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What happens if I am denied entry into Thailand at the airport?

Aug 2, 2025
2 days ago
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
If you come by airport but they reject you and have to go back the country you come from.

Do they give you something like a "send back/not allowd to enter the country" stamp in your paspoort?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
If you are denied entry to Thailand at the airport, you will typically receive a 'denied entry stamp' in your passport, which is different from a permanent entry ban. The reasons for denial can vary, such as not having an appropriate visa, insufficient funds, or excessive visits to neighboring countries. Travelers must return to the country they arrived from, and costs can be high due to last-minute ticket purchases. It's advised to gather all necessary documentation before attempting to enter Thailand to avoid complications.
Normand **********
They gave you a drink 🥃
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
UPDATE: 2 days later they did me let me enter Thailand without any question and i also didn't show them anything. Land border.
Fred *********
AE4 written in passport is an immigration refusal code. I asked chat gpt.
Harrys ************
If you run the risk of being refused again I would prefer not to chance it
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Harrys ***********
I got an letter from my the boss from my rescue organisation. And it is only 20 to the border. If still can not I pay an agent and I can go back. The agent told me this letter should be okay.

The problem was my rescue ID card was expired. So the letter is about that.
Dylan-Jye ***********
@Farang *****
reason for rejection?
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dylan-Jye **********
Rescue ID card expired.
Steve *********
What was the reason for being denied entry?
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ********
The boss from the rescue organisation in bangkok did called to the immigration they told me this:

I've already spoken with an official. They informed me that you don't have a visa and your Rescue Association card has expired. They don't have any supporting documents, so they need to send you back to your country. If you wish to return to Thailand, the foundation in Buriram Province must issue a valid certification document before you can return.

And yes afther the rejection my rescue did write this document for me. So let's try again at the border by land tomorrow.
Steve *********
@Farang *****
best of luck to you
Muji *****
Why not use a fast-track agent.
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Muji ****
My work did send me some new papers. I did show my agent she told me the paperwork looks good. Can try by land border first (20 km from here).

IF they still reject me I gonna pay for it as you said yes.
Muji *****
@Farang *****
Yesterday, I helped two Swedes at the airport.

If you'd like our help, please come in. We have services.

I'll send you a message.
Ian *********
All this shit will put traveler’s off go Thailand
Max *************
@Ian ********
Do it the correct way and you'll always be ok. Nothing to whine about.
Ian *********
many had enough of constant changes of the rules to go Thailand lol. a lot ex pats say its eaiser go Vietnam and Cambodia and stay longer is easy
Darren *******
@Ian ********
it will put off people trying to live in Thailand on visa exemptions perhaps, it won't put off genuine tourists.
Ian *********
@Darren ******
normal tourists aint got an issue its the ones who go in and out a lot .
Darren *******
@Ian ********
so they should get the right visa for their stay, problem solved.
Ian *********
Simpl , apply for 2 mth tourist visa before u go
Nongnuch ********
@Ian ********
this won't cut much ice. If your passport shows "too many" visa-exemt entries or "touristic entries" during the recent 365 days, a 60-days tourist visa is a touristic entry and you can be refused entry even on a visa
Josh *********
Happened to me at bkk they sent me back to china then from china to London had an escort all the way with me felt like a criminal then I flew from London to Vietnam and applied for a visa there got accepted and flew to dmk they keep you detained at the airport until you book a flight with the same airline and the same route you come from
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Josh ********
Yes 100% correct. Luckily I did come from Laos and not my home the Netherlands. Unfortunately because you have to book last minute if you wanna avoid jail, it is 2 times more expensive. (In my case)
Josh *********
@Farang *****
yes cost me 48k baht for the flight back to London either that or you wait in the detention centre for another flight and I didn’t fancy doing that! But no denied entry stamp on my passport.
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Josh *********
@Farang *****
yes I have the same I wonder what it means
Heinz ***********
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Heinz **********
Strange.. they did not asked anything about any money 😅😆
Heinz ***********
@Farang *****
maybe they didn’t know the particular code? 😂
Josh *********
@Farang *****
I will check when I get home and let you know 😩🤣
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Josh ********
In passport they write something very small on one of the last pages. I even didn't see it at first. But somebody told me to look for it.
Richard ***********
You go back to the country you flew from ?
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Richard **********
Yes it was Laos. 1 hours flying. Waiting 3 hours for my flight. 4800 baht. They don't give you any other options. They force you to book a ticket to the country you come from. So they not look at your nationality or orginal hometown.

If you have to wait longer you have to wait in jail. And pay 1000 baht for every night.

They not give your passport back. You have to pick it up at the immigration from the airport you come from and talk with them.

You must enter the airplane as the last person aswell 😅😆.
Richard ***********
@Farang *****
standard all over the world I also think the airline that brings you gets fined
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Richard **********
At the airport (laos) they didn't asked me anything. Same as the immigration there. Everything did go very fast.
Richard ***********
@Farang *****
they are supposed to check but never do
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Richard **********
first time I entered Laos (before my rejection) they asked me howmuch money I have with me I said around 5k baht. They told me you should have 10k baht with you for laos immigration. So I did go to the ATM. And check in again. But they didn't check it. Laos immigration also didn't check anything. (No cash, no return ticket, no hotel booking). Also not when I entered the second time.
Jack *******
The advice I got was wait maybe 1 month and apply for a tourist evisa or possibly a longer wait for a long term visa..?!
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jack ******
They let me in 3 days later without any question 😃.
Jack *******
@Farang *****
I was advised by Thai friends that part of the problem was using DMK airport as it's highly corrupted! They say use BKK if flying in or better still just cross at a land border, far less hassle and possibly no problem at all! 👍🏻
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jack ******
I was at SUV. 3 days later I entered by land and 0 problems. Only 1 question: Buriram? And I said: " chai krup".
Jack *******
Happened to me last month from Hanoi to DMK.. You must fly back to the same departure airport with the same airline at your own expense.. best to then visit the local Thai embassy and ask for more details
Johan ********
@Jack ******
What was the reason to not let you in to Thailand ?
Jack *******
@Johan *******
Apparently too many visits to Cambodia!? I was also told later that it was because I had no accommodation booked or proof of funding, both of which I had but the first guy didn't ask for evidence of..? All just a strange experience but nobody would overrule his decision. It leaves a sour taste with planning for long term stay in the future as I was planning for on my next visa
Bert *************
They will have taken biometric data from you, fingerprints....
Bobby *********
Dude youre EMS here? One would think you wouldn’t have any issues I mean how much more quality can it get.
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby ********
My rescue card was expired 😅 I asked for a new one but right now there wasn't any time because of the war with Cambodia. And I also didn't think about it.
Gerard ******
Depends why you were denied in the first place
Brandon ************
You'll get a denied entry stamp. That's not the same as a ban. You can still return.
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
I got denied but no stamp in my passport.
Brandon ************
@Farang *****
Look in the bottom right corner of the last few pages of your passport. They probably wrote something very small in there.
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
I think that you are right could it be this? My passport is new.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Farang *****
12(2) likely refers to the Thai Immigration Act of 1979, paragraph 12, section 2. Excluded from entering the kingdom due to “no appropriate means of living…” indicating, that you could not show enough money to support your stay. However, they occasionally use that as a fallback option, too - even if not even asking for prove of funds. It’s messy.
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Brandon ************
@Farang *****
I don't know exactly what it should look like but that's probably it
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
yes I asked it.
Pete **********
@Farang *****
but your details will be recorded on the immigrations data base.
Farang ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete *********
Yes I think the same. But unfortunately we can't check it.
Max *************
@Brandon ***********
When you eventually return, what will next immigration officer think when he sees that stamp?
Aaron ******
@Max ************
the notes in the computer matter more than the stamp. Can’t just change passports like decades ago
Brandon ************
@Max ************
if they get a long term visa or pay for agent entry, they won't say anything.
Max *************
@Brandon ***********
Have you ever heard about anyone being denied entry twice in a row?
Brandon ************
@Max ************
I've never heard of anyone stupid enough to try returning without fixing what caused them to be denied
Kevin *******
@Max ************
Depends on the reason for the denial. But they will be more strict with the entry requirements and ask for proof of funds (20k baht cash) return ticket, proof of accommodation etc.
Max *************
@Kevin ******
The stamp doesn't say anything about the reason for the denial.
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