We were all very excited when the Thai government announced the opening of Phuket to international inbound travelers through the Phuket Sandbox program! They did not, however, make it easy for anyone to enter. Travelers must follow strict health protocols and submit a list of requirements in order to gain access to the beautiful island paradise.
Here’s the checklist of what you need to prepare before and when you’re in Phuket.
Phuket Sandbox entry requirements
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Pre-arrival
Inbound passengers must prepare and show the following documents to enter, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT):
- Certificate of vaccination or proof of full vaccination. The certificate must be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), or Thai health ministries and should be administered no less than 14 days and not more than 12 months before departure
- Negative RT-PCR test. This should be taken within 72 hrs before arriving in Phuket
- COVID-19 Insurance Policy of at least USD100,000. This is the latest requirement for foreign travelers entering the country to make sure that they can cover all costs in case they contract the virus while in Thailand
- SHABA Certificate with QR Code from SHA Plus Hotels. Travelers are required to book at SHA Plus Hotels, after which they must request a SHABA Certificate from that hotel to confirm their booking and payment. SHABA Certificate indicates the travelers’ hotel name, confirmation number, check-in and check-out dates, number of nights stay, guests names, and QR code
- Pre-paid RT-PCR tests. Depending on your length of stay in Phuket, travelers must purchase in advance RT-PCR tests for days 0, 6/7, 12/13 directly from their hotel. The hotel will handle the purchasing of the test kits; the traveler will pay directly to the hotel, and the hotel will issue a receipt
- Certificate of Entry (COE). This is given to Thai and foreign nationals who have been granted entry into the country. Obtaining the COE indicates that you have already met the necessary standards and have been granted entry into Thailand. Here is more information about how to obtain the COE
- Proof that travelers are eligible and came from the list of approved countries/territories. They must have spent the preceding 21 days in those said countries prior to their departure to Phuket (with the exception of Thai nationals and expatriates)
- Visa (if required). Travelers may be allowed to enter Thailand with a Visa Exemption, which is valid for 45 days and has been extended until September 30, 2021. If your nation is not on the list of visa-exempt countries, you may need to apply for a Special Tourist Visa (STV) and a Tourist Visa (TR) to enter the country
Arrival
When you arrive at Phuket International Airport and have all of the aforementioned requirements in hand, the next procedure should be simple. The following are the simple steps from stepping off the plane to arriving to headling to your SHA Plus hotel:
- Health screening. Airport staff will be there to welcome and guide you through the health screening procedure. Here, they will check your body temperature and your complete entry documents, and guide you through immigration until your first RT-PCR test
- Download monitoring app Mor Chana and ThailandPlus. The TAT will require you to download and activate the alert app as part of the safety protocols and should be kept activated while you roam around Phuket
- First RT-PCR test. Once you've exited immigration, you'll go to another booth to pick up your test kits, and then proceed to the testing area to complete your swab tests
- Proceed to your pre-booked hotel on approved airport transport service. Following the swab test, you will be transported to your hotel, where you will wait for your Covid test results, which should be available within the day. If results come out negative, you can leave your hotel room and freely roam around Phuket
- Whether you’re planning on staying for 7 or 14 days in Phuket, you will be required to purchase RT-PCR tests for the duration of your stay (additional test for day 6/7, and for day 12/13). The hotel will purchase these test kits for you and you can pay them directly. The swab testing will then be administered in nearby testing facilities. Children aged 6-18 will only be required to undergo a Rapid Antigen test
- If negative, you can roam around Phuket province
- In case you tested positive, you will be transferred to specified healthcare facilities for medical treatment
Safety protocols while in Phuket
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If you are concerned about the Covid situation in Phuket and how it will influence your stay, the government can assure all inbound travelers that all safety precautions, from testing to tracing to treatments, have been planned down to the smallest detail. Below are the safety precautions you must follow, as well as the facilities Phuket has provided in case of infection:
- While you are allowed to freely go around Phuket, everyone is strictly advised to follow minimum health protocol DMHTTA (Distancing, Mask wearing, Hand washing, Testing, and ThailandPlus)
- The tracing app is essential while in Thailand since it keeps both the government and you up to date on your present situation. The QR code will change color depending on whether you are safe (green) or in danger of coming into contact with a Covid positive person (yellow/red). In the event of contact, you will receive a text message recommending that you be tested by a response team as soon as possible
- In the event of a Covid-19 infection, the province of Phuket is well-prepared to receive and treat patients. The province has designated a number of hospitals and alternative quarantine facilities (ALQ) with at least 1,000 beds available to accept Covid-19 patients
Once you're eligible to enter Phuket and have all of your documents in order, including your round-trip ticket, certificate of vaccination, insurance, COE, SHA Plus Hotel & transportation confirmed booking, and the needed monitoring applications, all that’s left to do is to pack your bags and fly to Phuket.
The prerequisites may appear daunting, but it is well worth it to take that much-needed holiday to this gorgeous Thai province.
FAQs
Can I purchase the additional RT-PCR tests together with my hotel booking?
The RT-PCR test is a separate purchase which the hotel where you booked on Klook will facilitate for you. After you booked a SHA+ hotel on Klook, you will receive a hotel confirmation email with a suggestion to contact a hotel directly to get SHABA Certificate, and the hotel will also ask you to pay for the RT-PCR tests and issue a receipt
Will the Covid tests be at the hospital or at the hotel?
It will be administered at nearby testing facilities.
What happens if I tested positive for Covid-19 while in Phuket?
If you test positive for Covid-19, even if you are asymptomatic, you will be taken to the hospital for treatment. If you’re with a group, they will be transferred to alternative quarantine facilities (ALQ) and be tested as well. The cost will be covered by your insurance policy.
Will my booking get refunded in case I get transferred to ALQ?
Yes, your SHA Plus hotel booking will be refunded for every unused night.
Is Covid-19 insurance a requirement?
Yes, you will not be given a Certificate of Entry (COE) without it, and it should be at least USD100,000. There are several travel insurance companies that offer this policy
