Common reasons for being denied entry into Thailand and how to avoid them

 Traveling to Thailand is a dream for many people, but it is important to be aware of the entry requirements and potential pitfalls that could result in being denied entry. Here's a detailed guide on common reasons for being refused entry into Thailand and how to avoid them. Watch Here: How many times you can enter Thailand & Immigration Laws

Entry requirements

Before considering the reasons for refusal, it is important to know the basic admission requirements:

1. Return ticket: Proof of onward travel is often required.
2. A confirmed hotel booking: Proof of accommodation is usually required.
3. Funds: You may have to show that you have 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family in cash.

Although most visitors are not asked to provide these documents, it is wise to have them ready just in case.

 Due to refusal

1. No original passport or valid passport but showing duplicate passport.
2. Questionable immigration history:** Those with a history of long-term stays on tourist visas or visa-free entries may face scrutiny.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand relaxed its visa rules, allowing many foreigners to stay longer without needing to leave the country. However, this leniency ends at the end of 2023. Now, anyone with a history of abusing visas, such as overstay visas, tourist visas, or volunteer/education visas, faces more stringent scrutiny, especially at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airports.

What happens when you are denied access?

If you are denied entry, you are not being deported; You are simply not being allowed to enter. Deportability means you have already entered the country. Upon refusal, the immigration officer has three options:

1. Send you back to where you took off from.
2. Send you to any country where you can buy tickets.
3. Send your passport back to your country of origin.

Options 1 and 2 are the most common. If entry is refused, you will have to pay for your ticket to another country. You will be taken to a holding cell at the airport until you can arrange your flight. The holding area usually has Wi-Fi, and the staff can order food for you at your expense.

Rejected at land border

If entry is refused at the land border, you will be turned around and sent back to where you just left. The country you just exited will cancel your exit stamp, allowing you to re-enter, provided your visa is still valid.

Reason for refusal

Almost every person refused entry will receive the same reason code in the passport: Immigration Act section 12, subsection 2 – நிர் ஫ாட்டை யாங்கை தாங்கை, meaning "no reasonable means of subsistence". "There is no proper means of survival after entry into the Empire."

Additionally, there is a rule limiting visa-free entries to two per calendar year. Crossing this border may be refused, with a stamp citing Immigration Act section 12, subsection 1 – หวังหียยัดเลี่ไหมย, meaning "No visa to enter Thailand."

Breaking visa regulations

- No genuine passport: Not having a genuine or legal passport or not having a document used in place of a passport.
- No valid visa: Holding a passport or document without a visa printed by Royal Thai Embassies or Consulates, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unless a visa is required.

What to do after being refused entry?

If you are denied entry, most people try to re-enter either at another border, at another airport, or by obtaining a tourist visa from the Thai Consulate. If in doubt, always obtain a tourist visa from a Thai Consulate or Embassy.

Legal framework

According to Section 11 and Section 12 of the Thai Immigration Act, persons must enter or leave the Kingdom through designated immigration checkpoints and comply with prescribed time limits. Aliens excluded from entry include those who do not have a valid passport, those who have no means of subsistence, laborers without skill training, mentally unstable persons, or those suffering from certain diseases. Other reasons include previous imprisonment, potential threats to public safety, involvement in illegal activities, or lack of funds.

 Conclusion

Understanding the entry requirements and possible reasons for denial can help you avoid unnecessary hassle at the border. Always make sure you have all the necessary documents, sufficient funds and a valid reason for your stay. If ever in doubt, secure a tourist visa from a Thai Consulate or Embassy to ensure seamless entry into the Land of Smiles. 

In this video, I am going to discuss how many times you can enter under the visa exemption policy, what immigration laws in Thailand says, and why you have to face denial at times. In addition to this we will take comments with scenarios that explain you the subject comprehensively. Let's join me in this video where I touch all these points before you embark your next journey to Thailand. Watch Here: How many times you can enter Thailand & Immigration Laws