RE: Entering Thailand as a tourist and being denied entry

We're getting more and more reports of people either being questioned extensively at the time of entry, or directly being denied entry to Thailand.

Ever since visa exempt entries were changed from 30 days to 60 days, things seem to have been getting stricter in regards to entries. As always, your entry will be at the discretion of the immigration officer you are standing in front of.

One of the key things that seems to be a point against you will be if you applied for an extension to your 60-day entry previously. If you came to Thailand as a tourist (visa exempt or tourist visa) and then applied for a 30-day extension, and then leave and return, this is what seems to be causing issues. Maybe the immigration officers believe 90 days is enough time for you to have been a tourist?

How long you need to be out of Thailand after doing these 90 days varies, and will likely be dependent upon your history in Thailand. We've seen people who returned after 3 months and still have issues. Of course some people leave and return in the same day and encounter no issues, but there's no way for you to know how it will go for you.

If you are coming to Thailand as a tourist and have already been in Thailand within the last 6 months as a tourist, there are a few things you can do to increase your odds:

Have the 3 "proofs" that can be asked for, but usually are not. If the immigration officer wants to deny you entry, these are the 3 easiest reasons for them to do it.

1) Proof of funds (20,000 baht or equivalent in another major currency, IN CASH ONLY)

2) Proof of onward travel (a ticket out of Thailand within 60 days)

3) Proof of lodging (a hotel reservation, or proof of where you will be staying in Thailand for at least the first few days. A lease agreement is not going to be in your favor when you're trying to argue that you are just a tourist and not living in Thailand)

(The single biggest item in your favor will be if you can show them a plane ticket out of Thailand within 60 days, especially if it's back to your home country)

If you have just spent your 90 days in Thailand and want to get a new stamp, then you are recommended to use a land border bounce agency to drive you to the border and make sure you get out and back in without any issues. These typically leave very early in the morning so they can get you back home before the end of the day. For example in Bangkok, they tend to leave around 4AM. Normal costs anywhere from 4-5k baht. More and more land borders are also requiring 1 or 2 nights out of Thailand if you want to do a border bounce, and using an agent will bypass that requirement as well.

You also have the option of using a "safe entry" agent at the airport if you want to fly out and back to get a fresh stamp. These typically cost around 4-5k baht as well but the price will go up if you've been spending a lot of time in Thailand. This is not the same as Fast Track which just gets you into a faster line.

Getting a tourist visa is an option, but nowhere near a guarantee. There's not really any difference between a tourist visa and visa exempt anymore as they both give you 60 days in Thailand. The immigration officers know they are one in the same and if they think you have spent too much time in Thailand as a tourist, a tourist visa isn't likely to help.

There will be many people who want to say "I entered 14 times without any problems" or "I have NEVER been asked to show money in my 800 years of entering Thailand" but it's not relevant. Unless that person has the exact same travel history as you, and was stamped in by the exact same immigration officer that you are standing in front of, their experience is irrelevant. We are talking about trends here, and the trends show that they are getting more strict across every method of entry into Thailand.

This post won't apply to 99% of people who are coming to Thailand as actual tourists for a few weeks and then going home. But there are a lot of people trying to spend a lot of time in Thailand without a long-term visa, and they are the ones in the crosshairs currently.

New 60 day on arrival visa, arrived in November on 60 day tourist visa and got 30 day extension at Buriram, went to Vietnam for a week, arrived back in Bangkok and they would not let me back in the Kingdom, said I was staying too long, put me in a room with a bunch of Africans, luckily my partner of 5 years was with me and she had to sign a form and after an hour I was allowed in, I thought that I had followed the rules to the letter, I think that in future I will get the 6 month multi entry tourist visa, my girlfriend has a 5 year visitor visa for England and we spend 6 months in Thailand and 6 months in England, just a warning for people here on the 60 day tourist visa I would do a road visa run to Cambodia and avoid the main airport.

I applied in KL after I got deported while trying to enter again in tourist visa.

I have everything they asked for but no 6 month rent contract, since I’m not in the country.

I have more than enough funds and retourning salary of 100k baht + per month.

Any advise how I can proof the rental contract without entering the country?

This seems more like a depends on the situation question, but in the middle of November I was denied coming back into Thailand after a flight to Vietnam over the weekend for a visa run. Too many times coming in and out under the tourist visa apparently 🙄

Anyway, they didn't really give me any confirmation on what the result would be for my next entry, and my expectation is to try again in March to set myself up for Songkran. Does anyone have any experience like this or could provide guidance?

My main issue is if I fly to Thailand from the US, apparently they have to send you back to the country you came from which would be an expensive, long flight back. So I'm trying to avoid that situation. I might fly to the Philippines first, but like I said just checking if anyone has some insight. Thanks 🙏

Hello, I spent Thailand 180 days this year, and when I wanted enter Phuket by air, the immigration refused. So I went back to Malaysia. If I go early of january by land, should I affraid the same situaton?

I want to add that this is a standard rule in other countries, which is why I wonder if Thailand also has this.

What is the general rule regarding staying in Thailand under visa exemptions? I was recently denied entry after spending a total of around 150 days in Thailand over the past few months using visa exemptions.

My question is: does this reset when the new calendar year begins, or will immigration still see my previous stays in their system and deny me entry unless I obtain a proper visa?

Thanks!

Hi

I had a vulnteer visa during covid, and then you extended it to me many times.

2 years ago, I left and went back after 6 months and they didn't let me go back in.

I did not overstay. I had legit stamps during covid and exited with no issues. When I went back they asked where did you vulenteer and I got nervous and didnt explain well since I didnt. So they got pissed.

Now 2 years passed and I got a new passport. Can I come back or am I black listed?

Thanks

Hi Guys

Is it possible to be turned away with METV?

I am just paranoid because I had a long history in the country on several covid extensions.

I left last September and this is the first time I am back.

I appreciate your help

Hi, so this is the timeline:

Laksi- Cambodia- Laksi- Cambodia- ?

Is Laksi can be the next option or it should be Laos?

Thanks

I have read, with a previous question asked here, to avoid Poipet border crossing at all costs to return into Thailand.

Unfortunately our bus from Siem Reap crosses the border in Poipet.

We are visa exempt and were only in Thailand recently for 28 days, returning only for 2 weeks before flying home. We only travel to Thailand every few years.

Can anyone please explain why Poipet is highlighted by a moderator to avoid at all cost??