Foreigners Face 4-Hour Airport Immigration Queue Nightmare

On 7/13/2026 at 6:15 AM, ikke1959 said:

I travel enough, but at no other airport I see long waiting times to pass immigration.. Longest I had to wait was 10 minutes in all my travels except here in Thailand. There should be counters for visaholders and reentries, and for elderly and disabled.. The priority lines could be used for that, but we are not allowed. These lines are often empty.

Lucky - or absent minded - you. I have never waited less than 15 minutes to get through passport control and typically, at Heathrow for example, it was 30 minutes or so. Now the automatic gates work better there it has improved. However, 3 hours or more is way out of line (😁) . Hopefully THIM will make a difference.

Edited July 17Jul 17 by Kung69

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Surely if the guy is on record calling us dirty foreigners who were responsible for spreading Covid, then this shows his distaste for foreigners from his early political utterings and might explain his present pogrom?

Spare us the hysteria of a feeble minded elderly man who is unwilling to adapt to a changing environment.

Pogrom: an act of organized cruel behaviour or killing that is done to a large group of people because of their race or religion

There is no pogrom in Thailand. Accusing a government member of a personal pogrom isn't just ignorant, it is offensive.

Thailand is trying to deal with the result of having a relatively easy access policy for decades. The reality is that there are thousands of undesirable foreigners in Thailand. They come from all over the world and have taken advantage of the local hospitality for too long. Thailand is doing what every other country does: Controlling access. The people who are financially stable, legally compliant and not criminals will manage.

And yes, foreigners imported Covid. It was imported by foreign visitors. This is no mystery. The route of infection from China was quickly identified. And the Koh Samui and Krabi infections by way of the Italian and french tourists were identified through genetic mapping. Covid did not magically appear one day. Infected people spread it.

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Thailand's e-gates are the same.

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Thailand's e-gates are the same.

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Thailand's e-gates are the same.

If only I could find them and use them. They are not in Phuket other than a single e gate for Thai people only.

It’s been a month or so sonce I arrived at international in BKK but the only e gate I saw was roped off.

Do they have like 20 e gates all open and functioning for foreigners? Or a token one or two?

29 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

If only I could find them and use them. They are not in Phuket other than a single e gate for Thai people only.

I’ve been asking people about the over 70 lane in Phuket for almost a year. My trip is coming up and no one knows nothing 😵‍💫. World class destination. And what about shoes? Do we have to take our shoes off going through immigration? What an insane thing to ask us to do.

There should be a special express lane for Thais and us foreigners that have pink Thai ID cards.

On 7/13/2026 at 4:03 PM, WHansen said:

The 10 times i have arrived in early December, i would guess it averages around 20 minutes to get through passport control. Surely these queues must have been a result of some part of the IT system going down, no airport wants the bad press from reports like this.

The IOs are questioning arrivals now. Before they almost rarely spoke to you at all. So it used to be quick. But if they have been instructed to start scritinizing arriving passengers a bit more, then that would slow things down.

To be fair, almost all Western countries' Immigration Officers ask you questions. So Thailand is just beginning to do what the West have been doing for (ever?)

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

Surely if the guy is on record calling us dirty foreigners who were responsible for spreading Covid, then this shows his distaste for foreigners from his early political utterings and might explain his present pogrom?

First, there has to be evidence of a pogrom.

"A pogrom is a violent, organized riot or mob attack aimed at massacring or expelling a specific ethnic, religious, or national minority. The term specifically describes mob violence targeted at minority populations—traditionally Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and the Russian Empire."

4 hours ago, Packer said:

There should be a special express lane for Thais and us foreigners that have pink Thai ID cards.

There should be a special express lane for foreigners:

• with a work permit (who's tax deductions contribute to Thai society).

• with a Support Thai visa / extension (who's support of Thai wife or children contributes to Thai society).

• with an annual Retirement visa/extension.

Those categories shouldn't have to queue up with tourists here for a few days of weeks.

20 hours ago, NanLaew said:

First, there has to be evidence of a pogrom.

"A pogrom is a violent, organized riot or mob attack aimed at massacring or expelling a specific ethnic, religious, or national minority. The term specifically describes mob violence targeted at minority populations—traditionally Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and the Russian Empire."

Assume the Israelis are Jewish, and Anutin's War on Farangs hits a number of your key words. No violence YET.

On 7/17/2026 at 9:22 AM, Patong2021 said:

Spare us the hysteria of a feeble minded elderly man who is unwilling to adapt to a changing environment.

Pogrom: an act of organized cruel behaviour or killing that is done to a large group of people because of their race or religion

There is no pogrom in Thailand. Accusing a government member of a personal pogrom isn't just ignorant, it is offensive.

Thailand is trying to deal with the result of having a relatively easy access policy for decades. The reality is that there are thousands of undesirable foreigners in Thailand. They come from all over the world and have taken advantage of the local hospitality for too long. Thailand is doing what every other country does: Controlling access. The people who are financially stable, legally compliant and not criminals will manage.

And yes, foreigners imported Covid. It was imported by foreign visitors. This is no mystery. The route of infection from China was quickly identified. And the Koh Samui and Krabi infections by way of the Italian and french tourists were identified through genetic mapping. Covid did not magically appear one day. Infected people spread it.

Anutin was senior minister in three administrations during the two decades I have lived here. 'a relatively easy access policy for decades.' This is not ignorance but fact - he did NOTHING but allow it. He did, however, say 'foreigners imported Covid. It was imported by foreign visitors. This is no mystery. Very true - he stated this publicly calling us 'dirty foreigners' - I find that offensive. As is calling me ' a feeble minded elderly man'. I am NOT elderly but 83 and OLD. My feeble mind has published FOUR books, two of them about Thailand. The royalties from these books compensate me for having a frozen State pension 50% less than what I could have, because I chose to live near my son in Thailand. I moved when I was 62 which disproves your opinion that I am 'unwilling to adapt to a changing environment.'

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

Anutin was senior minister in three administrations during the two decades I have lived here. 'a relatively easy access policy for decades.' This is not ignorance but fact - he did NOTHING but allow it. He did, however, say 'foreigners imported Covid. It was imported by foreign visitors. This is no mystery. Very true - he stated this publicly calling us 'dirty foreigners' - I find that offensive. As is calling me ' a feeble minded elderly man'. I am NOT elderly but 83 and OLD. My feeble mind has published FOUR books, two of them about Thailand. The royalties from these books compensate me for having a frozen State pension 50% less than what I could have, because I chose to live near my son in Thailand. I moved when I was 62 which disproves your opinion that I am 'unwilling to adapt to a changing environment.'

Your claim to not being stuck in the past notwithstanding, is your obvious anger a way of denying that like many here, you're simply lying in a bed of your own making?

The UK state pension was frozen for those choosing Thai domicile before you qualified for it. You need to write to your MP about it instead of blaming your favourite Thai bogeyman.

14 hours ago, mikebell said:

Anutin was senior minister in three administrations during the two decades I have lived here. 'a relatively easy access policy for decades.' This is not ignorance but fact - he did NOTHING but allow it. He did, however, say 'foreigners imported Covid. It was imported by foreign visitors. This is no mystery. Very true - he stated this publicly calling us 'dirty foreigners' - I find that offensive. As is calling me ' a feeble minded elderly man'. I am NOT elderly but 83 and OLD. My feeble mind has published FOUR books, two of them about Thailand. The royalties from these books compensate me for having a frozen State pension 50% less than what I could have, because I chose to live near my son in Thailand. I moved when I was 62 which disproves your opinion that I am 'unwilling to adapt to a changing environment.'

You are taking a statement out of context and misquoting the gentleman. Health Minister Anutin may not have been politically correct, but he was accurate. It is somewhat amusing, albeit foolish, that some farangs often denigrate the Thais, but as soon as a Thai stands up to the aggressive condescending smug foreigner demographic, you recoil in faux outrage. The Health Minister's comments were made in a period when he was frustrated by the refusal of the western visitors who refused to respect the Thai public health guidelines in place to slow the transmission of a deadly and still unknown (at the time) respiratory infection. His comment was; "It’s winter right now in Europe so these people are fleeing the cold, in Thailand. Many are dressed dirtily and never shower. As hosts we have to be careful." There is nothing untrue about the above statement. A short visit to Pai, Pattaya or Patong proves his point.

Describing an attempt to enforce immigration laws as a "pogrom" is stupid and offensive. No one is being killed, and no one is being incarcerated for minor offences. Although, it is wonderful that you "published" 4 books, it has no relevance to the issue at hand. I did notice that you left out the part of not selling particularly well. Yoko Ono considered herself an important musical creator too. It doesn't mean that she was good at it. Nor does your UK pension have nothing to do with the a short delay at immigration. Take it up with the UK government. PM Anutin does not set UK pension policy.

Edited July 18Jul 18 by Patong2021

I remember the time he called farangs dirty, to quote him: ''Many are dressed dirtily and never shower. As hosts we have to be careful.''

He should have changed many to some.

He was frustrated because Covid had broken out and many farangs were refusing to wear masks. He thought they should be kicked out of Thailand.

A big factor in the wait times is the country of origin of the incoming passengers. Passengers on flights that originate in Africa, India or Russia take a much longer time to clear Immigration and Customs than passengers from West Europe, North America or Australia. Flights from some Asian countries (Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong) also clear quickly. Flights from China are in a special category, but usually clear without much delay.

I recall the captain on a pre-COVID flight from a European capital announced to the passengers that we were landing at Suvarnabhumi ahead of flights from Russia and India, but to make all speed to Immigration control. If we ended up behind the passengers from those flights, we might have to wait in line for several hours.

I thought at the time a captain on a U.S. flight would probably be fired for making such an announcement, no matter how true.

On 7/14/2026 at 5:22 AM, Bangkok Barry said:

... as I would say there is a labor problem/shortage somewhere, not enough officers who can speak English well enough?

Yes, that is also part of the problem. Thais who speak English well can get higher paying, more lucrative jobs in the private sector or with other government departments.

On 7/15/2026 at 1:35 AM, Bredbury Blue said:

The Thai female just has to ask the official if her husband (the male next to her) can join her going through the Thai line, and every time for me it has been agreed to with nothing ever checked to see if we are married.

That has been my experience as well. I've gone through the Thai line numerous times with a Thai female and never even been asked if we were married. On several occasions, an IO sorting the queues suggested we go through the Thai line before she had a chance to ask.

On 7/13/2026 at 11:07 AM, Geoff914 said:

Are Chinese not farangs? Are only Westerners farangs?

No, Chinese are not farang. Only Westerners, usually Caucasians, are considered farang. Thais call Chinese jiin.

On 7/17/2026 at 10:38 AM, Packer said:

There should be a special express lane for Thais and us foreigners that have pink Thai ID cards.

You want a special gay line?

A guy at the airport told me it's because alot of these Chinese and Indians airlines do not run on time .... very poor punctuality. So they arrive and mess the arrival schedule up.

One option would be to Fine these airlines for missing their arrival slots.

or

for them to leave the plane on the ground if they arrive late till time opens up and make it aware to passengers it's because the plane was late.

or

factor late arrivals into arrival slots.

Either way, the current schedule of letting airlines of the hook is a PR own goal.

13 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

A guy at the airport told me it's because alot of these Chinese and Indians airlines do not run on time .... very poor punctuality. So they arrive and mess the arrival schedule up.

One option would be to Fine these airlines for missing their arrival slots.

or

for them to leave the plane on the ground if they arrive late till time opens up and make it aware to passengers it's because the plane was late.

or

factor late arrivals into arrival slots.

Either way, the current schedule of letting airlines of the hook is a PR own goal.

Well that will work until it is European or American airlines causing the delay. Coming from Europe I don't think I have ever been on time. And even the Middle Eastern airlines are late waiting for European connections. Anyway that isn't the cause of the problem, just exacerbates it.

Just a quick update for the group. Flew in last night, arriving a bit after 8:00 PM. The queues for Passport Control were longer than I have ever seen previously. That's not to say they were as long as they were a week ago, but they were still beyond anything I have ever seen. The longest I have ever waited in the queue at Passport Control at Bangkok in the past was about an hour but the queues last night were much longer than that. It was no problem to use the Thai queue with my Thai Mrs and I was through in two minutes.

I suppose it could be worse. Queue for 4 hours then get refuse entry.

On 7/17/2026 at 3:38 AM, Packer said:

There should be a special express lane for Thais and us foreigners that have pink Thai ID cards.

Pink ID cards = worthless.