What is Thailand Pass and How to Get It Yourself?

What is Thailand Pass and How to Get It Yourself?

Thailand Pass is a new system to enter Thailand introduced by the Thai Government. 

Starting Novermber 1, 2021, everyone coming to Thailand, including expats and Thai nationals, need to have the Thailand Pass. 

Thailand Pass has been completely replaced the Certificate of Entry for anyone coming to Thailand either by air, land, or sea. And Thailand will most likely use this system for a while.

Starting May 01, 2022, it becomes easier to get the Thailand Pass since you no longer need to have a COVID-19 test before and after coming to Thailand.

In this article, let’s take a look at all options available for the Thailand Pass, what the requirements are, and how to get one for yourself. 

**Since the pandemic is over, now you can enter Thailand without having to get the Thailand Pass.

"*" indicates required fields

Get your FREE Thailand Cheat Sheet ​by entering your email below. The ​Sheet, based on ​our experience with living and working in ​Thailand for 10+ years, shows you how to ​save time and money and ​gives you the tools the thrive in Thailand.

Disclaimer: This article may include links to products or services offered by ExpatDen’s partners, which give us commissions when you click on them. Although this may influence how they appear in the text, we only recommend solutions that we would use in your situation. Read more in our Advertising Disclosure.

Options

Starting May 1, 2022, there are three available options for the Thailand Pass:

Thailand Pass logo
Starting November 1, 2021, everyone coming to Thailand by air now needs to get a Thailand Pass
  • Test and Go
  • Sandbox Programme
  • Alternative Quarantine

Each option has different regulations and requirements. Let’s take a look.

Test and Go

Test and Go is the most popular option for coming to Thailand.  

As the name suggests, you don’t need to stay in quarantine and can fully explore Thailand without restrictions.

Starting May 1, the name of this scheme will be misleading since you don’t need to have any COVID-19 test before and after coming to Thailand.

The main requirements of these scheme are:

  • Health insurance or travel insurance with a minimum of $10,000 USD health coverage.
  • Fully vaccinated at least 14 days before coming to Thailand

Unvaccinated Persons

If you are not fully vaccinated, you need to get an RT-PCR test at least 72 hours before flying to Thailand and a minimum of $10,000 USD health coverage.

Once you are in Thailand, you are free to go anywhere without having to get another COVID-19 test.

Alternative Quarantine

If you don’t have a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and cannot get an RT-PCR test before coming to Thailand, you are still able to travel in Thailand through the alternative quarantine option. 

With this program, you need to stay in an alternative quarantine for full five days and got one negative RT-PCR tests before being able to travel elsewhere in Thailand. 

Requirements 

Let’s take a look at all of the key requirements for all of the Thailand Pass options. 

Nationalities

When it comes to getting a Thailand Pass, nationalities don’t matter much. It depends more on the country you are living in at the moment. 

As of now, there are over 60+ countries that can come to Thailand with the Thailand Pass quarantine exemption option. 

You should check the full list from the Thailand Plus website directly since it keeps updating all the time. 

If you are not from those countries, you can still apply for the Thailand Pass. If you are fully vaccinated, you can come with the sandbox programme. If not, choose the alternative quarantine option. 

Starting May 2022, any nationality can apply for the Thailand Pass.

Vaccination

To apply for the Thailand Pass under the test and go scheme, you need to be fully vaccinated at least fourteen days before coming to Thailand. 

Here’s a list of the approved vaccines: 

  • CoronaVac (Sinovac)
  • AstraZeneca
  • Pfizer-BioNTech
  • Moderna
  • COVILO (Sinopharm)
  • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
  • Sputnik V

Mixed vaccines are also accepted in Thailand. 

You can see a full list of approved vaccines from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. 

COVID-19 vaccine
You need to be fully vaccinated if you want to get the Thailand Pass under the quarantine exemption option.

If you had COVID-19 before, you are also considered fully vaccinated if you got at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within 90 days after your recovery. 

Please note that vaccination is not required for those who come to Thailand with the alternative quarantine option. 

Health Insurance

To get a Thailand Pass, you need to have health insurance or travel insurance that has health coverage of at least $10,000 USD after May 2022.

It can be from both local insurance companies and international insurance companies. 

You can get it from ACS Globe Traveller or read our travel insurance article to find out more information. 

In case you are employed by a Thai employer, you can use your Thailand Social Security card as proof of insurance as well. 

Hotel Reservation 

You need to have a paid confirmation from the SHA Extra+ hotel for the alternative quarantine scheme.

SHA stands for Safety and Health Administration Plus. It is a new standard for hotels in Thailand to ensure that they have good health and safety regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

For example, over 70% of the hotel staff need to be fully vaccinated, sanitizers need to be provided throughout the hotel, and so on. 

Right now, several hundred (and increasing) hotels in Thailand already have this SHA+ certificate. You can find them easily on hotel booking websites such as booking.com and agoda, or the official Tourism Authority of Thailand website.

The number of days that you need to book a hotel depends on your Thailand Pass option.

If you come to Thailand with the alternative quarantine program, then you need to book an alternative quarantine instead for five days.

COVID-19 Test

***Starting May 01, 2022, you do not need to do a COVID-19 test before coming to Thailand. But this doesn’t always mean that you don’t need it at all. Your airline or airport may need it. It’s best to check with them before traveling***

Although you do not need to provide a result of the COVID-19 test during the Thailand Pass application, if you are not fully vaccinated, you need to get a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Thailand. 

The test result needs to be a hard copy either in Thai or English. 

Recovery Certificate

If your RT-PCR test is positive because of your recent COVID-19 infection, you are still able to apply for the Thailand Pass if you can provide a recovery certificate.

The certificate must show that you have been recovered from COVID-19 for at least 14 days and no later than 90 days before traveling to Thailand.

Visa

Depending on your nationality, you may need to get a Thailand visa in order to get the Thailand Pass. 

You can check our Thailand Visa article for more information or your local Thailand embassy or consulate website. 

How to Apply

You can apply for the Thailand Pass online at https://tp.consular.go.th/. The process is quite straightforward. 

  1. You need to first choose a plan and accept the policy
  2. Enter travel information such as departure country, port of entry, date of arrival, and length of stay
  3. Enter your personal information 
  4. Upload vaccination certificate
  5. Upload passport, booking confirmation, and proof of insurance

If you have all the documents ready, you should be able to complete the application in less than 30 minutes. 

fly to Thailand.
Once your Thailand Pass is approved, you can now fly to Thailand.

Then, you should get a confirmation message by email saying that your application is being reviewed. 

Once it’s approved, you should get the Thailand Pass in the form of a QR code. Save it to your phone or print it out to use when flying to Thailand.  

How Long Does It Take?

It normally takes a few days for your application to be approved. In some cases, you might get it within a few hours.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand recommends you apply for the Thailand Pass at least seven days before your departure. 

Cost

The Thailand Pass is completely free of charge. You don’t need to pay anything. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Let’s take a look at the frequently asked questions that are related to the Thailand Pass. 

Do I Need to Get a Thailand Pass?

If you come to Thailand by air, you need to get the Thailand Pass no matter what visa you have. The only exception is if you already have a Certificate of Entry. 

It’s required for everyone, including Thai nationals. 

Can I Apply for It Myself?

You can apply for the Thailand Pass yourself. The process is straightforward. 

If you need some help, you can ask questions in the Farang in Thailand Facebook group

Or you can also hire someone to apply for the Thailand Pass on your behalf there. 

Do You Still Need to Show an Onward travel? 

Always remember that the Thailand Pass is not a visa. 

If you come to Thailand under the visa exemption, visa on arrival, or tourist visa, then you should have proof of onward travel, such as a flight out of Thailand. 

If you don’t have it, you might be denied boarding at the airline counter or Thailand Immigration might not allow you to enter Thailand.

Why Was My Application Rejected?

The Thailand Pass system is still in development. We have heard of many people getting their application rejected automatically with the below message:

“Thailand Pass system has rejected your registration due to your vaccine type is not follow with the requirement. If you would like to make adjustments or attach additional documents, please re-register via the following link…”

There are a few ways to solve this:

  • If you get AstraZeneca, you might need to choose “Vaxzevria” instead
  • You may need to get a new vaccination certificate to make sure the expiry date is within your flight time
  • Your vaccination should have a QR code. Please note that you may need to add the QR code from your vaccination certificate to the QR code field directly. 

If you got Johnson and Johnson, then it’s bad news. You now need to wait until Thailand Pass updates their system in order to accept it, since right now it automatically rejects vaccines that only have 1 dose.

Hopefully, this should be fixed soon.

What Should I Do When My Vaccination Certificate Does Not Have QR Code?

As of now, it seems like your vaccination certificate should have a QR code. Otherwise, your Thailand Pass application will be rejected.

If the vaccination certificate issued by the Health Department in your country does not have a QR code, check at the website where you got your vaccine such as pharmacies, Walmart, Walgreens, and so on. You might be able to get your vaccination certificate with a QR code there. 

Or you might need to get a QR code from a third party website. Please note that you need to download their application to your phone in order to get the QR code. 

Why Didn’t I Get the Confirmation Message?

You should get the confirmation message as soon as you submit all of the information. If not, you might want to check your spam box.

However, we have heard that many people who use hotmail addresses are not getting confirmation messages. And people seem to have the most success using gmail. 

How Long Can I Stay in Thailand with the Thailand Pass?

It is important to remember that the Thailand Pass is not a visa. It is a different matter. They are also handled by different organizations. 

So the amount of days you are able to stay in Thailand depends on the type of visa you have

Koh Phi Phi, Phuket
With the Thailand Pass, you can travel anywhere in Thailand.

For example, if you come here on a visa exemption, you should be able to stay for 30 days in Thailand. Once you are in Thailand, you can also extend it for another 30 days.

If you are here on a marriage, business, or retirement visa, you should be able to stay in Thailand long-term.  

What is the Best Time to Apply for the Thailand Pass?

Your application for the Thailand Pass will be reviewed and approved manually by Thai Government officers. Therefore, it’s best to submit your application during their working hours, which is around 8.30 am to 3.30 pm, Thailand time. 

A lot of people who submit their application during working hours get their application approved and receive the Thailand Pass (QR Code) within a few hours. It takes longer for those who submit outside of Thai working hours. 

What Happens If I Change My Travel Dates?

If you change your travel dates after getting the Thailand Pass, then you need to apply for a new Thailand Pass if it’s 7 days before or after your original travel dates.

Please note that you may need to upload a new hotel confirmation document too.  

Do I Need to Get a Thailand Pass for My Kids?

Yes, you need to also apply for the Thailand Pass for your kids as well. 

If your children are under 12 years old, you can add their details together with your personal information during the application.

If your kids are older than 12 years old, you need to apply for the Thailand Pass for them individually. 

Do My Kids Need to Be Vaccinated?

Your kids need to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before traveling to Thailand for the test and go scheme.

Do I Still Need a COE?

The Certificate of Entry was completely replaced by the Thailand Pass on November 7, 2021 for everyone who wants to come to Thailand by air.  

So you don’t need it anymore unless you are coming to Thailand by sea or land. 

However, Thailand is also planning to completely cancel the Certificate of Entry. We should hear some updates soon.

What Happens If I Test Positive for COVID-19 in Thailand?

This can be generally separated into two cases. 

If you test positive for COVID-19 during the mandatory COVID-19 test, you will be sent directly by your hotel or alternative state quarantine to a nearby hospital.

In case you get COVID-19 while traveling in Thailand, you should contact your insurance provider and hotel for an arrangement to go to a hospital. 

Depending on the situation at that time, you may or may not be able to choose the hospital yourself. 

Advertisement

When Will Thailand Cancel Thailand Pass?

It’s expected that Thailand will fully cancel Thailand Pass in June or July this year.

Now, on to You

We hope that this article should answer everything you need to know when it comes to getting the Thailand Pass.

If you have any questions or want to share your experience, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below. 

Avatar photo
Saran Lhawpongwad is a Bangkokian by birth. He loves to share what he learns based on his insights living and running business in Thailand. While not at his desk, he likes to be outdoors exploring the world with his family. You can connect with him on his LinkedIn.

20 thoughts on “What is Thailand Pass and How to Get It Yourself?”

  1. Does fully vaccinated people still need to be tested? When getting to Thailand, and if not do you still need the test and go hotel? Thank you

    Reply
    • You don’t need to have a test before coming to Thailand unless your airline/airport ask for it. And seems like you won’t need to test in Thailand as well starting in May.

      Reply
  2. I hear that 6/1/2022 Thailand will go back to the way it was before covid. Is this true, and can I count on it, and plan accordingly? Thank for any info.

    Reply
    • It’s on the news. But nothing is set in stone yet. We should hear more about it within a few weeks.

      Reply
  3. “Do I Need to Get a Thailand Pass?

    If you come to Thailand by air, you need to get the Thailand Pass no matter what visa you have. The only exception is if you already have a Certificate of Entry.”

    This is a quote from.your article. My Thai wife and I entered Thailand on a COE on Nov 3 2021 and returned to Canada in March 2022. On return to Thailand in October do we need the TP or is our COE still valid?

    Reply
    • Your COE should no longer valid, and you need to get a Thailand Pass. However, it’s also possible that Thailand will already cancel it at that time.

      Reply
    • Thanks a lot for letting us know Kevin! It’s really a challenge to keep this article updated all the times since regulations are changing very frequently.

      Reply
    • As long as it’s the RT-PCR test in either Thai or English, and comes from a legit health service provider, it should be fine.

      Reply
  4. I’ll be flying from Thailand to Cambodia and then back again. Can I apply for the pass before leaving Thailand? I wanted to only go Cambodia for about 3-4 days.

    Reply
  5. I am fully vaccinated. I can use the Sandbox programme. I have used a SHA+ hotel in Bangkok before (Nov 16th 2921) for 1 night stay. and the free to travel. I can do this again. Your article tells me that after first night and negative test i can travel within BKK until the 8th day then I am free to travel throughout Thailand. Later in the article it tells me for the Thai Pass i need confirmation of paid SHA+ hotel for 7 nights. I am married to a Thai. Am I able to switch from the SHA+ hotel to another hotel in the BKK region after receipt of a negative test and am I able to be with my wife in either hotel after the negative test?

    Reply
    • Right now the Test and Go option is not available anymore unless you already have it approved. You can only come to Thailand with ASQ option or the Phuket Sandbox program.

      Reply
  6. I usually fly into BKK and then bus it to Jomtiem, do I need my ‘test and go’ in BKK or Jomtiem?

    Reply
    • You can book a Sha+ hotel in Pattaya directly. They will arrange an airport pickup and do the COVID test at the hotel. If your result is negative, then you are free to go.

      Reply
  7. I have rid of many additional problems people are experiencing with the Thailand pass. For example, users of yahoo email service sometimes don’t get the confirmation email. Apparently the system will not except multiple page documents so your Health insurance proof and hotel confirmation must be a one page document, and not all providers issued one page documents. Documents must be uploaded only in the JPEG format, not in the format you may have received them in. I think your article would better serve readers if it include references to the various sorts of problems they might encounter, such as these.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.