Thailand to reintroduce Covid-19 vaccine requirement for all visitors

Anyone wishing to gain entry into Thailand will soon be required to show proof of receiving at least two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine prior to their arrival. The measure will apply to all arrivals in the kingdom regardless of nationality.

The Ministry of Public Health is planning to reintroduce the old entry requirement amid concerns that Chinese tourists will import a caseload of Covid into Thailand when China – where the virus is rampant – reopens its border on Sunday, January 8.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was not clear about when the measure would come into effect. It is expected to start sometime before January 12 when the first flight from China to Thailand is scheduled to arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, but this is yet to be confirmed.

The vaccine requirement and other measures the ministry plans to implement on arrivals will first need to be approved by the Cabinet.

Although the reintroduction of the vaccine requirement is a direct result of China’s reopening, Anutin said it will apply to arrivals from all countries to ensure everyone is “treated equally.”

As well as proof of vaccination, all visitors will be required to take out health insurance that covers Covid prior to their departure.

When in Thailand, tourists should wear face masks on public transport and in public places. If they develop Covid symptoms, they should take an ATK test, advised the ministry.

The ministry asks travellers to postpone their trip to Thailand if they begin to develop symptoms.

Thailand will not test travellers for Covid on arrival, citing that China requires anyone flying out of the country to obtain a negative RT-PCR test before departure.

Meanwhile, the ministry is advising the people of Thailand to receive at least four doses of the vaccine to mitigate the risk when Chinese tourists flood back into the kingdom.

The vaccine requirement was previously dropped on July 1 when Thailand scrapped the Thailand Pass.