I hope someone can help. I’m from the US and would like to travel to Phuket for at least 2 weeks, potentially much longer. I’ve been in Europe for the past week, and I plan to fly into Phuket from Italy.
Is it possible for me to fly into Phuket from Italy, or would I need to fly into Phuket from the US since I’m a US citizen? Also, would I need only a COE, or also a tourist visa in addition to the COE? I only ask because I’d need to send my passport to the embassy to obtain a visa, and I’m reluctant to do that while I’m not in the US. I'm 35, so I don't qualify for any retirement visas.
(Edit to add: Thank you to everyone for mentioning that I'll need to be in Italy for 3 weeks before flying into Phuket, I appreciate the heads up!) Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m open to other suggestions as well. Thank you!
TLDR : Answer Summary
A US citizen can travel to Phuket from Italy without needing a visa for a stay of up to 45 days, which can be extended for an additional 30 days. However, a Certificate of Entry (COE) is required, which can be obtained from the Thai embassy in Italy. It's important to note that you need to stay in Italy for at least 21 days before traveling to Phuket under the sandbox program. Vaccination and negative Covid-19 test results are also mandatory.
