If you are thinking of traveling to Phuket in the next few weeks, new restrictions for entry onto Phuket have just been announced by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew.
Much stricter restrictions that may impact your ability to access the Thai island.
The new entry requirements take effect on the 15th of July, so you have three more days to travel to Phuket if you may not be able to enter afterward.
The restrictions will then remain in place until July 31st, when they will be reviewed by authorities.
These new requirements for entry into Phuket do not apply to all of Thailand (at the moment, at least), but only to people in areas that are in the so-called ‘red zone’ when it comes to Covid-19.
What are the requirements for entry into Phuket in July, 2021 and who do they apply to?
The latest requirements that could, of course, change quickly as Phuket authorities issue new rulings all the time are the following.
They also apply to anyone coming from what the Phuket Governor is calling ‘maximum and strict control areas’ — ie: specific areas in 24 of the 76 Thai provinces.
Those areas are:
Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Suphan Buri, Saraburi, Chainat, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Udon Thani, Prachinburi, Sing Buri, Lop Buri, Samut Songkram, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chon Buri, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima, Tak, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi and Ranong.
For these people, the requirements are:
- Anyone currently in Thailand and wanting entry into Phuket must have received both injections of a Covid-19 vaccine, or have received one dose of AstraZeneca at least 14 days before arrival.
- If they have not been vaccinated, they must have documentation proving they were already infected with Covid-19, and have since recovered from it. Their initial infection must not be more than 90 days before arrival.
- They must also have evidence of a negative RT-PCR or Antigen test no more than 7 days before arriving in Phuket.
- None of the above three requirements apply to children under 6 years of age, as long as they are traveling with parents.
- Should you be a student studying in Phuket, and have not been vaccinated against Covid-19, you will be allowed to travel into and out of Phuket as long as you have a Covid-19 negative test result by RT-PCR and ID from the school you are attending.
- All arrivals on Phuket must download the Mor Chana app and have the location sharing function live throughout their entire stay on the island.
- All required documentation must be presented to officers at the island’s checkpoints. Should you not have the required documentation, you will be refused admittance to the Thai island.
For anyone entering Phuket from other areas of Thailand not currently classified as a ‘maximum or strict control area’ (ie: an ‘orange’ or ‘yellow’ area), they can still enter under the requirements that have been in place for several weeks.
For the moment, at least.
As Phuket authorities are currently only asking for a negative Covid test taken within the last 7 days, many on social media are now asking how is that safer than not being required to provide a test result at all?
Particularly as most countries requiring negative Covid tests for travel do not allow test results from anyone if they were administered longer than 48-72 hours before arrival.
Meanwhile, the troubled Phuket Sandbox looks increasingly likely to be shut down in coming days, while many would-be tourists are now saying they will travel elsewhere rather than take the chance of being quarantined when they arrive in Phuket, rather than being able to enjoy their vacation.