guidance from the Thai Immigration website.
If you are unable to change, renew or extend your visa or unable to travel back to your home country (for example, because the border is closed) you should contact your Embassy for advice.
Need more Thai travel information?
Visit the website: www.hsscovid.com
Sounds daunting? What to do?
I’m not in a position to make any recommendations whether you should travel to Thailand, it depends largely on your circumstances, your country of origin, and purpose of travel.
Personally, I’d hold off any travel to Thailand until the situation improves. Unless you have more than 14 days to spare and spending some of this time being locked up in a hotel with an infinity pool sipping mojitos in the sun sounds like a good idea.
