The latest Thailand entry policy: Koh Samui will reopen on July 15, 2021-Immigration Guide

Thailand’s Koh Samui is about to open up. The previous Phuket Shahe project has received good feedback, so the Koh Samui project will be launched in the near future. In fact, this time it is not only Koh Samui that will be opened; There are other islands that are also open.

Thailand has seen the popularity of the Phuket sandbox project and launched the "Samui+" sandbox project! Starting from July 15, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan will soon open their doors to welcome tourists from around the world! However, the entry thresholds for the two islands are slightly different. They are summarized as follows. If you are fascinated by the islands, you may wish to preview them: Preparation before travel

1. Stay in a country with medium or low infection risk for at least 21 days;

2. You must complete vaccinations approved by the WHO/Thailand Ministry of Health (including Sinopharm and Sinovac), and enter the country with proof of vaccination that has been completed for 14 days (English document); minors under 18 years old must complete the vaccinations The guardian of the vaccine enters the country;

3. Must hold a negative nucleic acid test certificate (English document) not older than 72 hours

4. Must select the insurance that covers the new coronavirus, and the insured amount More than US$100,000;

5.14 nights at ALQ Hotel (officially designated local quarantine hotel) or SHA+ hotel reservation

Flight: You can take a direct international flight to Koh Samui (However, there are no domestic departures); or the designated Bangkok transit route (Bangkok Airways);

The process after arriving in Koh Samui: accept the nucleic acid test and install the tracking and warning application on your mobile phone; complete the entry process After that, you need to take the designated transportation to the ALQ Hotel and wait for the nucleic acid test results at the hotel (the results will be available on the first day after arrival);

Where can you go? If the test result is negative, wait for the nucleic acid test results before arriving. You can play in the hotel for 3 days; you can play designated routes in Koh Samui on days 4-7; you can island-hopping between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao on days 8-14; you can go on the 15th day Anywhere else in Thailand.

Transportation mode: You can only take designated transportation and designated boats within the first 14 days after arrival. You cannot rent a private car and drive yourself; you can take public transportation from the 15th day onwards.

Hotel accommodation: You can only stay at the ALQ Hotel on Samui Island for the first 7 days, and you can stay at the SHA+ Hotel on the three islands for the next 7 days.

PCR test: In addition to one test after arrival In addition, if you stay in Koh Samui for less than 5 days, no additional testing is required. If you stay in Koh Samui for more than 5 days, you will be tested on days 6/7 and 12/13;

Phuket is only open for 7 days. The first overseas imported case (from the United Arab Emirates) was discovered. Although only one of the 2,113 tourists looked inconspicuous, who knows how many people he came into contact with? Fortunately, every tourist has been vaccinated, and the impact should not be Very serious? But it can be seen from this that Thailand is very ambitious, and both ordinary and high-end tourists want to grab it.

In any case, Xiaole currently does not recommend that everyone go to Koh Samui (after all, returning to China is very troublesome). Koh Samui will reopen on July 15th

From July 15th, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan will begin to implement the "Samui Plus model" and reopen to vaccinated tourists. Opening of Surat Thani tourist destination. "SamuiPlus

Mode" will be a local adaptation of the Phuket sandbox as a safe way to travel around Thailand for those who have been vaccinated at this time. Currently, more than 70% of the island's residents have been vaccinated.

Vaccinated foreign tourists will undergo screening similar to the requirements of Phuket’s sandbox model. Foreign arrivals will be required to stay in Koh Samui for the first 7 days, only in hotels or resorts for the first 3 days, and from days 4 to 7 they can travel on "closed routes" , visit popular attractions, starting from the 2nd week of the holiday, they will be free to travel to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

Of course, all of the above is subject to them testing negative for Covid-19. They will need to take 3 PCR tests, the first on day 1, the second on days 6-7 and the last on days 12-13. The cost of each test is borne by the traveler. Overseas arrivals will need to transfer through Bangkok and then catch flights to the three Gulf islands.

Ratchaporn Phoonsawas of the Samui Tourism Promotion Association

said the islands are also ready to welcome Thai tourists.

He said: "We will ensure that vaccinated Thai nationals can travel to Koh Samui normally after presenting their vaccination certificates. The scheduled reopening schedule is also the best season for travel to the Gulf of Thailand, so we must ensure that everything can go as planned "

Thailand Tourism Authority Director Yuthasak Supasorn said that 1,000 foreign tourists are expected to arrive in the "Samui

Plus" mode within the first 30 days of the reopening plan, Generate revenue of at least 100 million baht. Tourism officials expect the number of tourists to be less than those arriving in Phuket due to more restrictions under the "SamuiPlus" mode. Entry Policy

Preparing for Travel

Q: What do foreign tourists planning to visit through the Koh Samui Plus program need to know/do before traveling?

Answer: They should ensure that they have covered all necessary requirements and have all required documentation.

This includes:

A passport valid for at least 6 months;

21 days in a country approved by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) days or longer;

Have been vaccinated with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) or the World Health Organization (WHO);

Have booked and purchased a return ticket;

Have booked and paid for accommodation and requested an RT-PCR test at an ALQ or SHAPlus hotel;

Have purchased medical insurance coverage for COVID-19 treatment of at least $100,000;

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A negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours before travel.

Q: Do the required documents need to be in English?

A: Yes, all documents must be in English. If the paperwork is incomplete, the visitor will be placed in ALQ for 14 days or until they can leave Thailand, and the visitor must pay these fees.

Q: Which countries can I travel to Thailand from?

A: You can see the list here.

Q: If I am a Thai national or a foreign resident of Thailand returning from overseas, do I need to stay in a CCSA-approved country for 21 days or more?

A: No, it's not necessary.

Q: What flights can I take to Koh Samui?

A: You can only fly to Koh Samui on direct international flights, or only with approved airlines Transfer via Bangkok. Transfers on unapproved airlines are not allowed.

Please check www.bangkokair.com for flight schedule.

Q: If I travel with a child under 18 years old, does he/she need to be fully vaccinated?

A: Children under 18 years old are traveling with vaccinated parents Traveling with a caregiver or a guardian does not require vaccination but must test negative for COVID-19

within 72 hours before travel.

Apply for the Koh Samui Plus Plan

Q: How do I apply for the plan?

A: After meeting all the above conditions, you can go/view.

SHAPlus properties can be viewed here.

Q: Can my friends/family who are already in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao join me at the hotel?

A: It depends on where Surat Thani is Health and safety measures prescribed for Thais and Thai expats.

Q: Can I stay at ALQ Hotel in Koh Samui for the first 7 nights and then move to another hotel in another province? For example, the next 7 nights are in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai or Chonburi?

A: No, this is not allowed. You must stay in Koh Samui (plus Koh Phangan or Koh Tao) for 14 nights before traveling to another destination in Thailand.

Q: Can I stay at the ALQ Hotel in Koh Samui for the first 7 nights and then move to another hotel on another nearby island, such as Koh Phangan or Koh Tao, for the next 7 nights?

A: Yes, provided you move to SHAPlus Hotel.

Q: Can I stay at the ALQ Hotel in Koh Samui for less than 7 nights? For example, only stay for 5 nights and then leave Samui for another country?

A: Yes , but you are not allowed to travel with a group of people from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao unless they are the same group you came to Thailand with.

Q: Does this mean that, similarly, after staying 5 nights in Koh Samui, I can travel to other Thailand destinations?

A: No, you can't. You must leave Thailand immediately.

If you want to visit other Thailand destinations, you will need to complete a 14-night stay in Koh Samui first. This can be 7 nights at the ALQ Hotel in Koh Samui and 7 nights at the SHA

Plus Hotel in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao.

Q: How many more tests do I have to take during my stay?

A: If your stay is less than 7 days, you must take another test on days 6-7 Conduct a test.

If your stay is between 10 and 14 days, you must take further tests on days 6-7 and 12-13.

If your stay is less than 5 days, you do not need to take an additional test, but you must leave Thailand immediately.

Q: Where can I get an RT-PCR test in Koh Samui?

A: At an approved hospital. You must prepay for the required RT-PCR test when booking your stay at an ALQ or SHAPlus hotel.

Q: Do exams have to be prepaid?

A: All required tests must be booked and prepaid through your hotel; the number of tests depends on the length of your stay.

Q: What should I do if I feel sick, or suspect I may have COVID-19?

A: Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 must get tested immediately. If the person is traveling in a group, everyone in the group must be tested.

Q: What if I test positive?

A: If a traveler tests positive for COVID-19 in Thailand, he/she will be responsible for medical expenses, which should be covered by Required insurance coverage.

Leaving Koh Samui

Q: I plan to visit one or more other destinations in Thailand after my visit to Koh Samui. Will I face admission requirements at these other places?

A: Yes, of course. Each destination in Thailand has entry requirements and you should check these beforehand to ensure you meet them.

Q: What are the entry requirements for the countries I will fly to after my stay in Thailand?

A: You will need to make sure you meet the requirements for your specific international destination. Thailand is not responsible or able to assist in this matter.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand stated that as Koh Samui and Phuket reopen to tourists from all over the world, we hope everyone can have a pleasant, safe and meaningful holiday. We trust that you will join us in hoping that the continued and safe revitalization of tourism across Thailand can be achieved as planned.