Thailand is suspending its Test And Go program, but will not block visitors who have already had their application approved.
Thailand Suspends Test And Go Program
I traveled to Thailand under the Test & Go program last month and recently provided a detailed step-by-step guide on how to enter Thailand under this scheme. But effective at midnight on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, Thailand will stop accepting new applications for its Test And Go program, which allows vaccinated travelers to test in advance, test on arrival, and only quarantine until that post-arrival test comes back negative.
> Read More: Test And Go Thailand Guide (Exemption From Quarantine)
This represents another blow to tourism in Thailand, which was just starting to recover after 18 months of closure or quarantine.
Approved Test And Go Travelers May Still Visit Thailand
But the news is not all bad. Those who have already been approved to enter under Test & Go (or conceivably those who still apply before the end of the day in Thailand today and are approved) can still travel to Thailand.
That’s an important concession to those who have already booked travel on the basis of existing policy and I applaud Thailand for not being so punitive as to block those who have already purchased test and go packages and airline tickets.
Thailand Borders Not Closed
The suspension of the Test & Go program is open-ended. However you can still travel to Thailand under its Phuket Sandbox program or by undergoing an Alternate Quarantine (AQ) for 10 nights at an approved hotel.
> Read More: Alternative Quarantine (AQ) Thailand Guide
CONCLUSION
Hopefully the omicron wave will recede, as it is already starting to do in South Africa. Hopefully Thailand can soon welcome visitors again without burdensome quarantine requirements (I would have gone crazy for more than a day at my quarantine hotel). In the meantime, if you are already approved under Test And Go, you can still travel to Thailand and avoid an extended quarantine.
@Matthew Sorry this is off topic but I noticed this link for lounge reviews is now broken and it is linked to your review archives. The one on the main site menu still works.
@Matthew
https://liveandletsfly.com/lounge-reviews
Hi John,
Where are you seeing that link/URL? I ask because under my new review system, flight, hotel, and lounge reviews are classified under an additional subcategory:
https://liveandletsfly.com/category/reviews/lounge-reviews/
Hey Matthew. Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. I get this message when I go to just the reviews page and then from there click lounge reviews. But then the link from the menu page to lounge reviews works just fine. Let me know if you have any other questions! I’d also be happy to contribute posts to this blog if you like!
We are heading for Phuket via SFO and SIN on SQ on 24 Dec. So glad we got our test and go approval on Sunday so that we can proceed with our trip, We are planning 7 nights on HKT anyway so probably could have gotten in via the Sandbox program – still it’s nice to know we’re approved and can proceed with our trip.
Enjoy your trip!
Just arrived in Bangkok. Staying at Hyatt place just like you did. Took an hour to get ride to hotel. Everything else was smooth. Glad to have made it in the nick of time.
Glad you made it. Enjoy your time in Thailand. How long are you staying?
Staying until New Years. I moved to the Hyatt Regency after being released from quarantine.
I’ve been enjoying your blog for many years now. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for reading! Enjoy your time there.
Glad that we got here to Bangkok on Monday morning! Our quarantine process was easy. We landed around 10:30 am, were out of Suvarnibhumi by 11:15, at BNH hospital for our drive thru test by noon, and before 7pm we had our email with the negative results allowing our very brief quarantine to end. I feel awful for the already decimated businesses here, as Thailand just doesn’t have the same social safety net that we have back in the US
If you got the Pass & Go, arrive in Bangkok can you go any place in Thailand – like 3 different areas?
Yes, you can go anywhere in the country
Hi,
Do you know whether or not you can enter with a Covid Recovery Certificate if PCR is still positive after infection?
It says online you can but I’m wondering if you know anyone who has done this?
Thank you.
If the rules have not changed on the official Thailand Pass website, you should be good to go.