What is the latest quarantine advice from the LA embassy for travelers to Thailand?

@Michael *******

friend of mine did this. But earlier. Have they relaxed these requirements?

1) Apply for a visa

2) Apply for pre-approval for the Certificate of Entry (COE).

3) Meantime check flights and hotels - but don’t book because the visa or COE may not be approved, or in time.

4) Secure $100,000 of Covid-specific insurance. If you already have worldwide health insurance it doesn’t count unless it specifically states at least $100,000 just for Covid. Most policies are available online.

5) Make sure you have valid vaccine proof over 2 weeks old

6) Wait for pre-approval. Usually something is missing, so fix and resubmit

7) Meantime, start to worry about flights. Only 4-5 airlines are approved and fly direct to Phuket. You can’t transit via BKK. I had booked Turkish Airlines (part of Star Alliance) but they cancelled the Phuket flight 3 days before departure. I had to scramble to find another flight within 72 hours (the COE gives you 72 hours “cancel” time otherwise you have to resubmit!) I managed to find a good route on Etihad, but with long layovers.

8 ) After I submitted the pre-approval the official rules were published in the Royal Gazette - now you had to prove pre-payment for a 14 night stay, plus (surprise) pre-payment for 3 Covid tests in Phuket (flat rate of 8,000 baht for 3) one on arrival, one on day 6, last one on day 12. Positive - you’re off to a hospital, even if no symptoms. No self-quarantine!

9) Once you’re pre-approved, confirm and pay for the flights, hotel(s) and Covid tests. The hotel(s) send back an SHA+ approved booking confirmation form.

10) Get an RT PCR test within 72 hours of your first flight. I got one to match the Turkish Airlines flight. But had to get another because of their cancellation and rebooking with Etihad. Because of holidays (and hurricane Elsa reaching Florida) the testing labs shut down for 36 hours. So I had to buy an emergency 24 hour guaranteed test that cost $399!

11) I also had to book, cancel and rebook a “positioning” flight from my home in Jacksonville to Chicago, where the Etihad flight left from. Because of my baggage allowance with United (up to 3 @ 70lbs each) and other factors, I used them to go to Chicago. I had a long layover so I booked a “day-use” Marriott hotel (had to use cash - only $75 - but they upgraded me to a suite. I hung out there for 6 hours - showered and changed underwear and shirt - then back to O’Hare to check in with Etihad.

12) You must make copies of all documents. I made 2 of everything and bought plastic folders for each set and put everything in order. Plus extra copies of ones I thought they may keep - which they did!) Of course the print-heads on my multi-function printer crapped out (a technical term for not working 😊) so I made 4 runs to the local FedEx office to print and copy all the docs. Then 3 more after the flight change. Oh - that reminds me - meantime I had booked and paid for the hotels. So I had to change the bookings - which meant multiple calls to the hotels and new confirmations and another trip to my friends (now on “Hello Mr. ++++ - nice to see you again” terms!) at FedEx!

13) Not sure what number I’m on now - finally, the COE approval came 24 hours before departure. One final visit to FedEx to make multiple copies of the COE.

Next number - the journey itself went fine - just very long. 40 hours door-to-door!

14)Last number - in Abu Dhabi the Etihad people were really worried about my COE “72 hour” extension. They said if the paperwork wasn’t exact what the Thai officials want they get a big fine - and I can’t stay in Phuket. They took copies (Ha! That’s where the extra copies went!) and sent to Phuket for approval. Within 2 hours they got the approval.

The arrival process in Phuket is quite something, but very orderly. The flight to Abu Dhabi was 90% full. Because of my status I was greeted by a personal assistant in the pre-immigration Covid registration area. She helped me load the Morchana tracking app on my phone - yup, you’re tracked for the 14 days (you also have to refresh the app every day and take a new selfie, plus have your temp checked). After that she escorted me thru immigration and made sure the official stamped my passport correctly (full year visa) and the escorted me to my waiting mini-van to the Four Points Sheraton. I was the only arrival with a personal assistant, so I think I got through to the van in record time - even with a stop to load a DTAC SIM into my phone (my US number uses the e-SIM on my phone, so both my US and Thai numbers are active- here I make the Thai number the primary).

There’s quite a bit more involved but I think I covered the main points.

@Michael *******

I agree, everything can be done in an afternoon with a laptop and ample supply of coffee.

@Mark **********

not 3 days......free to go out after results of first test ,which is a maximum of 24 hours, most people get results in around 12 hours........