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Posted

I've gone through immigration here probably 20 times or more. I've never seen anybody that's had any issues. Maybe one time somebody came over to help out. But I've never seen anybody escorted away. Just thousands of people all in line moving along slowly waiting for their stamp.

I'm sure someone has been denied entry, and it would be interesting to know why. But if you have a valid passport AND visa, the odds are you'll have no problem.

Posted

I'm sure someone has been denied entry, and it would be interesting to know why. But if you have a valid passport AND visa, the odds are you'll have no problem.

Agree, for the vast majority of people is not an issue.

From MFA website ... http://www.mfa.go.th...482.php?id=2487

11. According to the Immigration Act of Thailand B.E. 2522 (1979), foreigners who fall into any of the following categories are prohibited to enter Thailand:

(1) Having no genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport; or having a genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport without valid visa issuance by the Royal Thai Embassies, the Royal Thai Consulates-General or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with exception of those who meet visa exemption requirements. The terms and conditions of visa issuance and visa exemption are prescribed by the Ministerial Regulations.

(2) Having no appropriate means of living following entry into the Kingdom.

(3) Having entered the Kingdom to be employed as an unskilled or untrained labourer, or to work in violation of the Alien Work Permit Law.

(4) Being mentally unstable or having any of the diseases stated in the Ministerial Regulations.

(5) Having not yet been vaccinated against smallpox; or inoculated, or undergone any other medical treatment for protection against disease; and having refused to have such vaccinations administered by the Immigration Doctor.

(6) Having been imprisoned by judgment of the Thai Court; or by lawful injunction or judgment of the Court of a foreign country, except for when the penalty is for a petty offence, or negligence, or is provided for as an exception by the Ministerial Regulations.

(7) Having behaviour which could cause possible danger to the public; or having the likelihood of being a nuisance or constituting any violence to the peace, safety and security of the public or to the security of the nation; or being under warrant of arrest by competent officials of foreign governments.

(8) Reason to believe that entry into Kingdom is for the purpose of being involved in prostitution, the trafficking of women or children, drug smuggling, or other types of smuggling which are against public morality.

(9) Having no money or bond as prescribed by the Minister under Section 14 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

(10) Being a person prohibited by the Minister under Section 16 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

(11) Being deported by either the Government of Thailand or that of other foreign countries; or having been revoked the right of stay in the Kingdom or in foreign countries; or having been expelled from the Kingdom by competent officials at the expense of the Government of Thailand unless exemption is provided by the Minister on an individual basis.

Posted

Many smaller travel agents will be happy to book you a "dummy" flight out of Thailand for a few hundred baht. Once you've submitted the ticket as "evidence", you simply cancel the flight. My agent used to book me on Iran Air to London for THB600!

Posted

I fly out of Australia to Thailand two or three times a year with a valid Thai re-entry permit coupled to my Retirement Extension.

But, often have NO ticket out of Thailand to show.

Given that the re-entry and the extension have a 'Valid To' date and may be close to the flight I'm about to take, am I taking a risk here in being denied boarding?

Or, does the fact that I have a re-entry permit and extension give me right to travel and be admitted, regardless that they may be about to expire with no further guarantee of permission of stay. (or, is this just a bit hard for the airline staff to get a grip of and once they see the re-entry and extension dated into the future......they consider one or both these a VISA?

Posted (edited)

Oneway without a Visa?

It depends on the airline.

There are even airlines that will refuse you with a return ticket later than 30 days.

I personally experienced that and had to shorten by rebooking at the airport (for a cost).

Cheapest flight (throw away booking) to my knowledge: AirAsia Phuket/Penang. About a 1000 Baht.

Last checked more than a year ago. Price only for long advance booking.

Forget about Laos, Cambo or so, much more expensive.

---

Just checked: Phuket/Penang is not offered anymore. Sorry.

Another example: Surat Thani -> Kuala Lumpur, 14. June, 1390 Baht.

Edited by KhunBENQ
Posted

Oneway without a Visa?

It depends on the airline.

There are even airlines that will refuse you with a return ticket later than 30 days.

I personally experienced that and had to shorten by rebooking at the airport (for a cost).

The immigration requirements for entry into Thailand (for most travellers) are that they are either in possession of a valid visa or an airline ticket out of the country within 30 days of arrival. If the airline accepts boarding outside these parameters it faces the risk of being fined plus the costs of repatriating the traveller if entry is denied. Most airlines will not take that risk, especially on longhaul flights.

Posted

I fly out of Australia to Thailand two or three times a year with a valid Thai re-entry permit coupled to my Retirement Extension.

But, often have NO ticket out of Thailand to show.

Given that the re-entry and the extension have a 'Valid To' date and may be close to the flight I'm about to take, am I taking a risk here in being denied boarding?

Or, does the fact that I have a re-entry permit and extension give me right to travel and be admitted, regardless that they may be about to expire with no further guarantee of permission of stay. (or, is this just a bit hard for the airline staff to get a grip of and once they see the re-entry and extension dated into the future......they consider one or both these a VISA?

Could I try this ? again.

To make more concise, with a Re-entry Permit or Retirement Extension does the question arise that you still should have a flight booked out of Thailand, if these stamps in your passport may be due to expire?

I know Jetstar in Australia are very strict on this 'Flight Out' requirement for normal travellers, but wondering if anyone has struck the situation I have described above?

Posted
Visa on arrival is only for 30 days at the airport, and 15 at some land borders. And it is possible to get turned away at immigration. Not sure how often that happens, though...

Visa on arrival is 15 days at the airport. Visa exempt entry is 30 days at the airport and 15 days at land borders. Which one is applicable will depend on nationality.

Posted

I fly out of Australia to Thailand two or three times a year with a valid Thai re-entry permit coupled to my Retirement Extension.

But, often have NO ticket out of Thailand to show.

Given that the re-entry and the extension have a 'Valid To' date and may be close to the flight I'm about to take, am I taking a risk here in being denied boarding?

Or, does the fact that I have a re-entry permit and extension give me right to travel and be admitted, regardless that they may be about to expire with no further guarantee of permission of stay. (or, is this just a bit hard for the airline staff to get a grip of and once they see the re-entry and extension dated into the future......they consider one or both these a VISA?

Could I try this ? again.

To make more concise, with a Re-entry Permit or Retirement Extension does the question arise that you still should have a flight booked out of Thailand, if these stamps in your passport may be due to expire?

I know Jetstar in Australia are very strict on this 'Flight Out' requirement for normal travellers, but wondering if anyone has struck the situation I have described above?

Good question and my "guess" would be they don't specify when the visa expires and just needs to be valid but if it did specify the visa length, then i would bet as long as it is over the 30-days you'd get at the airport then it would almost surely be a moot point. But it probably doesn't matter if you only have 1 day left and enter the country on that visa and not a visa exempt status. Again just guessing and not sure.

Posted

From the various input in this thread I would say that the best way of describing this onward/return document requirement from the IATA is that it is their way of trying to extort ticket money (esp. from Aussies) while claiming they are trying to minimise their risk (of having to cover the cost to fly a person back that has not been allowed entry).

The odds of a person with a valid visa of getting rejected by immigration are the same as those of a person who is entitled to "visa exempt".

PaddyBKK

  • 3 weeks later...

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