Thailand Pass Registration System Updated Amidst Monkeypox Concerns
In light of a recent monkeypox case, the Division of International Disease Control and Quarantine and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) have introduced mandatory health screenings for tourists and amendments to the Thailand Pass Registration System.
Introduction of a New Monkeypox Variant in Thailand
The Ministry of Public Health has detected a highly deadly monkeypox variant after screening a 66-year-old European national who arrived in Thailand from a Middle Eastern country on August 14th, 2024. The traveler was diagnosed with a case of Clade 1b Monkeypox, a harmful version of the virus that has so far been fatal to anyone infected with it.
Clade 1b Monkeypox spreads through close contact with infected individuals and animals. The Department of Disease Control advises travelers, especially those on the same flight as the infected passenger, to continue checking their symptoms upon reaching Thailand. Common signs of the monkeypox variant include rashes, fever, headaches, or muscle aches.
To contain this strain before it spreads, the Ministry has launched health screenings and protocols for tourists entering Thailand from 45 countries currently affected by a yellow fever epidemic. This is because nations with high monkeypox infection rates tend to overlap with countries experiencing a yellow fever outbreak.
Amending the Thailand Pass Registration System in 2024
The Thailand Pass Registration System was established back in 2021 as a replacement for the Certificate of Entry (CoE) system. It was implemented to gather medical and travel information from tourists and Thai nationals before they cross the border. It saw widespread use in the past at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, where travelers had to provide proof of COVID-19 travel insurance and relevant test results.
In response to the recent news about the new monkeypox strain, the system has been updated to screen for the aforementioned virus. As proposed by the Department of Disease Control, travelers arriving in Thailand from the following 45 countries are required to register with this system:
- Central Africa: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Togo
- Central America: Panama
- East Africa: Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda
- North Africa: Mauritania, Sudan
- South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
- West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal
Several upgrades have been made to these procedures to ensure convenience for passengers arriving from any of the 45 countries. While in the past there have been measures implemented to speed up the screening process, new disease control procedures, Thailand travel restrictions, and quarantine checkpoints have been added, namely at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
Requirements to Apply for a Thailand Pass
By registering through the Thailand Pass system, travelers will receive an entry pass and QR code, which must be presented to a border official for entry into Thailand. They need to provide the following documentation:
- A valid passport
- A valid Thai Visa (if applicable)
- Vaccination Certificate (only applicable if the user has gotten vaccinated)
Under some circumstances, travelers may need to provide proof of health insurance. While going through the electronic form, they will need to provide details such as their identity, address in Thailand, travel history, and medical information, including any symptoms they may have noticed.
Contact Siam Legal
If you want to apply for a Thailand Pass, reach out to Siam Legal for assistance. With over 20 years of experience as a full-service law firm and visa consultancy, our Thai visa team is equipped to guide you through the Thailand Pass registration process smoothly and efficiently. Our staff will address any questions you have about the system and help you gather the appropriate documentation, so you can enter Thailand with peace of mind.
Contact Siam Legal today for comprehensive support in securing your entry to Thailand as promptly and seamlessly as possible.
Category: Travel to Thailand
