thailand
Ask question
This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Can I transit through Bangkok on my way to London if I am prohibited from re-entering Thailand?

Thailand immigrationTransit rulesVisa restrictionsTravel adviceCustoms proceduresSelf-transfer flights
Apr 3, 2025
9 days ago
Mark *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi , can I get advice please, I exited Thailand on 23-3-25 after a eight month stay , (broken up by a boarder run and two weeks in Vietnam) so in that eight month period I was in Thailand for over seven months …. I was told by immigration I cannot re-enter Thailand for a six month period….. I’m now in The Philippines wanting to book a trip to London / Heathrow,, nearly all the flights go via Bangkok ,, self transfer ….. Will I be allowed to enter Thailand as technically I have to go through customs to claim my baggage to rebook on connecting flight ?? TIA..
2,324
views
9
likes
60
all likes
25
replies
0
images
14
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires whether they can transit through Bangkok while on their way to Heathrow, considering they've been informed by Thai immigration they cannot re-enter Thailand for six months after a lengthy stay. Comments suggest that if the flight is booked as a connection (without needing to retrieve baggage), entry might be avoided, but answers differ on the necessity of customs clearance in a self-transfer scenario.
Pelle Eriksson
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...
recently on Facebook
Luca G.
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...
recently on Google
Trusted Thai Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Steve *********
Fly Singapore Airlines, to Singapore, and continue on to the UK
8 days ago
Like
Reply
Richard ******
If you do a transfer all on one ticket from origin to destination technically you are not entering Thailand 🇹🇭 just making a connection. Your bags should be booked to final destination as well.
8 days ago
Like
Reply
Meady *********
Immigration I'd for leaving and entering only
9 days ago
Like
Reply
John *********
Only transit
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Darren **********
Anytime I’ve ever traveled and had a layover in a foreign country. I’ve never gone through customs. I’ve just gone to the gate where my next flight will be.
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Brandon ************
@Darren *********
 A self-transfer means it 2 separate tickets. One booked to Bangkok, then a different ticket purchased from Bangkok to the next destination. That means you have to leave the secure area going through passport control to check-in for your next flight at the main desks.
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Darren **********
@Brandon ***********
 what’s the benefit of doing that?
8 days ago
Like
Reply
Brandon ************
@Darren *********
 Sometimes can be cheaper, sometimes need more time in a place, many potential reasons.
8 days ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Jim ********
@Darren *********
 self transfer is different
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Jim ********
Reply
Ollie *******
KLM doesn’t go Bangkok from Philippines.
9 days ago
Like
Reply
William *********
Try Manila/Tapei/ Heathrow with EVA, done it a few years ago and it was fine.
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Charles ******
I'm sure there's other local international airports that fly direct to London, can you not just get a cheap interconnecting flight to one of them. I'm pretty sure Hanoi does, maybe HCMC or Kuala Lumpur
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Mike *******
A friend just flew from Manila to Heathrow on Thai Airways and transited in Bangkok without entering Thailand. Can’t you do the same?
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Mark *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mike ******
 not on a self transfer , I’m not sure maybe without checked luggage ? But to claim checked luggage you have to go through customs , therefore actually entering Thailand …. So it appears it’s not possible 🙅
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Elías ********
@Mark ********
 you don't need to claim baggage if the whole trip is on the same airline or other work code-share.
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Mike *******
@Mark ********
 So why do a self transfer, rather than transit? Surely transit is an option.
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Mike *******
Reply
John ********
There is no harm in dreaming of course you will be turned around and a answer to your question is NO WAY 🤣🤣
9 days ago
Like
Reply
John ********
Darren Thailand no different than you asshole
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Mark *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Darren Thailand sarcasm 😉
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Darren **********
@Mark ********
 😯
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Darren **********
Reply
Mark *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 ok thanks for info, wasn’t dreaming at all , didn’t know , that’s why I was asking the question ….Maybe one day I’ll be as vastly knowledgeable as you ……. 🙈
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Darren **********
@Mark ********
 you think he’s knowledgeable? I thought he was being an asshole. 
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Braulio *********
@Mark ********
 ...,it's an adult skill to be polite
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Mark *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Braulio ********
 doesn’t take an adult to be polite , it’s just common decency, plenty of children have it also …. 🤔
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Mark *********
Reply
Michael **********
nope, self transfer means you have to get through the custom and that means that you'll get denied in. Check on Hong Kong or china instead
9 days ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Michael **********
Reply
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
Can I enter Thailand without a confirmed onward flight ticket as a UK citizen living in France?
7 comments
3 months ago
Will I be admitted to Thailand with a return flight ticket dated six months after arrival?
27 comments
6 months ago
What should I do about my exit flight from Thailand if my return is after the 60-day visa-free stay?
7 comments
8 months ago
Do I need a separate transit visa for a self-transfer at Bangkok airport when traveling domestically within Thailand?
8 comments
2 years ago
Can I check my bags through from Chiang Mai to Tokyo, and do I need to go through immigration in Bangkok?
5 comments
2 years ago
Should I get a transit visa for my short stay at Suvarnabhumi airport returning to Melbourne from India?
5 comments
2 years ago
Do I need a transit visa for Thailand if I have a 6-hour self-transfer flight?
1 comments
3 years ago
Do I need a Thai Pass and a transit visa for my layover in Bangkok on my way to the UK?
25 comments
3 years ago
What are the immigration and visa requirements for a long transit in Bangkok with a flight change?
9 comments
3 years ago
Will I clear immigration in Bangkok if I fly from Phnom Penh to Phuket with a stopover?
16 comments
3 years ago
Do you need to quarantine if transiting through Bangkok, Thailand?
9 comments
3 years ago
Do I need to meet entry requirements for a 10-hour layover in Bangkok if I'm not entering Thailand?
4 comments
3 years ago
How does the transit process work for a flight from Bangkok to Brazil with a stop in Cambodia?
8 comments
3 years ago
Can I self transit through Bangkok airport without quarantine on my way to Phnom Penh?
9 comments
3 years ago
Can I exit the airport in Thailand to collect my luggage and return without being quarantined?
29 comments
3 years ago
What are the current immigration rules for transiting through Bangkok for a short layover?
16 comments
3 years ago
What are the requirements for self-transfer passengers in Bangkok if they have a layover with separate tickets?
27 comments
3 years ago
Can I connect to a flight in Bangkok to Phuket while traveling during November and what are the current regulations for transit?
3 comments
3 years ago
Do Bangkok airports offer a transit visa for short layovers between international flights?
48 comments
6 years ago
Can I attempt immigration in Thailand during a layover with a Tourist Visa if I'm denied entry?
0 comments
6 years ago
Can I book a hotel in Bangkok during a layover without losing my re-entry permit for my non-immigrant O visa?
11 comments
6 years ago
What is the best route back to Bangkok considering my Thai visa status and recent stays?
3 comments
6 years ago
Can I transit through Bangkok without a visa if I have a separate onward flight?
17 comments
7 years ago
Can I use a single re-entry permit if I transit through Bangkok on my way to the UK before returning to Thailand while on a non-B visa?
5 comments
7 years ago
What is the best cannabis dispensary in Bangkok?
7 comments
a month ago
Where can I find the best cannabis dispensary in Chon Buri?
9 comments
a month ago
What are the best dispensaries in Phuket?
21 comments
a month ago
What is the best cannabis dispensary in Surat Thani?
16 comments
a month ago
Where can I find the best weed in Chiang Mai?
8 comments
a month ago
Data protection policyTerms and conditionsDisclaimerPrivacy policyRefund policy
The asq:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.