Thailand sets out roadmap to ease quarantine restrictions

At a meeting chaired by the Thai prime minister on 19 March 2021, Thai authorities approved an amendment to the existing quarantine regulations for visitors to Thailand. Following the meeting, a Thai government spokesperson gave details of the proposed roadmap and the easing of quarantine requirements.

*Update 28 March
Following a subsequent government meeting on 26 March 2021, a plan has been announced to open up Thailand to fully vaccinated travellers without the need for quarantine. The plan will take place in phases starting with Phuket before being rolled out to other destinations including Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Krabi and Pattaya.
Full details here

There are still some points that need to be clarified and the details are subject to change, but the information below summarises what was agreed, in principle, at the meeting.

The roadmap also included some details about the phasing out of any remaining provincial restrictions in Thailand. To avoid confusion, we have left these out, but in a nutshell it means that by 1 October 2021, there should be no domestic travel restrictions within Thailand.

April-June, 2021

• 14 day quarantine period for travellers arriving in Thailand reduced to:
  7 days if have certificate showing fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or
  10 days if not fully vaccinated, but have Covid-free certificate.
  (14-day quarantine may still apply to arrivals from some African countries including: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana and Tanzania).
• Travellers will be tested twice for Covid-19 during the quarantine period.
• Non-Thai travellers no longer require a fit to fly certificate.
• A negative Covid-19 test certificate (issued within 72 hours of boarding flight to Thailand) is still required for non-Thais.
• Thai nationals require either a fit to fly certificate or a negative Covid-19 test certificate.

Vaccination rollout in Thailand during this phase:
2 million doses of Sinovac to four main target groups including health workers, people with chronic illness and over 60s.

July-September, 2021

• Quarantine rules as per first phase for April-June.
• From 1 July, no quarantine will be required for vaccinated visitors to Phuket.
  (14-day quarantine may still apply to arrivals from some African countries including: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana and Tanzania).

Vaccination rollout in Thailand during this phase:
26 million doses of AstraZeneca (produced locally) for groups including health workers, people working in tourism, and hospitality staff.

October, 2021

• From 1 October 2021, no quarantine required for vaccinated visitors to Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Phang Nga, Phuket.
  (14-day quarantine may still apply to arrivals from some African countries including: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana and Tanzania).

Vaccination rollout in Thailand during this phase:
35 million doses of AstraZeneca (produced locally).

December 2021/January 2022

• All quarantine requirements in Thailand lifted for vaccinated visitors. Proposed that this will happen on or before 1 January, 2022.

Analysis

The Thai authorities have a difficult balancing act. While there is an economic need to reopen the crucial tourist industry, there is also a need for it to be done in as safe a way as possible. And while this proposed roadmap provides a better idea of a timeline, there are still some points awaiting clarification.

The details on this page should be viewed as a guide rather than a guarantee. The timeline depends on the success of the vaccine rollout in Thailand and the Covid-19 situation in Thailand and other countries.

There will almost certainly be some changes to the details of the roadmap over the coming weeks and months. When more details are confirmed, we will add updates here and also on our travel advice page.

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