Thailand informs airlines about removal of Covid-19 vaccine rule

Unvaccinated travellers heading to Thailand can now feel at ease knowing airlines around the world have been informed that Thailand no longer requires arrivals to prove they are vaccinated against Covid-19.

Thailand momentarily reintroduced the two-dose Covid vaccine entry requirement with barely any notice as a measure to mitigate the risk of importing a caseload of coronavirus from China, which opened its border yesterday after a long three years.

Instead of implementing the measure against arrivals from China only, where the virus is raging, Thailand said all arrivals (except Thai nationals) would need to prove they have been fully vaccinated to avoid “discrimination.”

The sudden change in entry restrictions prompted travellers around the world to cancel their trips to Thailand. Sadly for them, it was premature.

After an onslaught of international backlash, Thailand did a complete U-turn and cancelled the measure yesterday with immediate effect.

After welcoming Chinese tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday morning, Anutin told reporters that Thailand would immediately cancel the vaccine requirement, citing…

“Most people in Thailand, and all countries of the world, are vaccinated against Covid-19. Having to prove it with documentation is inconvenient and unnecessary.”

However, problems started arising at check-in desks around the world when Thailand had “cancelled” the requirement but airlines hadn’t yet been informed.

Airline staff are obligated to follow the latest Notice to Airmen (NOTEM) so they were only doing what they were told when they denied boarding to passengers who could not produce the right vaccine documentation yesterday.

Today, January 10, the CAAT sent an updated NOTEM to airlines around the world, stating…

“VACCINATION IS NO LONGER REQUIRED.”

Health insurance that covers at least US$10,000 for Covid-19 treatment is still required for passengers from countries that require an RT-PCR test before they return. The measure is effective from now until January 31, 2023.