Arriving Bkk With Passport With 5Months 27 Days Left Till Expire

[Roymeboy]

I have lost the tag on who asked about their concern arriving Saturday with a passport with 2 days short of 6 months on their passport and if this would be a stimbling block at BKK Immigrations. I have gone to my key contact at Thai Exhibition and Conference Bureau and they contacted Thai Immigration who said it WOULD NOT be a problem.

[Nisa]

Depending on where he is flying from (and when) the airline may refuse to let him board a plane bound for BKK. In the US they do follow the rules that you need a return ticket and 6-months left in your passport. They follow these rules because they would be responsible for bringing the passenger back if refused entry.

[WilliaminBKK]

Your problem will be boarding the plane, where ever you are coming from. The carriers face huge fines, and they wont take the risk even for 3 days.

[ukrules]

This website gives you the regulations for all of the countries of the world according to IATA : http://www.iatatravelcentre.com

[GOGGLES]

I have beento Thailand now, 9 times.<BR><BR>I find them very strict on matters like this.<BR><BR>They like thier i's dotted and thier t's crossed.<BR>I would not chance it.<BR><BR>don't get me wrong, I love the place.<BR><BR>Kindest Regards.<BR><BR>Niall. <IMG class="bbc_emoticon" alt="" src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif"> <BR>

[Nisa]

Your problem will be boarding the plane, where ever you are coming from. The carriers face huge fines, and they wont take the risk even for 3 days.

Agree except for the part about "anywhere" you are coming from. There are some places and/or airlines that really don't check these things. I have a friend from Belgium who flies to BKK at least 4 times a year with a 1-way ticket and no visa. Having a return ticket is right up there with 90-days left in your passport. Not only does he fly in from Belgium but numerous other countries on different airlines. The only thing they have in common is they are part of the Star Alliance group of carriers.

I really was shocked when I first found out about this because they always check these things when I fly from the US and one time hassled me about a one-way ticket when I had a Visa. Ended up having to get a supervisor to the counter to explain to the women you don't need a return/outward ticket if you have a visa.

[WilliaminBKK]

Airlines subscribe to a service called Timatic, the rules that they see say 6 month validity required. The one way issue is another animal, most check in staff realise you can simply book and print out a fake ticket on a low cost carrier, they enter the PNR and they are off the hook, the validty of a passport is another issue.

[Nisa]

Airlines subscribe to a service called Timatic, the rules that they see say 6 month validity required. The one way issue is another animal, most check in staff realise you can simply book and print out a fake ticket on a low cost carrier, they enter the PNR and they are off the hook, the validty of a passport is another issue.

The rules they also see in Timatic for Thailand will also clearly state the need to have PROOF of an onward ticket. It is illogical to think they would ask to verify one of the requirements in the Timatic Database and not another. Do you really think an airline cannot easily verify a plane ticket even if from another airline? If you give me ticket information for almost any international carrier I could verify its validity within minutes and I don't have access to the same databases and software as an airline. Bottom line is some airlines or counter agents don't check this stuff ... at least in some places while others follow the rules to the t.

[Mario2008]

This website gives you the regulations for all of the countries of the world according to IATA : http://www.iatatravelcentre.com

Not completely up to date. In the case of Thailand it says:

T

he following should be taken into account even if holding a Visa:

Immigration officers can request visitors who are visa exempt to show return/onward tickets and documents required for next destination.

Visitors over 12 years of age must hold sufficient funds to cover their stay (at least THB 10,000.- per person or THB 20,000.- per family). Proof of funds includes Letters of Credit, vouchers, MCO's or well-known credit cards, which are honoured in Thailand. Exempt are: holders of a re-entry visa.

For those who do not require a visa, stays are restricted to a max. of 90 days within any 6 month period. This also applies to those granted an initial stay of 30 days, wishing to extend their stay. One photo will be required for extension application. Stays exceeding the 90 days within any 6 month period may also be possible.

Certain Visa regulations apply as follows:

Non-compliance with visa and /or entry requirements will result in:

- refusal and immediate deportation of the passenger; and

- fines for the airline of THB 20,000.-; and

- overstay fine for the passenger of THB 500.- per day (but not exceeding in total THB 20,000.-).

the 90 day rule in a 6 month period has long been abolished.