Answered2 years ago
Does Thailand require a passport to be valid for 6 months for entry on a visa exemption?
Hi all,
A friend is coming to Thailand at the end of the month on visa exemption and has just realised her passport expires within 4 months since her entry in the country. She only plans to stay for 3 weeks on holidays and has a ticket back home.
I believe Thailand does not apply the “6-month validity” rule but simply requires for the passport to be valid throughout the stay.
I highly doubt she would have any issues at immigration once in Bangkok but the airline might refuse boarding. So I am looking for an official source stating that the passport only needs to be valid for the duration of the stay. Any leads on where to find it?
Thanks!
P.s. she has already applied for a new passport but might take too long.
A friend is coming to Thailand at the end of the month on visa exemption and has just realised her passport expires within 4 months since her entry in the country. She only plans to stay for 3 weeks on holidays and has a ticket back home.
I believe Thailand does not apply the “6-month validity” rule but simply requires for the passport to be valid throughout the stay.
I highly doubt she would have any issues at immigration once in Bangkok but the airline might refuse boarding. So I am looking for an official source stating that the passport only needs to be valid for the duration of the stay. Any leads on where to find it?
Thanks!
P.s. she has already applied for a new passport but might take too long.
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around whether Thailand requires a passport to have at least six months of validity beyond entry for those traveling on a visa exemption. Some users assert that while Thailand may not enforce this rule, many airlines do. The consensus is that although Thailand allows entry as long as the passport is valid for the duration of stay, airlines often deny boarding if the passport is not valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Official confirmation is sought regarding the requirements from relevant authorities, particularly for airline policies.
60 repliesnewest first
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Holger **************
She might have Problems with the Airline at Check inn
Kenneth *******
Go to the US embassy and see what she can do. in Bangkok
Benjamin *********
Send an email to a Thai embassy asking for a letter/email indicating what you require.
Terary **********
The concern is the Airline - they tend to be more strict the the government.
David **********
Do not try to travel with under 6 months on passport. Almost certainly, the airline will refuse to allow you to board.
Eric *******
if your passport isn't valid 6month from your dearture, you will be not accept on board
Baz *********
Your passport must have at least 6 months left before it expires at the time of entry..
It's unlikely the airline will allow your friend to board the flight on that old passport.
You don't mention your friends passport country?
But some countries allow express passport processing for an additional fee..
And if they have a passport from a country that requires a visa BEFORE you fly then that also could be a problem arranging a last minute visa with limited time..
If they have a visa already on the old passport number that will not be valid anymore
It's unlikely the airline will allow your friend to board the flight on that old passport.
You don't mention your friends passport country?
But some countries allow express passport processing for an additional fee..
And if they have a passport from a country that requires a visa BEFORE you fly then that also could be a problem arranging a last minute visa with limited time..
If they have a visa already on the old passport number that will not be valid anymore
Andy **********
If its a UK passport and shes still in UK then she can apply for a priority service think its £207 and you make your appointment online and upload the necessary then pick it up on the day of the appointment.
Expensive option but at least you are not relying on the pist etc
Expensive option but at least you are not relying on the pist etc
Scotty *******
I had a friend come to visit me last month in thsiland had only 4 months left he managed to get into thsiland from Sydney Australia but he was travelling to Cambodia as well and they wouldn't let him board the flight from bangkok to there
So you could be rolling the dice and maybe my friend was lucky to get into thailand
So you could be rolling the dice and maybe my friend was lucky to get into thailand
Brandon ************
@Scotty ******
Cambodia and all the other countries in SE Asia have an actual rule that says you cannot enter without 6 months on your passport. But Thailand does not have such a rule
Tim *******
coreect the duration of stay but ask airline! they the ones to prevent u from flying
Madz ******
You need 6 months from date of entry. If they are in UK passport turnaround at the moment is 4 days 👍🏽
Michael *********
I got a new passport in 3 days
Braulio *********
she can go to passport office near her home and get a new passport the same day
Alex *******
This happened to somebody I knew from the uk before covid, I can't see it being any different now. He was refused at check-in by the airline. He told me most of south east asia is the same 6 month rule. He flew to Europe instead as I believe it's a 3 month rule for entry to countries there. I'm from the UK and getting a new updated passport took me 1 week. I'm sure you pay extra an can do it 1 day or 1 week. Good luck
Henry *********
Although Thailand does not require 6 months validity as long as the passport is valid for the duration of stay, most airlines don't seem to accept this over an abundance of caution. I have been in this situation although over a land border and although the UK Embassy told me I needed 6 months, they were wrong and I was admitted. Your situation is tricky as it may be more difficult to convince the airline check-in. A letter from someone in authority in Thailand may help. Good luck.
Stephen *********
I entered at a border one time and a Swiss guy in front of me was denied as he didn't have six months left on his passport expiry. He was turned back and told to get a temporary passport at his embassy in Cambodia.
Cissi *********
@Stephen ********
was that at a thai border?Stephen *********
@Cissi ********
yes, poipetBrandon ************
@Stephen ********
that's the worst land border in Thailand. They literally make up reasons to deny entry to people daily
Jack ********
Did she apply for a new passport and not have to send in the old one?
Andrea **********
OP@Jack *******
yes, standard practice for a few countries in Europe that I know of. The old one is only cancelled (but retained by the holder) when the new one is issued.Brandon ************
You're asking to prove a negative. They're not going to post something that says you don't need 6 months on your passport to enter. They would only publish something that says when you cannot enter.
The rule for Thailand is that you must have 6 months on your passport to apply for a visa at an embassy. To enter the country you'll only be stamped in until the end of your passport validity if you passport is valid for less time than your visa or approval would normally allow.
The rule for Thailand is that you must have 6 months on your passport to apply for a visa at an embassy. To enter the country you'll only be stamped in until the end of your passport validity if you passport is valid for less time than your visa or approval would normally allow.
Brian ********
@Brandon ***********
I thought if you apply for a new passport, you have to send in your old passport ?Andrea **********
OP@Brian *******
many countries in Europe including mine (Italy) and that of my friend (France) only cancel the old passport when the new one is issued and we keep the old one in the meantime. My country (I don’t know about France) does not even require us to return the passport after the new one is issued, they simply mark it as cancelled and we keep both.
Ralph *******
@Andrea *********
The UK needs you to provide your passport when applying for a new one. They then cancel your old one but return it.Brandon ************
@Brian *******
I don't know what country the person is from. Every country has their own procedure for renewal.Andrea **********
OP@Brandon ***********
very good point, thank you. I guess what I meant and would need is more an official statement of requirements for visa exemption. The absence of the 6-month validity in the list would support the argument that this is indeed not a requirement. We already have the dedicated page on the website of the Thai embassy of my friend’s country (France), but a source from immigration would of course be more solid evidence.Brandon ************
@Andrea *********
you can try finding what the Timatic/IATA system says for Thailand. That is what airlines use to determine entry eligibility. Check a country that requires 6 months and see what Timatic says, and then check Thailand.
Steve *******
Not sure what country your frien passport is from but most Thai embassy’s consulates have a fb page you can message them direct to get the official answer but a few people here have already suggested it’s six months which sounds correct
My experience has been only if your travelling to the country the passport is issued can you travel up to the date of expiry which is what happened to me a year ago .
My experience has been only if your travelling to the country the passport is issued can you travel up to the date of expiry which is what happened to me a year ago .
Shane *******
Lol its not just thailand who says 6 months atleast remaining on passport ..I think you'll find this is the case in all countries...
Brandon ************
@Shane ******
Thailand has no such rule
Paul *******
@Shane ******
not ukMaksym ***********
Official embassy website says
"Visa exemption conditions:
Passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival in Thailand"
"Visa exemption conditions:
Passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival in Thailand"
Kim *********
@Maksym **********
which official website? And besides that it is quite common that embassy websites are not up to date. The way to go is immigration - not embassyAndrea **********
OP@Maksym **********
thank you. I am looking for an official source from the Thai immigration. Each embassy has their own website and I am not sure to which one you are referring to. The websites of the Thai embassy in my country as well as the Thai embassy in my friend’s country do NOT indicate 6-month validity in the list of requirements for visa exemption. This is only listed as a requirement for the Tourist Visa.
Steven *******
@Andrea *********
If you’re looking for an official ruling from Immigration, why post on Facebook? Ask Immigration.Andrea **********
OP@Steven ******
thank you. If it were that easy I would have done it already, but the Thai immigration system (and I assume that of many other countries) is not necessarily user-friendly and accessible. Hence why I asked for “visa advice” on a Facebook group called “Thailand visa advice”, with the hope someone might have a lead to such a statement.Maksym ***********
How can you get an official confirmation for this, if officially Thailand require 6+ months validity? 🤔
Brandon ************
@Maksym **********
Thailand doesn't require 6 months to enter the country. They only require 6 months to apply for a visa through an embassyMaksym ***********
@Brandon ***********
Thai Embassy said also about visa exemption: "Visa exemption conditions:
Passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival in Thailand."
Brandon ************
@Maksym **********
which embassy? There are dozens of embassies and multiple embassies have rules posted that don't exist and have never existed. And to top it off embassies are part of the MFA that doesn't even make policies about entering Thailand, that's immigration which is under the Department of the Interior. So what embassies have posted literally means nothing.
Willem ****
@Brandon ***********
Not correct!!!Graham ******
@Maksym **********
The fact is Thailand doesn't or can you provide a Thai Immigration link?Maksym ***********
@Graham *****
just open Thai Embassy website. I seen it on Warsaw one.Graham ******
@Maksym **********
I said Immigration but good try
Ian **********
Only her airline can answer your question
Paul *******
Needs 6 months on passport.
Ralph *******
I think your friend has planned poorly. Do they have time to get a new passport?
Andrea **********
OP@Ralph ******
as indicated in my message she has already applied but it is unsure if she would get it on time.Andrea **********
OPThanks, I posted my message looking for someone who may kindly be able to support. There is no need to state the obvious and criticize strangers when unnecessary. Have a nice day.
John ********
@Andrea *********
correct only helpful answers please hope all goes wellRalph *******
@Andrea *********
Ok. And as I said, planned poorly.
Jon *****
@Ralph ******
OK Mister PerfectGraham ******
You are correct but many airlines have the 6 month rule regardless of the final destination. I think your friend needs to contact them when you get the Thailand entry proof to see their response.
Andrea **********
OP@Graham *****
@Ian *********
the airline has indicated she has to get confirmation of the rule from Thai immigration 🤷♀️ hence why we are looking for an official source.
Bob **********
@Andrea *********
try the Thai embassyIan **********
@Andrea *********
6 month validity is required for Tourist Visas which is what the airlines work on but Visa on Arrival and Visa-exempt entries only require the passport to last longer than the permitted stay. That is the rule but even Embassies give out the wrong information so good luck with finding the official statement. ******************************
******************************
Graham ******
@Andrea *********
ok, sorry I can't provide the link (but I think the RTE London wensite FAQs might say that 6 months validity is not required but better to have an Immigration link).Activity
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