Samui Plus FAQs

A: They should make sure they have covered all the necessary requirements and have all the required documentation. This includes:

• A passport with at least 6 months validity;
• Have been in a Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) approved country for 21 days or more;
• Been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) or the World Health Organisation (WHO);
• Have booked and purchased return air travel;
• Have booked and paid for accommodation, and required RT-PCR test/s at a Samui Extra Plus or SHA Plus hotel;
• Have purchased medical insurance with COVID-19 treatment coverage of at least US$100,000;
• Have tested negative for COVID-19 no longer than 72 hours before travel.

A: Yes, all documentation must be in English only. If the paperwork is not complete, the visitor will be placed in ALQ for 14 days or until they can leave Thailand, the expenses of which the visitor must cover.

A: The list can be viewed as below:

A: Children under 18 are not required to be vaccinated if travelling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians, but must have tested negative for COVID-19 no longer than 72 hours before travel.

A: No, it is not necessary to be in a CCSA-approved country for 21 days or more, as long as you are travelling from an approved country.

A: From 1 August, 2021, you can fly to Samui on a direct international flight or international flight via Bangkok and connect with the approved twice daily ‘sealed route’ flights operated by Bangkok Airways between Bangkok and Samui as per the details below.

Midday flights:

Flight PG5125 which departs Bangkok at 12.00 Hrs. and arrives at Samui at 13.30 Hrs.

Flight PG5126 which departs Samui at 14.10 Hrs. and arrives at Bangkok at 15.40 Hrs.

Evening flights:

Flight PG5171 which departs Bangkok at 17.10 Hrs. and arrives at Samui at 18.40 Hrs.

Flight PG5172 which departs Samui at 19.20 Hrs. and arrives at Bangkok at 20.50 Hrs.

For the flight via Bangkok, the ticket must be issued on the same booking with the international flight in conjunction with such approved Bangkok-Samui-Bangkok flights. Any flight reservations booked separately will not be allowed.

A: It is for your added safety, as these are hotels which are government approved with respect to required health and safety measures.

Samui Extra Plus hotels are specially assigned for travellers under the Samui Plus programme in order to differentiate from the AQ system. All Samui Extra Plus hotels are acknowledged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General processing of the Certificate of Entry (COE) application. These hotels are formerly ALQ hotels (now referred to as AQ hotels).

See: Samui Extra Plus hotels launched for international visitors to Samui, or click on this link to download the list of Samui Extra Plus hotels (List).

SHA Plus certification indicates a hotel meets the safety measures to control COVID-19, and also that 70% of its workforce has been fully vaccinated.

A: Yes. Visitors from overseas staying 14 nights must stay at a Samui Extra Plus on Ko Samui only for the first 7 nights, after which they can move to a SHA Plus hotel on Ko Samui, Ko Phangan or Ko Tao for the other 7 nights.

A: No, this is not permitted. You have to stay in Samui (plus Ko Phangan or Ko Tao) for 14 nights first before you can travel to another destination in Thailand.

A: Yes, providing that you move to a SHA Plus hotel.

A: Yes you can, but you must not be traveling from Samui, Ko Phangan, or Ko Tao with a group of people unless it is the same group with which you came to Thailand.

A: No, you cannot. You must leave Thailand immediately.
If you want to visit other Thai destinations, you need to first complete a 14-night stay in Samui. This can be 7 nights in a Samui Extra Plus hotel on Ko Samui plus 7 more nights at a SHA Plus hotel/s on Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, or Ko Tao.

A: Providing you meet all the above points, you can go to https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ to apply for a Certificate of Entry (COE).

A: Yes, if you have provided a valid email when you register.

A: Yes, if required.

A: Yes.

A: Yes. Please note that if your temperature exceeds the safe limit, you will be denied boarding.

A: You must pass through health and control and Immigration procedures, and then travel directly to your hotel.

A: Yes. You will need to go straight to your hotel where you must wait for the test result.

A: No, this is not permitted.

A: No. The transfer is pre-arranged.

A: The result will be available within the first day of your arrival.

A: You will be sent to a hospital for appropriate treatment, and will need to pay the expenses which should be covered in your insurance.

A: After waiting for the test result in your hotel room on first arrival (Day 0) and the result is negative, you can travel around as follows:

•   Day 1-3: Can leave the hotel room for designated areas in the hotel only;
•   Day 4-7: Can travel within designated routes and on tour programmes on Ko Samui only;
•   Day 8-14: Can travel within Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao;
•   Day 15: If the last test on Day 12-13 is negative, can go anywhere in Thailand.

At all times, visitors must strictly follow the DMHTTA precautions: D – Distancing, M – Mask wearing, H – Handwashing, T – Temperature check, T – Testing for COVID-19, and A – alert application.

Masks must be worn at all times in public areas and in any vehicle with two or more people.

Visitors must also abide by the measures put in place by Surat Thani province during their stay.

A: If you arrive during 00.01-18.00 Hrs., the day is Day 1.
If you arrive during 18.01-00.00 Hrs, the day after is Day 1.

A: During their stay, visitors must use approved transportation and tour companies only. Renting of private vehicles is not permitted.

For island travel between Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao, only approved boats at approved ports can be used; public boats must not be used.

For those visitors staying longer than 14 days, public transportation can be used from the 15^th day onward.

For dining, it is recommended that you use SHA Plus restaurants although this is not compulsory.

A: This will depend on Surat Thani’s health and safety measures stipulated for Thais and expats in Thailand.

A: If your stay is less than 7 days, you must take one more test on Day 6-7.
If your stay is between 10 and 14 days, you must take more tests on Day 6-7 and Day 12-13.
If your stay is less than 5 days, you are not required to take an additional test, but you must leave Thailand immediately.

A: At approved hospital/s. The cost for your required RT-PCR test/s must be prepaid when booking for accommodation at a Samui Extra Plus or SHA Plus hotel.

A: All required testing must be booked and prepaid through your hotel; the number of tests depends on the duration of your stay.

A: Any person experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must immediately get a test done. If the person is travelling in a group, every person in the group must undergo a test.

A: In the case, a traveler tests positive for COVID-19 in Thailand, he/she will be responsible for the medical expenses, which should be covered by the required insurance.

A: Yes, of course. Each destination in Thailand has entry requirements, and you should check on these beforehand to make sure you meet them.

A: It is up to you to make sure you meet the requirements of your specific international destination. Thailand is not responsible or able to assist on this matter.

As Samui joins Phuket in reopening to visitors from around the world, we wish everyone an enjoyable, safe, and rewarding holiday. We’re sure you will join us in hoping the ongoing safe revitalization of Thailand’s nationwide tourism sector is achieved as envisioned.