| ⚠️ Important Update |
| In a remarkable flip flop, even by Thailand’s standards, the vaccination requirement has been rescinded. |
On Friday, Thailand announced that it would impose a vaccination requirement for all visitors, as well as mandatory travel insurance in some cases. Like most Thai government announcements, this happened on short notice without a lot of concrete details, leaving people to speculate on the implementation.
We now have the full details of the tightened requirements, which will provisionally run from 9 January 2023, 0100 hours to 31 January 2023, 1659 hours (and subject to further extension).
While it was previously thought that unvaccinated travellers would be barred entry altogether, there’s been a last-minute change that allows them to visit, subject to an on-arrival COVID-19 test (it’s not clear what kind of test or where it’ll be administered).
| 🇹🇭 Thailand Entry Requirements (from 9 January 23) |
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Singapore Airlines’ travel advisory page has been updated accordingly.
Vaccination requirement
During this period, Thailand will require all visitors to be fully vaccinated with one of the following vaccines.
| Vaccine | Doses Required |
| Sinovac | 2 |
| AstraZeneca/Covishield | 2 |
| Pfizer-Biontech | 2 |
| Johnson & Johnson Janssen | 1 |
| Moderna Spikevax | 2 |
| Sinopharm | 2 |
| Bharat Biotech Covaxin | 2 |
| Novavax | 2 |
| Sputnik V | 2 |
| Medigen | 2 |
| TURKOVAC | 1 |
| Sputnik Light | 1 |
| CanSino | 1 |
| Zifivax | 3 |
| Livzon V-01 | 1 |
| Shenzhen Kangtai KCONVAC | 2 |
No booster shot is required, and there is no restriction on how recent your latest jab must be. You could theoretically have been vaccinated back in 2021 with no boosters since then, and still meet the criteria!
Exemptions exist for:
- Children aged below 18
- Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 at least seven days but no more than six months ago
- Passengers with Thai passports
- Transit passengers who are connecting to another international flight
- Those who are medically ineligible to be vaccinated (with supporting proof from a doctor)
While there was previously the option to present a negative COVID-19 test result in lieu of a vaccination certificate, this is no longer the case.
| ⚠️ Important Update |
|
Thailand has announced an update to its rules, which allow unvaccinated travellers to board their flights to Thailand subject to taking a COVID test on arrival. Given how last-minute this change is, I wouldn’t be surprised if unvaccinated people get turned away at check in for the next 1-2 days or so though. |
Airlines will be responsible for checking vaccination certificates at the point of departure, although obviously the immigration authorities can demand to see your certificate on arrival as well.
Travel insurance requirement
 |
| AXA Sawasdee Thailand |
| The above is the recommended travel insurance policy (or at least it was during the Thailand Pass days). Travellers are free to purchase whichever policy they please, so long as it covers COVID-19. |
Passengers travelling to Thailand from a country where their return may be prevented due to COVID-19 must purchase travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage. The policy must cover the duration of their stay in Thailand, plus a further seven days.
Thai passport holders are exempt from this requirement, as are transit passengers.
For example, China requires all visitors to present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure, so a Chinese national travelling to Thailand would need to purchase travel insurance for the duration of his/her stay.
I believe that you should purchase travel insurance regardless of the regulations, but find the couching of this requirement to be very weird. I mean, if the concern is people running up expensive hospital bills in Thailand due to COVID, then shouldn’t the requirement apply to everyone? Why only have it in the case where testing is necessary? It’s almost like a “don’t ask, don’t tell” thing.
Singapore does require unvaccinated individuals to take a pre-departure COVID test, but since unvaccinated individuals won’t be permitted entry into Thailand in the first place, this is a moot point.
Conclusion
Thailand has unveiled the details of its vaccination and travel insurance requirements, and I suppose the good news is that the vast majority of Singaporeans will be unaffected. More than 90% of the population here has completed their primary series, and Singapore does not require vaccinated individuals to take a pre-departure test (hence Thailand won’t require us to buy travel insurance- though you still should!).
For what it’s worth, the ever-reliable Richard Barrow does not believe the vaccination certificate requirement will be around for long (do follow him on Facebook for the latest). In a way, that would be par the course for Thailand’s travel restrictions- introduced on short notice, then changed again shortly after!
It is a good move. People who refuse to take an extremely safe and largely effective vaccine for the benefit of themselves, their family, and society, should not expect they can avail themselves of all the benefits that society offers. Thailand has basically now said, if you won’t be a responsible citizen, then don’t come here. Great move I think.
Agree.
Yup. I do think however that the issue people have is how little notice was given. i’m all for vaccination requirements, but the way the thai government announces things last minute really doesn’t help the case.
Such mimicry; such idiocy that misuse concepts completely beyond the understanding, well done wanker, you sucked it up all. next wednesday i have a diner a « Dinner of Fools » are you available?
Nope. I am in Thailand next Wednesday. And gladly fools like you won’t be around anymore. Fabulous. I suggest you spend the time you now have spare on Wednesday to climb out of your rabbit hole and educate yourself. That would be to the benefit of you personally, and everyone else.
my husband (32yo) got serious side effects on his heart from his second jab and became heavily handicapped. he is now no longer autonomous and lost his job. We are now living from the subsidies from govt. he had caught covid two times before w/o any issues. so u have the right to have ur own opinion but stop being so assertive on something you do not understand
Source: Trust me bro
Its silly for the Thai government to impose the insurance check on check-in agents. A passenger can easily give a country that does not that does not require testing for entry as their onward country or say they will be crossing the land border after their stay in Thailand. The agent will have no way to verify.
I wonder how many of them will actually bother.
And those who are traveling without luggage and with an e-boarding pass can bypass the check-in agent altogether.
as far as I know, as soon as there is even one requirement upon entry for an SQ flight, the e-boarding pass will not get issued.
What about other airlines? AirAsia relies heavily on online and self check-ins at the airport. Online check-ins are available up to 1 week in advance.
I already have my e-boarding pass for a flight to BKK next week and I’m traveling with hand luggage. We’ll see if the autogate allow me through without any document checks.
The re-introduction of checks is hastily done and the Thai government pushes the responsibility to airlines. There will be many passengers that will slip through the net.
“I believe that you should purchase travel insurance regardless of the regulations”. Sure, but buying insurance for 7 days longer than your intended trip’s length….?
That was a confusing one. I don’t know how policies work in Thailand, but for most policies I see in Singapore there will be automatic extension if your overseas sickness delays your return home.
Ok. good that I have an annual travel insurance policy.
No need to headache hahaha
Local Thai news just reported that this new requirement has been scrapped by the government overnight.
Source?
Local Thai TV.
Is there a resource for seeing if travel insurance is needed? My wife and a friend leave tomorrow to take a long-delayed girls trip from the USA to Cambodia then Thailand. I dearly don’t want to have them entangled in some argument with me not there to fight on their behalf since both have health insurance.
https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/covid-19/
Requirement rescinded – thank God…
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-removes-entry-requirement-proof-covid-19-vaccination-3192236