There are an increasing number of carriers restarting their routes to Thailand, although with the number of confirmed cases rising daily, it is worth consulting with the airlines closer to your date of travel. At the time of writing, the following airlines are confirmed as flying to Thailand, although most are not offering daily flights or just a single flight a day. However, seats are plentiful, but social distancing is in place, restricting the number of available seats.

  • Emirates
  • Etihad
  • Qatar
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • KLM
  • Swissair
  • Austrian Airlines
  • EVA Air

Can I just book a flight to Thailand?

There are significant restrictions currently in place regarding travel to Thailand, although the rules have been slightly relaxed for Phuket from 1 July. In all other parts of the country, anyone entering from overseas will be required to quarantine for a minimum of 14-nights in Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) in Bangkok or at Alternative Local Quarantine (ALQ) in Pattaya. The Visa on Entry is now valid for 45 days rather than 30. However, a Certificate of Entry is required regardless of visa and nationality (includes Thais).

How do I get a Certificate of Entry (CoE)?

You will need to apply via the Thai Government website, which will then ask which embassy will issue the CoE. You will need to supply copies of your passport, visa (where relevant), ASQ or ALQ booking, health insurance, and flight confirmation. A maximum of 72 hours before your FIRST flight is scheduled to depart; you will also need to take a COVID-19 RT-PCR, which returns a “negative” or “undetected” result. Some airlines also require you to produce a Fit to Fly Certificate, although this is no longer a requirement for entry to Thailand.

COVID-19 Tests in ASQ or ALQ

You will be required to take three COVID-19 RT-PCR tests while you are in quarantine, the first of which will be the day after you arrive and will be done by a nurse from the affiliated hospital. The second will be taken on days six or seven, with the final one a couple of days before you are scheduled to leave. If you record a positive result, you will immediately be transferred to the affiliated hospital regardless of if you are asymptomatic. When you depart the ASQ or ALQ, you will be issued with a certificate stating you have completed quarantine.

What happens when you leave the ASQ or ALQ?

On the day of your departure, you will receive your certificate stating you have completed quarantine, and you must supply the full address of where you will be staying next. At the time of writing, Chonburi is in “Lockdown”, so movements around Thailand are restricted. Almost all non-essential businesses have been forced to close, and swimming pools, gyms and other communal recreational facilities are unavailable at condos and secure villages. Most juristic offices are also closed or working from home, with buildings being run with skeleton staff.