Answered5 months ago
Will I face issues at Thai immigration if my appearance (shaven) differs from my passport (bearded)?
I’m planning to have some facial surgery done in Thailand which will involve me being clean shaven, as my passport shows me wearing a beard that I have had for over 40 years, how will I go with Thai officials if my features don’t match my passport?
Answer summary
The user is concerned about potential issues with Thai immigration due to a drastic change in appearance from a bearded passport photo to being clean shaven for facial surgery. The community suggests that, based on modern biometric technology, the absence of a beard should not pose a significant problem during entry or exit. Many share their experiences of having no issues despite differences in appearance, emphasizing that fingerprints and facial recognition are the primary focus rather than facial hair.
69 repliesnewest first
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Chuck ******
Shave after you go through immigration?
Paul ***********
Just don’t come mate. Go somewhere else instead
Knowledgeab***********
You’re gonna have more problems with the gender change you are doing than the hair on your face🤪
Phil ******
Is it illegal to shave in thailand, ffs
Kim ******
Its no big deal. I was bald from cancer in my picture. Now I have long hair and don't look as sick. They don't even ask. They know to use other forms of recognition.
Mick *****
OMG - My passport photo has a beard , I had to shave it off 2 years ago. Never ever had a problem.
Andrew ******
They may lock you up until beard can grow back.
Sean **********
Should not be any problems. My passport has me without a beard and last entered with one.
Erik *********
All white people look the same to them anyways so you will be ok
Bill **********
Wear a beard?Never heard that before😂
Guz ********
Seriously how daft can a person be. Since when do biometrics depend on facial hair!! It's like asking will shaving affect my fingerprints!!
Copper*******
It's biometrics face and finger, doesn't matter my photo is about 9 years old on my passport, don't keep same hair and beard for that time 🤣 some common sense works, how do you survive this far in live ?
Alexander *******
I think you re entitled to shave the thing off. Imagine if you had some kind of skin issue.
Martin *******
If they will shave you before the operation, then you will already be in Thailand 🇹🇭 so you will have no issues with immigration, just show medical paperwork when you are leaving.
Frank **********
You ever heard of "Mr Obvious"? Shave your beard after you arrive then. Maybe you can get a package deal with a brain transplant l.🤣🤣🤣🤣
Bernie *******
OP@Frank *********
you must have taken a while to come up with that, I have to have surgery not cosmetic, in Australia before I go to Thailand , I’m getting cosmetic treatment in Thailand because it’s a lot cheaper than Australia . Was hoping for a little advice before hand but it seems some of you are brain surgeons and can’t give advice
Bent *************
Bernie Brown
Get a new passport!
Get a new passport!
Bob *******
No problem
Bernie *************
Have a shave after you arrive 😎
Alexander *********
Even sex change is no problem for Thai immigration.
Jonah *****
Are you a man or a woman?
Michael *******
I wear a beard now, my passport photo is 7 years old, clean shaven. No issues entering or leaving Thailand….
Darren ********
Your finger prints wouldn’t have changed through immigration
Terry ***********
Yes, I had to change my passport Photo when I had my teeth done in Turkey. 🇹🇷
Joe **********
Fingerprints/biometric passport. You'll be ok
Gary *******
Just take some before and after pics with details of your op 👍
Steven *******
Fingerprints & facial recognition.
Paul *****************
You aren’t the first person to have a beard and shave it off pal !!
Bernie *******
OPPaul Vincent Seaman would you recognise Jesus without a beard 🧔♂️
Gregg *******
Bernie Brown the stigmata on his hands and feet would give him away.
Dave ******
Bernie Brown unlikely Jesus went to Suvanabhumi.
Claire **********
Bernie Brown who’s Jesus?? 🤔
Paul *****************
Bernie Brown did Jesus have a beard?
Doris ***********
Paul Vincent Seaman Der hatte auch keinen Pass!🤣🤣
Paul ********
It’s brain surgery you need, Shave after you arrive in Thailand.
Bernie *******
OPPaul Lappin checkout reply to
@Frank *********
Patrick *******
Bring a passport picture of you with the beard. Might help clear things up
Paul ********
You will exit via an e-gate which will work it out
Jay *******
Shave your beard in Thailand. They don't care what you look like when you leave.
David **********
Think that with modern technology it concentrates more on eyes, nose and general face structure rather than beard, you should be fine
Magnus *********************
Fingerprints and eyes is all they see, facial beards has no matter. They may ask buts that’s all.
Think it’s more then 20 years ago we needed to tilt the head so one ear was shown but no more.
Think it’s more then 20 years ago we needed to tilt the head so one ear was shown but no more.
Alan ******
You think you are the first person to have had a beard on a passport photo, and now clean shaved ?????
Dee ********
Your biometrics wouldn't have changed
MagentaCra**********
Jesus Just shave after you arrive
Bernie *******
OPMagentaCranberry3002 have you ever seen Jesus without a beard, would you worship him?
Bob ******
Bernie Brown 😆
Cherie ********
Worked international arrivals for a major airline in San Francisco…can’t tell you how many times the passport gender no longer matched the passenger in front of us..
And still remember one passenger who had gender reassignment on his/her trip..had to use a wheelchair because still recovering..only thing US Customs said was “girl, you need to do something with those nails, they’re looking raggedy “
And still remember one passenger who had gender reassignment on his/her trip..had to use a wheelchair because still recovering..only thing US Customs said was “girl, you need to do something with those nails, they’re looking raggedy “
Kadeem ********
Biometrics don’t work like that it won’t matter if specially if you have a new passport I don’t look anything like my passport pictures. Had comments but never any problems
Gerar ********
I did it the other around, arrived with a full beard and clean shaven in passport.
No problem whatsoever.
You will be fine. 😊
No problem whatsoever.
You will be fine. 😊
Kevin **********
Gerar Teuben you guys should just switch passports. Problem Solved. Next time come to me first
Gerar ********
Please explain why ??
Kevin **********
Gerar Teuben it was a joke Duh! One had a beard in their passport picture but doesn't now and the other didn't but does.
Kool *******
Just get shaved after you get here. Then you've got no problems entering.
Luc ************
Kool Breez he will have a problem exiting without a beard and a new face. No fingerprints on departure 555
Kool *******
Luc De Clerck on departure he can just go through the scan your passport departure gates. He doesn't have to interact with an actual agent, because he is leaving, and not on overstay owing money.
Connor **********
Kool Breez This is so obviously the correct answer it makes me wonder whether he’s just phishing for info about flying on someone else’s passport
Bob ******
Take some before pics on your phone that will show the dates in the picture information and after photos that will also show the pictures with date time and location and be prepared to show medical papers and you should have no problem
Paul ********
Have you been here before and done the fingerprints at immigration?
Copper*******
Paul Durkan this has to bullshit I've never entered Thailand without putting my fingerprint down 🤣
Andrew ******
CopperElk5611 All changed man.
Copper*******
Andrew Hart what's changed ? 🤣 I literally entered twice this month and come every month . everyone scans there biometrics at immigration on entry
John ********
Paul Durkan I have lived here for 20 years, retirement visa.
Never had my finger prints taken
Never had my finger prints taken
Deric ************
John Harvey they were fingerprinting farangs left n right last month at BKK.
Andrew ******
Deric Glissmeyer And others also
Luc ************
John Harvey you never went out of the Kingdom in 20 years?
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