How to enter Thailand with the Samui Plus Sandbox, no quarantine needed?

Starting October 1, 2021, visitors who are fully vaccinated under the “Sandbox” program in Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao are invited to stay in the destination for seven days, then can continue their journey to other parts of Thailand.

*** If tourists stay less than 7 nights in the Samui+ program, they must leave Thailand via Samui airport only. If they depart via Phuket airport, they can only do so after staying in Samui+ for at least 7 nights.

Conditions

• being fully vaccinated for more than 14 days
• having Covid insurance of more than $100,000 for the entire stay
• having a CoE
• may have a transit before landing in Koh Samui, but all flights must be purchased at the same time (e.g., Paris – Bangkok – Koh Samui on the same ticket)
• staying in one or 3 SHA+ hotels for the first 7 nights

DAY 0-1

• Tourists download the Samui Health Pass and Mor Chana apps upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
• Take the first RT-PCR test at Samui airport or at a location determined by the Ko Samui command center.
• Upon arrival at Samui airport, tourists stay in SHA+ accommodations in Ko Samui only.
• Tourists can only take transportation from the airport to their accommodation with approved companies that have received the Samui+ symbol.
• Tourists must stay in their hotel room while waiting for the first RT-PCR test result.

DAY 1-7

• If the first RT-PCR test result is negative, they can travel around Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, and Ko Tao.
• Tourists must travel between islands from the following piers only:
  • Ko Samui: Lom Phraya Na Phra Lan, Buri Rasa (hotel guests only) and Phu Yai Non
  • Ko Phangan: Thong Sala
  • Ko Tao: Ban Mae Hat (Sala Vibhavadi)
  • Boats to Mu Ko Ang Thong: Na Thon municipal pier
• Stay only in SHA+ accommodations.
• Activate the apps Samui Health Pass and Mor Chana while staying in Samui+.
• On days 6-7, take the second RT-PCR test at swab sites at Central Festival Ko Samui, Ko Phangan Hospital, Ko Tao Hospital, or a location determined by the Samui+ command center (the day-6 test is recommended for Ko Phangan or Ko Tao).
• Day 7: If the second test result is negative, a discharge form will be issued, and tourists can freely travel in Thailand on day 8.
• Tourists can change SHA+ accommodations on the 3 islands no more than 3 times. Accommodation and RT-PCR fees must be paid in full before entering Thailand. It is recommended that tourists check inter-island boat schedules before booking accommodation (tourists can book and pay for RT-PCR tests with Ko Samui SHA+ accommodations).
• All rules, regulations, and conditions are in accordance with those determined by Surat Thani province.
• Information about Samui+ and the list of Samui+ accommodations can be obtained from www.visitsamui.org , and www.tatnews.org.

Which visa(s) to choose

• either a 30-day visa exemption. You can then apply for a 30-day visa extension, and/or a COVID extension of 60 days (if COVID is still present)
• or a 60-day e-visa to apply for at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/tourist-visa You can then apply for a 30-day visa extension, and/or a COVID extension of 60 days (if COVID is still present)

CoE: Certificate of Entry

However, even with a visa exemption, you need to apply for what is called a “Certificate of Entry” on the official website https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/

If you plan to come with a visa exemption, here is the process for the corresponding CoE:

1. You provide the required documents for pre-approval, namely: proof of international insurance covering COVID (minimum 100,000 USD), a scan of your passport, and your vaccination passport
2. As soon as you are pre-approved by the embassy (one business day at the moment), you book your flights and hotels for the entirety of your stay in Koh Samui / Koh Phangan / Koh Tao
3. You upload these new documents to the platform to complete your application. These documents must be uploaded within 15 days of pre-approval.
4. Your Certificate of Entry is issued (one business day at the moment)

Currently (September 2021), the processing time observed is 7-9 business days. There are many applications, so they are processed by arrival date in Thailand (the most urgent applications first). Feel free to call the embassy if you haven’t received a response. Attention! CoE emails can end up in spam so check every day. At worst, check the status of your application directly on the website to not miss anything!

What documents to prepare?

• Pre-approval:
  • Scan of your passport info page
  • Certificate of international insurance covering COVID for a minimum of 100,000 USD
  • Vaccination passport (to obtain directly from the ameli.fr website)
• The remaining documents:
  • Round-trip flight tickets
  • SHABA Confirmation Letter from the hotel(s)

How to obtain the documents?

Here are the required documents and where to get them:

• Scan of your passport info page: we had it scanned in color and saved as a PDF. If you don’t have a scan, go to any photocopy shop, they’ll know how to do it for you. If you’re in the middle of nowhere, you can simply take a photo. Make sure all the information is clear and legible. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport. If you have 10 first names, enter all 10 first names.

• Certificate of international insurance covering COVID for a minimum of 100,000 USD : We simply went through our current international insurance Yupwego. You can get this insurance certificate directly from their website. You need to purchase insurance for the duration of your stay (minimum 30 days). Personally, since we plan to stay longer, we paid for insurance for 4 and a half months (knowing that unused days will be refunded). The certificate looks roughly like this. I’ll just show you an excerpt, don’t try to falsify documents or prison awaits you. Thais don’t mess around at all. You can also go through Chapka who is used to handling this type of request.

Insurance will cost you around 50€/person/month.

• vaccination certificate: to download from ameli.fr You need a vaccination certificate for a vaccine approved by the WHO or the Thai Ministry of Health. The last dose must be dated at least 14 days before you travel (counting from the day after the second dose until your departure date). Both vaccine doses are mandatory even if you’ve already had COVID-19 before, unless you received Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). The two doses must be of the same vaccine. The vaccine certificate is not required for travelers under 18 if they are traveling with vaccinated parents.

• Round-trip flight tickets:
  • You need to be able to show an exit ticket on the last day of your visa (as required)
  • You can choose a destination other than France for the exit ticket, but it should be somewhat plausible. Dubai, Doha, or Istanbul, for example, could be a credible exit ticket

Round-trip flights cost 500€/person

• Booking 7 nights in Koh Samui / Koh Phangan / Koh Tao at a SHA+ hotel
  • The first night must be in Koh Samui
  • The remaining nights can be split between Koh Samui / Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
  • Note that even if you’re vaccinated, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao may require antigen test or PCR test results from within the last 72 hours
  • During the first 7 nights on the island, tourists must undergo 2 RT-PCR tests (at their own expense), in addition to tracing measures and the mandatory use of phone tracking apps. Those without smartphones will be given a tracking bracelet.
  • You can also check prices and book via Agoda. Only book hotels with the SHA+ logo.
  • After booking, the hotel will provide you with a confirmation issued by SHABA (it’s their responsibility to enter your information into the SHABA system)
  • How many days to book? 7 nights Plus: 2 PCR tests (paid at the hotel): around 2500 baht per PCR test via a website with online payment (the hotel will send you the

How to apply for the CoE?

Go to https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/

Select Non-thai nationals

Watch the video and read the explanations carefully

Choose category 11 (Exempt) (if you’re coming under the exemption), 11 (TR) if you’re coming with a tourist visa

Entering Sandbox Programm / Samui Plus Sandbox

Upload the following files:

• Scan of your passport info page
• Certificate of international insurance covering COVID for a minimum of 100,000 USD
• Vaccination passport (to obtain directly from the ameli.fr website)

Once pre-approved, upload the rest:

• Round-trip flight tickets
• SHABA Confirmation Letter from the hotel in Koh Samui / Koh Phangan / Koh Tao

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