Thailand Looks to Fast Track Foreign Arrival Covid-19 Testing

A government spokesperson says Thailand’s Public Health Ministry plans to propose easing access to the nation by amending Covid-19 testing requirements on Friday.

Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, the minister of public health, said on Thursday that his ministry would propose to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Friday that the government further relax access restrictions from December onward. Antigen tests would replace RT-PCR tests on arrival as part of the relaxation.

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, said the ministry would also propose increasing the number of entry channels into the country from only air travel to include some water and land transport through safety checkpoints.

Due to the very low infection rates among visitors who came through the “Test & Go” program, an increase in immigration channels is now possible.

A total of 61 countries and two territories are part of the “Test & Go” program. Those visitors will not be quarantined if they test negative for Covid-19 right after arrival.

Test and Go: Thailand

Since November 1, Thailand has allowed travelers who are fully vaccinated who are traveling by air from low-risk and only eligible countries to travel quarantine-free. This program is called Test and Go.

The Test and Go program is designed for travelers who will not be quarantined. Your only requirement is to be tested upon arrival at your booked hotel, and you can leave if you receive a negative result.

If you meet any of the following requirements, you can travel to Thailand without quarantine:

• Travelers who are fully vaccinated,
• If they are traveling by air
• From an approved country.

There is no need to stay in a designated hotel for 7, 10, or 14 days. 1 day is enough for you to stay in a hotel and do a COVID-19 test. If you have received the RT-PCR COVID-19 test with a negative result, you are allowed to freely travel everywhere in Thailand. Read more…