(SPOT.ph) Thailand, which is known for both its cultural heritage and beach destinations, officially reopened their doors to more travelers and with less quarantine restrictions on November 1, Monday. And the best thing about it is that Philippine residents can fly to this Southeast Asian nation without having to go through a long quarantine period upon arrival.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Philippines is one of the 63 approved countries and territories that are exempted from quarantine through the “Test and Go” scheme. You must be fully vaccinated, traveling only by air, and must have stayed in the Philippines in the last 21 days or more. Travelers under 12 years of age, as long as they’re with their fully vaccinated parents or guardians, are exempt from the vaccination requirement.

Also read: 10 Exciting Things to Do in Thailand

The Thailand Pass is also a necessity, which takes from three to five days to be processed. Some of the basic requirements include a Certificate of Vaccination, a medical certificate with negative RT-PCR test results, and an insurance policy (whether general insurance or health insurance) with a coverage that’s not less than U.S. $50,000 (around P2.5 million). You also need to take an RT-PCR test upon arrival. Though there’s no quarantine, you will have to wait for your test results overnight at a Thailand Safety and Health Administration-accredited hotel. If you test negative, you will receive an antigen test kit for self-testing on your sixth and seventh day. Other than that, you’re free to run around pretty much anywhere in Thailand.

Tourists who are not from exempt countries can still visit Thailand without quarantine through the “Living in the Blue Zone” program. They’re required to stay within one of the 17 Blue Zone Sandbox destinations, like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, before heading to other destinations in the country. Travel requirements are similar to the “Test and Go” scheme, except that travelers between 12 and 18 years of age are also exempt from the vaccination requirement.

kro ket — Locals flock to the man-made island of Kro Ket during weekends for its distinctive pottery products.

PHOTO BY mohigan

Here are the latest Thailand travel requirements for Philippine residents (as of November 1):

Passport
Thailand Pass acquired through tp.consular.go.th
Certificate of vaccination (fully vaccinated) with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before traveling
Medical certificate with negative RT-PCR test results taken no more than 72 hours before traveling
Confirmed payment for one RT-PCR test upon arrival and one antigen test kit for self-testing on your sixth or seventh day
Confirmed payment for one-night stay at an accredited accommodation, where you will wait for your RT-PCR test results
A general insurance or health insurance policy with coverage no less than U.S. $50,000 (around P2.5 million)