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

Why does Thai immigration ask about having a girlfriend during entry?

Thai ImmigrationVisa RulesExpats in ThailandTourist VisaDTV (Double Tourist Visa)Thai CultureImmigration Procedures
Dec 11, 2025
a day ago
Pekka **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Why does the immigration ask whether you have a girlfriend in thailand? If you have DTV, is it a good idea to say that you have one if they pull you aside? I don't get the logic.
7,068
views
48
replies
0
images
22
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The immigration officers in Thailand may ask about personal relationships, such as having a girlfriend, as part of their discretion in assessing a traveler's intent. Responses to this question can vary among officers, with some believing it may help the traveler’s case while others may view it negatively. Experiences differ widely, with some expats reporting never being asked this question during their travels. Cultural norms in Thailand often accept relationships between foreigners and locals, leading to a mix of opinions on how to respond.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Pelle Eriksson
Pelle Erikssonβ˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...
recently on Facebook
Luca G.
Luca G.β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...
recently on Google
Trusted DTV Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Ian *********
They want to see if she’s picking you up so they can then get tourist police to talk to her and tell you, you need to pay a bribe to enter. It’s happend to me.
a day ago
Reply
Alexey **********
They have a right to ask even her phone to call her and to ask some questions what are you doing in Thailand.
a day ago
Reply
Ethan *****
@Alexey *********
 yes they did it to me last year
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Ethan *****
Reply
Gordon *********
Tell them you're a butterfly
a day ago
Reply
Corey ******
@Gordon ********
 πŸ’―πŸ’―πŸ’―
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Corey ******
Reply
Chris *****
Usually Thai people strongly support foreigners having a Thai wife, mistress or gf. It's also normal in Thai society to have several mistresses at once (one "major" a.k.a. "wife" & several "minor" ones). Can some Thai immigration official please confirm this?! πŸ’₯πŸ₯³πŸ™πŸΌ
a day ago
Reply
Mark *******
@Chris ****
 incorrect. Being tolerated by SOME is not the same as being supportive of or being normal.
a day ago
Reply
Chris *****
@Mark ******
 Ofc this is not "official" policy. But Thai culture does it this way. It's even engraved in Thai language having dedicated Thai words for this (I assume you can read & write Thai). And "everyone" (referring to Thais) knows that HM the King has an official wife a.k.a HM the Queen and several mistresses. I am happy to be proven "wrong" though krab πŸ™πŸΌ
a day ago
Reply
Mark *******
@Chris ****
 yes I can read but not write. It is extemely outdated.
a day ago
Reply
Joel *********
@Chris ****
 I just asked my thai wife and she says you're extremely wrong. I dont know where you heard that, but its awful advice to be giving out to people.
a day ago
Reply
Juan ******
@Joel ********
 What he says it's true, historically Thailand is a country where it was normal to have multiple wives. Now only one person we all know have twenty something...
a day ago
Reply
Mark *******
@Juan *****
 20+ years ago. Not something common now...and it was always only tolerated but not actually "supported". It was to remain unspoken and not open. Try telling this to any young Thai woman today and she will have your head on a stick
a day ago
Reply
Joel *********
@Mark ******
 dude thank you. This man is out of his mind. My wife is 22 and even me bringing it up to ask about it pissed her off and she asked "WHY YOU ASK?!" πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
11 hours ago
Reply
Mark *******
@Joel ********
 yeh be careful πŸ˜…πŸ˜…
10 hours ago
Reply
Joel *********
@Juan *****
 maybe if you're royalty or high society. But for normal everyday thai people thats not true. Not trying to be rude, but I think ill believe my thai friends and wife over two farang on the internet. And I don't mean to say that in a derogatory way, im farang too πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
a day ago
Reply
Juan ******
@Joel ********
 We are talking about 3 centuries ago when it was also normal for women to be bare chested on public. Before all the western influence came in.
a day ago
Reply
Joel *********
@Juan *****
 what is the point youre trying to make? That its the same way now or what?
a day ago
Reply
Juan ******
@Joel ********
 No the point I was trying to make is that culturally in Thailand it's not so strange. As the clothing and the monogamy was imposed by the west.
a day ago
Reply
Joel *********
@Juan *****
 bro are you really trying to suggest that the only country in SE Asia that WASNT occupied by the west has a value system "imposed" on it? Come on man. Where are you even from? You know better than Thai people apparently?
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Joel *********
Reply
Deiter ********
Just tell them you are into LB, that should change the line of questioning pretty rapidly
a day ago
Reply
Deiter ********
@Chris ****
 Smart one there Chris, lets smoke out the immigration officers lurking on this page gathering info on the bad farangs 😜
a day ago
Reply
Richard ***********
Mia nois 😍🀣
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Richard ***********
Reply
Robin *******
14 years twice a year never been asked
a day ago
Reply
Winston ********
If you tell them that you have a Ladyboy they will give you an extension with no problem πŸ€”πŸ˜³πŸ˜‚
a day ago
Reply
TaupeSh*******
@Winston *******
 a very short extension πŸ˜…πŸ˜…
a day ago
Reply
Robert **********
@Winston *******
 but, the ladyboy already has an extention :-) (not that I would know hahaha)
a day ago
Reply
Markie ******
@Robert *********
 obviously Winston knows
a day ago
Reply
Gerry *******
@Robert *********
 by definition, they do 🀣🀣
a day ago
Reply
Wayne ********
@Robert *********
 I guess it all depends if you’re the pitcher or the catcher
a day ago
Reply
Winston ********
@Robert *********
 πŸ˜­πŸ€£πŸ˜‚
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Winston ********
Reply
Wayne ********
@Winston *******
 If he tells them that he will get an extension all right, but it won’t be from the immigration officer.
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Wayne ********
Reply
κΉ€**
I’ve been asked by immigration before if I had a girlfriend that I was coming to visit. I told them no. As she was calling my phone 🫠
a day ago
Reply
Lucas **********
Say no ...
a day ago
Reply
Eric **********
@Lucas *********
 Β« no , not one , five Β»
a day ago
Reply
Tristin *********
2 here πŸ˜‚
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Tristin *********
Reply
Jon ********
They never ask that.
a day ago
Reply
Jean ************
@Jon *******
 they ask me in order to explain to her and she translate to me
a day ago
Reply
Ben ********
@Jon *******
 I’ve been asked before
a day ago
Reply
Nicolas ***********
@Ben *******
 happened to me as well a couple of years ago ^^
a day ago
Reply
Jon ********
@Ben *******
 You must be lucky. I have flown in and out of Thailand more times than I can remember and I live here as well. The only inquiry I was ever asked was where was my final destination is as my ticket was one way. It was not immigration asking the question. It was the airline when I checked in
a day ago
Reply
Graham ******
@Jon *******
 yes but what visa are you entering on?
a day ago
Reply
Jon ********
@Graham *****
 work permit, marriage and retirement.
a day ago
Reply
Graham ******
@Jon *******
 so you're not a tourist and this requirement does not apply to you ;)
a day ago
Reply
Jon ********
@Graham *****
 piss off ahole. I flew in many times as a tourist before I moved here.
a day ago
Reply
Thaimer ******
@Jon *******
 they don’t ask these questions to these mentally challenged as you
a day ago
Reply
Jon ********
@Thaimer *****
 so said the incel
a day ago
Reply
Thaimer ******
@Jon *******
 said one with bar girl
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Thaimer ******
Reply
Brandon ************
That's not really possible to answer, because everything is up to the discretion of the immigration officer you are talking to.

For some officers, that might help your case. For others it might hurt it.
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members Β· 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
Why should I choose a DTV visa instead of a marriage visa if my spouse is Thai?
31 comments
2 months ago
Should I mention my Thai girlfriend in my workcation visa cover letter?
3 comments
4 months ago
What should expats know about entering Thailand with a DTV visa?
127 comments
5 months ago
Why do I keep facing questioning at immigration with my DTV visa in Thailand?
112 comments
6 months ago
Why was my entry denied by the immigration officer in Thailand despite having a DTV?
77 comments
7 months ago
What questions does Immigration ask when returning to Thailand after a DTV visa trip?
25 comments
8 months ago
Why do Thai immigration officers ask if you are leaving for a short or long time?
16 comments
8 months ago
What questions can you expect when entering Thailand with a DTV visa at the land border?
4 comments
8 months ago
What questions can be expected when entering Thailand with a DTV visa?
12 comments
8 months ago
What is the experience like arriving in Thailand through immigration with a DTV visa?
7 comments
9 months ago
What documents are required when entering Thailand on a DTV visa?
3 comments
9 months ago
Do Thai immigration officers ask for proof of DTV status upon re-entry?
14 comments
10 months ago
Why did the immigration officer question my activities in Thailand during my DTV exit?
32 comments
a year ago
What should I expect when entering Thailand with a DTV visa?
12 comments
a year ago
Why am I being interrogated by Thai immigration despite having a valid DTV visa?
64 comments
a year ago
Why was my immigration experience in Thailand so complicated with a DTV Visa?
88 comments
a year ago
Has anyone with a DTV experienced questioning during immigration in Thailand due to a history of tourist visas?
8 comments
a year ago
Can DTV visa holders apply for their girlfriend or boyfriend in Thailand?
7 comments
a year ago
What should I tell immigration in Thailand about my visit to my girlfriend with a tourist visa?
52 comments
2 years ago
Why is my Multiple Entry Tourist visa being questioned at Thai immigration?
43 comments
2 years ago
What types of questions do customs and immigration ask when entering Thailand?
102 comments
3 years ago
Should I mention my engagement to a Thai woman when applying for a visa to Thailand?
127 comments
5 years ago
What should I write on the Multi-Entry Visa form for visiting my girlfriend in Thailand?
13 comments
7 years ago
What should I do after being questioned by Thai immigration about my long-term stay without marriage?
47 comments
7 years ago
What should I know about being questioned at BKK airport about my visa status?
30 comments
8 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.