ICYMI: Thailand, Cambodia are Now Open to Tourists From the Philippines

The thought of entering the airport with your luggage in tow, a passport on hand, and the inexplicable feeling of exploring a foreign land has been a remote, unfamiliar feeling, no thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Until now.

After nearly two years, two of the most-visited tourist destinations in Asia—Thailand and Cambodia—are reopening their doors to fully vaccinated travelers (Filipinos included!), with relaxed COVID-19 measures. To help you plan your first leisure overseas trip since the pandemic began, here are things you need to know.

Thailand

As of Nov. 1, 2021, fully vaccinated Philippine passport holders may enter Thailand and stay there for 30 days without a visa under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme (STV). Travelers must have stayed in the Philippines over the last 21 days from the date of their arrival in Thailand and enter the country via designated airports. Unvaccinated travelers aged 12 and below may also enter Thailand without quarantine if they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.

Requirements:

1. Thailand Pass – Effective Nov. 1, the Thailand Pass replaces the Certificate of Entry formerly used to travel to the country. You must apply for a Thailand Pass at least seven days before your intended arrival date (processing time usually takes three to five days). Click here to know more about Thailand Pass.

2. Certificate of Vaccination – Thailand’s approved COVID-19 vaccines are Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Janssen, Moderna, Sinopharm, and Sputnik V.

3. Insurance with minimum coverage of US$50,000

4. Proof of payment for a one-night stay at an accredited hotel while you’re awaiting your RT-PCR test result. The receipt must also include your payment for the test, which must be taken 72 hours before departure.

Cambodia

Like Thailand, Cambodia is now accepting tourists from approved countries including the Philippines without serving the two-week quarantine as long as they are fully vaccinated. This protocol is effective Nov. 15.

Requirements

1. Legitimate vaccination card

2. Negative RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours prior to your departure

3. Negative rapid antigen test upon arrival (waiting time for the result is 15 to 20 minutes)

Tourists who are not yet fully vaccinated still need to have the RT-PCR test upon arrival and undertake a 14-day quarantine, regardless of the result.