Visa on arrival and passport

[Jay2013]

Hi i would like some advice on voa when travelling from the uk on a british passport.

Is there a minimum validity needed on my passport when arriving to thailand ie: more than 6 months as i will have less then this but a return ticket booked within the 30days they issue you with.

Many thanks

[elviajero]

It's not VOA but a visa exempt (no visa) entry. Thai immigration only require that you have at least enough time remaining to cover the 30 day stay.

 

You might have a problem with the airline if they are unaware of Thailands rules.

[Maestro]

Travelling with a British passport you do not qualify for a visa on arrival>

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/files/services-20150120-100712-551809.pdf

[Maestro]

If you travel without a visa, the airline may refuse to check you in for the flight if you do not have an onward/return ticket or other acceptable evidence of onward/return travel within 30 days from your arrival in Thailand.

 

Until August 2017, single-entry tourist visas are free of charge:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/967777-thailand-approves-extension-of-free-tourist-visas-to-august-2017/

 

[BritTim]

@elvajero's advice is correct. In principle, there is no problem as long as you have a return ticket and your passport is valid for the duration of your proposed stay. However, Thailand's willingness to admit travelers with less than 6 months passport validity is uncommon. You may need to convince the airline supervisor that you understand the rules better. Consider printing out the IATA guidelines for travel to Thailand, and marking the appropriate sections with a highlight pen.

 

I have one caveat to make on the above. If your flights to/from the UK are not direct, you may have a problem that the transit countries technically do not allow you to transit with a soon-to-expire passport. This will only be a problem if the airline choose to enforce it but (unlike in the direct flight case) you will have no right to object if the airline refuse to allow you to check in. Fwiiw, I would personally never travel with a passport expiring in a few months. There are too many potential unanticipated situations where it can turn out to be problematic.

[dentonian]

What dates are you hoping to travel.

You can get a new passport within 3 weeks and any remaining validity up to 9 months on your old passport is carried forward onto your new passport.

[IMA_FARANG]

Depending on the airline policy the airline may enforce the IATA .rule that if you arrive without a Thai visa in your passport you may require a  out of country ticket to enter Thailand.

This is not a Thai rule, it comes from the IATA rules.

Not all airlines enforce this rule, but some do.

And there is no requirement for a RETURN ticket, only an out-of country ticket exiting  Thailand.

 

[Jay2013]

Right thanks for that info guys id rather just renew my passport after reading all this.

[KhunBENQ]

The standard database for the airlines ("TIMATIC web") clearly says:

 

Quote

Thailand - Destination Passport

 

Passport required.

Document validity rules:

Passports issued to nationals of United Kingdom must be valid for the period of intended stay.

Check yourself:

https://www.skyteam.com/en/flights-and-destinations/visa-and-health/

The link is from skyteam alliance but other airlines follow the same rules.

 

You could probably point to this.

 

And for the rest:

Quote

Visa required.

The following are exempt from holding a visa:

A max. stay of 30 days:

Additional information:

Visitors who are visa exempt must hold documents for their 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 honored in Thailand. Exempt are: holders of a re-entry visa.

Important:

Visitors who are visa exempt but do not hold return/onward tickets could be refused entry.

Any document that proofs travel out of Thailand (aka. "next destination") would be fine.

 

And as usual:

some airlines simply don't care much about it while others are very strictly checking against the rules.

 

[tgeezer]

Depending on the airline policy the airline may enforce the IATA .rule that if you arrive without a Thai visa in your passport you may require a  out of country ticket to enter Thailand.
This is not a Thai rule, it comes from the IATA rules.
Not all airlines enforce this rule, but some do.
And there is no requirement for a RETURN ticket, only an out-of country ticket exiting  Thailand.
 

That is not my understanding.
IATA agreed that the passenger is responsible and must reimburse the Carrier for any expenses incurred if the passenger is denied entry to the country. Airlines cover potential loss by requiring a return ticket. I think that any airline would be happy to issue a one way ticket if the passenger had a valid visa, but Thailand's policy of visa free travel increases the chance of a 'refused entry' occuring.