When Will Thailand Reopen For Tourists?

When Will Thailand Reopen For Tourists?

Many Travelers Are Asking When Will Thailand Reopen For Tourists

For short term tourists, we simply don’t know when Thailand will reopen for tourists. The various tourist associations on Phuket do have a plan to privately vaccinate the tourist workers. The plan will hopefully enable vaccinated tourists to arrive on the island in October 2021. However this has yet to be approved by the government but we have our fingers firmly crossed.

*Update: Phuket has been chosen for what the government are calling the ‘Phuket Sandbox‘. From 0s1t July 2021, there will be NO quarantine for vaccinated visitors. Despite the current 3rd wave of Covid-19 that has erupted in Thailand, the plan is still set to go ahead.

It all relies on 70% of the Phuket population being vaccinated in time. Most of our staff have already had their second dose so it is happening. You must fly directly to Phuket but after seven days you will be able to leave Phuket to visit other places in Thailand.

Long Term tourists Can Come to Phuket Now!

If you like jumping through hoops and willing to pay for a government approved quarantine then you’re welcome now. Phuket has been incredibly lucky to avoid the pandemic (zero cases for a month) so it’s a great place to hide away for a while.

Currently from most countries you have two visa options:
STV (Special Tourist Visa) – stays of up to 60 days (can extend once for a further 30 days).
SETV (Single Entry Tourist Visa) – stays of up to 90 days (can extend twice for a total of 270 days)

There’s lots of hoops to jump through and it’s not a guarantee that your application will be successful but here’s what you’ll need.

For Both Types Of Visa You Will Need

1. A Fit to Fly health certificate. A signed statement from your Doctor that you have no covid-19 symptoms and in good health.

2. Proof of confirmed ASQ (Alternative State Quarantine) hotel booking.

3. An insurance policy that covers you for at least USD 100,000 medical expenses and of course covid-19. You’ll need to bring copies that show all coverage to the airport or you maybe refused boarding.

4. A negative RT-PCR COVID-19 laboratory result taken within 72hrs prior to departure.

5. Certificate of Entry

6. T.8 Form

7. Declaration form

8. Download “ThailandPlus” Application

SETV Application Documents:
Copy of passport
Home country bank statement with proof of enough funds to cover your trip
Hotel booking confirmation or invitation from friends or family in Thailand
Travel booking confirmation
Confirmation of legal residence in home country

STV Application Documents:
Copy of passport which must have at least 12 validity and three blank pages
Home country bank statement with proof of enough funds to cover your trip
Hotel booking confirmation or invitation from friends or family in Thailand
Travel booking confirmation
Confirmation of legal residence in home country
Health insurance covering at least THB 40,000 outpatient/THB 400,000 inpatient + USD 100,000 covid-19 related coverage for your entire stay.

Different countries will have different requirements so you must check with the Thai embassy in your own country, you can easily find that here. Requirements are constantly changing so the above information may already be out of date.

Why Bother Coming To Thailand?

There’s no doubt that the **15 day quarantine period is the biggest hurdle to jump but if you plan to stay for long enough then it’s worth it. Phuket has never been so beautiful as it right now. The stunning beaches are empty and the sea is crystal clear and warm, the usual tourist attractions are devoid of any crowds.

**Update: From 01st April quarantine will be reduced to 7 days for vaccinated tourists and 10 days for unvaccinated tourists

For divers it’s simply an opportunity that you’ll never get again. Dive boats have very few guests and usually only one boat on each dive site. The Similan and Surin Islands are simply stunning, the usually crowded beach on island no.8 is empty and on a recent trip over Xmas there were only two boats at Richelieu Rock!

So escape the weather and the pandemic and come and join us for a long visit to Phuket with the island at its beautiful best.

Contact Us Now

By Justin Hartrey

I've been enjoying the incredible marine life in our oceans for over 25 years. 13 years ago I became a PADI professional, hoping to introduce as many people as possible to the incredible beauty of the seas.

Having been fortunate enough to dive all over south east and especially Thailand, I enjoy sharing my experience and passion on this blog.

Posted in News & Updates on .

Popular Services

Thailand Liveaboard SY Diva Andaman

SY Diva Andaman

Champagne? Don’t mind if I do! Sy Diva Andaman is the only Thailand liveaboard that offers a complimentary bottle of bubbly for the guests. This wonderful vessel offers a very different experience from the other boats cruising the Similan Islands and Mergui Archipelago. Two on-board wine cellars, an excellent chef (not to be confused with a cook) serving gourmet food and even bathrobes set the tone for this luxurious cruise. The seven [...]

Find Out More
PADI open water diver in phuket practising skills

PADI Open Water Diver Course

The PADI Open Water diver course in Phuket introduces you to our amazing and breathtaking underwater world while at the same time teaching you the skills to become a scuba diver. The course is designed to help you understand the basic principles of scuba diving, learn the essential diving/diver skills in a safe & controlled environment supervised by industry professionals and most importantly of all, enjoying yourself the whole time and hav [...]

Find Out More

Daily Schedules

M/V Kepsub Schedule

Jobs @ Local Dive Thailand

Local Dive Thailand is one of Phuket's fatest growing & most vibrant scuba diving operations, we are always looking for quality staff to join us, so feel free to have a look at our jobs listing page.

Job Listings

Contact LDT

Local Guides, Local Knowledge, Local Experiences

Don't trust your diving to amateurs or freshly minted dive guides, dive with local experienced experts from Local Dive Thailand. Our Scuba Diving Phuket Tours will take you to see the rarest of the rare critters, you will be amazed by the macro life our guides can find, in the secret places only they know. To put it in perspective, if you were going to climb Mount Everest you would certainly hire a local sherpa to lead the way & keep you safe. Diving is similar because there is absolutely no substitute for local experience & local knowledge, Local Dive Thailand's guides are Phuket's Sherpa's of the Andaman Sea!

Learn More About Us

Scuba Diving Phuket, Phi Phi & Thailand

When talking about Scuba Diving in Phuket, you should believe the hype, many seasons we have had Whale Sharks grace us on our regular and easy to reach dive sites and on a good day you can add Sea Horses, Sea Moths, Snake Eels, Frog Fish & Octopus to what you can see on any given dive and so much more. If we are heading to Phi Phi Island for the day, you can possibly see Hawksbill Sea Turtles and Black Tip Reef Sharks, also don't forget the King Cruiser, 84 meters of beautiful wreck and the most amazing reef nursery for fish and nudibranch. Local Dive Thailand day trip tours to these locations are not to be missed when you are scuba diving Phuket, get in touch with us and book an 'awesome' day of diving.

Book Your Day Trip

Related News From Local Dive Thailand

See why we are Thailand's leading scuba diving Phuket tour provider, stay up to date & watch out for news & special liveaboard offers!

Hiring A Scooter In Phuket Phuket Sights & Fun

Hiring A Scooter In Phuket – Risk And Reward

Ridiculous transport costs on Phuket force many tourists to look at alternative options to get around. Although hiring a scooter is a cheap and convenient option there's plenty of potential pitfalls to look out for. With Thailand recently being promoted to the world Number 1 spot in road accident deaths (Yay! congratulations), it's a decision that you shouldn't take lightly. Of the estimated 24,000 people killed on Thai roads annually, [...]

Read Full Story
great scuba diving is available at low cost in thailand News & Updates

How Much Does Scuba Diving In Thailand Cost

The cost of scuba diving in Thailand will vary depending on location, type of dive centre and in some respects yourself. Phuket probably offers the best all round diving in Thailand but it's also amongst the most expensive. It's not simply that we think you should pay more for better diving, simply down to logistics. Apart from a few really nice beach dives, most of our recognised dive sites are over an hour journey from port. You'll find [...]

Read Full Story
sample the best scuba diving in phuket with local dive thailand Amazing Local Dives

The Best Scuba Diving In Phuket

You won't see all we have to offer but some of the best Phuket scuba diving can be covered on our 3 day trips . As an added bonus you'll get a great discount for booking multiple days. The best scuba diving around Phuket from just THB 1,100 per dive! Start your diving on either Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday and you'll cover the best Phuket diving tours. We regularly visit nine different dive sites. From the clear waters [...]

Read Full Story

Local Dive Thailand Office In Phuket


Find Us On Google Maps