Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Southeast Asia. Before the Covid-19 struck the world, the number of travelers in Thailand grew every year but in the year 2020, because of travel restrictions, the numbers decreased to as low as 6.7 million travelers only. The economy of Thailand has been greatly affected but in the year 2021, it will be the year to get their numbers back up. Thailand has opened its top tourist/traveler vacation spots, Phuket and Koh Samui, where blue waters, sandy beaches, and delicious cuisines are a hit.
One of the top travelers in Thailand is U.S. citizens, they are one of the major contributors to the Thai tourism industry. Now, with the number of restrictions imposed, is it possible for U.S. citizens to travel to Thailand?
U.S. citizens are allowed to enter the Kingdom of Thailand without a visa as the U.S. is included in the Visa Exemption List. However, with the visa exemption list, U.S. citizens are only allowed to stay for 30 days.
If the U.S. citizen intends to stay for more than 30 days, it is recommended by the Thai Embassy for U.S. Citizens to obtain a visa before planning a trip to Thailand, entry will depend on the decision of the airline or immigration personnel.
There are other visas one can apply for depending on the purpose of your travel to Thailand, like a Retirement Visa or Student Visa but Tourist Visa is the most common one obtained.
It is important to apply for a visa in accordance with your purpose to not cause any violation. It is also important to note the number of days allowed for you to stay in the country to avoid overstays.
To apply for the Certificate of Entry visit the COE registration system. Fill out the needed information and provide the needed documents for one to be approved.
Here are the documents that you need upon registering:
Also, note that it is suggested that one must apply for a COE 15 working days before the intended travel.
With the easing travel restrictions, there are already available flights from the U.S. to Thailand. Here are some of the airlines available from the U.S. to Thailand:
For the success of traveling from the U.S. to Bangkok or Phuket, make sure to have all the requirements and documents needed to avoid trouble and have an easier process upon entry to the country.
If traveling to Phuket, make sure to choose a flight that has no transit flight in Bangkok.
Knowing that there are numerous people entering Thailand, Thai or Non-Thai Nationals, the government had to make sure that those individuals who entered Thailand were Covid-19 free.
For them to make sure that they are Covid-19 free, it is mandatory for them to stay in a secured area before having the chance to travel around different places in Thailand.
There are two options given by the Thai Government for you to choose: Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) or Sandbox Scheme
ASQ is the type of quarantine where you get to stay for 7 days (if you are a fully vaccinated traveler), 10 days (if unvaccinated) in a nice and comfortable accredited quarantine hotel.
The hotel will take care of the accommodations that include transfer from the airport to the hotel, 3 meals a day, Covid-19 tests, 24/7 on-call nurse, and other accommodations given depending on the hotel that one has chosen.
Once in an ASQ hotel, one is not allowed to go out if the required days of stay is not done
Sandbox is considered a quarantine-free program and is available only for fully vaccinated travelers. Instead of staying in a hotel for 7 whole days, they have the privilege to roam around within the location of the Sandbox program.
There are currently 4 locations of Sandbox programs you can choose from:
Note that both of these options are at your own expense. Depending on what you are comfortable staying at or what your purpose of entry is, you can choose from either of the options given. Home quarantine is not allowed.
U.S citizens are allowed to enter the Kingdom of Thailand and can enter without a visa as long as they are included on the Visa Exemption List, along with different people from different countries. Here are the steps to enter the country:
A health declaration, also known as a T8 Form, is a required document that all passengers must show to authorities upon arrival in Thailand. This can only be used once.
You will be required to provide personal information such as your name, nationality, passport number, mobile phone number, and email address, as well as any symptoms you have experienced in the previous two weeks.
The personal information you supply will mostly be utilized by Thai health officials for contact tracing if a COVID-19 case occurs on your flight or in your close area. After the arrival date, your data will only be kept for 7 days.
This applies to all travelers from any country, regardless of nationality or visa status. According to Section 12 of the immigration law, anyone who refuses to comply with the new regulation shall be denied from going through immigration checkpoints and prevented from going into Thailand.
In order for you to apply for a Health Declaration Form, all you need are:
