Thailand Added to UK's Red List

Thailand has been added to the UK's red list, effective 04:00 on 30 August 2021 (UK time).

This latest development means that anyone who has been in Thailand in the 10 days prior to arrival in the UK will only be allowed to enter the country if they are a British or Irish national, or have residence rights in the UK.

Those who are permitted to enter the UK will also need to stay in and pay for a quarantine hotel for 10 days, taking two COVID19 tests during their time in isolation.

The red list applies to the whole of Thailand, including the popular tourist destinations of Phuket and Koh Samui etc.

Those who have travelled to Thailand under the Phuket Sandbox or Samui Plus initiative to boost the Kingdom's tourism industry will need to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days if they arrive back in England after 04:00 on 30 August 2021 (UK time).

The new rules apply to those who have been fully vaccinated, as well as to those who are not.

Those who are not British or Irish nationals and do not have residence rights in the UK will be unable to enter the country if they have been in a red list country for 10 days prior to arrival in the UK.

On 26 August, the UK government reported that while 77.7% of the population aged 16+ has been fully vaccinated and 88.1% have received their first jab, there were still 38,281 new cases and 140 more deaths.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the UK has recorded a total of 6,659,788 COVID19 cases and 132,463 deaths since the pandemic began (up to 05:21 Thailand time on 27 August).

Thailand reported 18,702 new COVID19 cases on Friday, 27 August, up slightly from 18,501 on Thursday and bringing the overall total nationwide to 1,139,571. The country also reported 273 more deaths, bringing that sad tally to 10,587.

Updated 31 August 2021: This page has been updated since it was originally published on 27 August 2021, to reflect the fact that Wales and Scotland have since added Thailand to their red lists as well.

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