Answereda month ago
Will my passport expiration in 6 months affect my entry into Thailand next week?
I just received an email to inform me that my passport expires in 6 months. I am working remotely in Australia and unable to access a Post Office to apply for renewal. Is this likely to stop me from entering Thailand next week for my 12 days off, even tho I have a return ticket already?
Answer summary
The concern raised by the user revolves around the potential impact of a passport set to expire in six months on their entry into Thailand for a planned 12-day trip. While many commenters highlight that Thailand does not strictly require a passport to have six months' validity for entry, they emphasize the importance of airline policies, which often do enforce this rule. Most airlines will not let passengers board if their passport has less than six months of validity. Therefore, it's crucial for the user to confirm directly with their airline regarding boarding policies and to consider renewing their passport before traveling to avoid any travel issues.
76 repliesnewest first
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Mauricio *******
Wake up...
Gary *********
Is your holiday more important than renewing your passport???
Gregg *******
OPThanks to all those that contributed helpful comments from their personal experiences. I am sure now that it won't be a problem and that I will be able to be in Thailand next Saturday to take delivery of my new Everest Sport and celebrate my 8th anniversary the following week. I will fly back a day early and organise a new passport for my next break.😁
Jeffrey *********
Bit of a dingo not to khow passport due wise upp
Gregg *******
OPJeffrey Collins I knew the expiry date before receiving the reminder notification. Please restrict your comments to helpful input and refrain from name calling if you find yourself unable to scroll on.
Paul ******
No 6 months no entry I believe
Angelo ***********
Strictly speaking, the 6 month requirement is for applying for the visa. If you lock carefully at the visa requirements, it might state, that the passport needs to eb valid 6month ehen entering the country.
No idea what your "post office problem" is.
Australia most certainly has an Embassy, or Consulate that can make you a new passport.
But: next week, that is rather challanging.
No idea what your "post office problem" is.
Australia most certainly has an Embassy, or Consulate that can make you a new passport.
But: next week, that is rather challanging.
John *******
Angelo Schneider Australia is a Corporate Dictatorship run by Australia Post and a Foxy Trucking Magnate; offering free gas, oil, minerals and forestry products to any foreign Corporation or ultra rich Ozzie that wants it (for a minor donation of a few $Million to a numbered offshore account). The corrupt political system was devised by PM Sir Robert Menzies in the 50s and modernised and sent to the extreme Right by Little Johnny Porker who ruled for the first decade of the Millenium. It was taken back to 1955 by PM Tony Arsbut and is now stuck there. But, as a Senior Citizen without a Pension or any means of support, I am grateful for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (devised and run by Big Pharma and paid for by the taxpayers) and the freedom of speech which allows me to write this, seeing I have not mentioned any Israelis.
Gregg *******
OPAngelo Schneider I am in a remote workers camp in Western Australia and do not have access to a Post Office to lodge a renewal. I will fly back to Oz a day early and access a Perth Post Office to set up a new passport for my next break.
Nick **********
Fone airline,dont rely on here say or poxy google AI..its not always correct
Lisa *********
You can't travel on a passport with less than 6 months left on it. Bit of a rip-off, considering we pay for 10 years & only get 9.5 years' travel. You won't be able to leave the country
Angelo ***********
Lisa Callard You get 10 years, when you enter another country 6months and 1 day before it expires, and stay 6month - no problem.
Mitchell *******
Thailand (as well as many other countries) DOES suggest 6 or more months remaining on your passport. If it is just over 6 months, you are fine. You are staying for only 12 days, and you have a return ticket, so that may be your saving grace. You can check your airline if you can.
I would not try it personally, if it is under 6 months. To me, with less than 6 months validity, it just becomes an identification document, not a travel document.
Good luck.
I would not try it personally, if it is under 6 months. To me, with less than 6 months validity, it just becomes an identification document, not a travel document.
Good luck.
Gregg *******
OPMitchell Trott thanks, I think that I will be ok. After reading some comments from people on this forum that do actually know and disregarding those that do not.
Knowledgeab************
Anyone suggesting he travel internationally with a passport with less than 6 months validity is just ridiculous. In this day and age people dispensing advice like this is astounding. And lets be real this isn't an emergency or important business trip.
Henry *********
Thailand doesn't have a 6-month rule, but some airlines don't know this and may prevent boarding.
Angelo ***********
Henry Durrant Thailand has a 6 month rule - basically every country has it.
Henry *********
Angelo Schneider Not Thailand. I know from personal experience.
Rob *******
Henry Durrant Yes. Thailand applies a six-month passport-validity requirement. The Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra says travellers should have a passport valid for more than six months before entering Thailand, and current Australian Smartraveller advice says the same.
Goudoune ************
Normally the Thai visa goes as long as the passport is valid...for long term visas...
6 months is only for the stamp or tourist visas....
6 months is only for the stamp or tourist visas....
Tony **********
I was leaving Thailand with 2 days short of six months the airline would not let me travel to Bali or Singapore so had to buy a ticket to Sydney then cairns
B**
🤔 why wait for the last minute.
Gary *******
Bob he is working remotely , in the outback ..Aussie is a big place 🤔
Leonard ******
Did you really need to be told about your passport expiry? Surely a validity check is your responsibility
Gregg *******
OPThank you Leonard Ince and Curt Meanor for your sanctimonious and totally non-pertinent responses. I was already aware of the date of expiry of my passport and I did not need to be reminded. As I stated, I received an email informing me of the imminent lapse and asked for information concerning Thailand's attitude to it. Please be constructive in future if you feel the need to be involved in a conversation, or scroll on.😁
Curt ********
Leonard Ince Exactly
Gary *********
And pick up nominated post office
Gary *********
You can do on Line
Gregg *******
OPGary Colwell I have already been online and discovered one can download the paperwork and it must be lodged with 2 passport size photos at an Australia Post outlet.
Colin ********
I sent mine to my mother in the UK on a 2 day service, then she sent it back. No problem.
Gregg *******
OPColin Dorman will your Mother help with mine also.?🤣
Paul *******
Colin Dorman - How does that help him , he’s just said he’s working remotely in Australia with no access to a Post Office ffs 🤦♂️ !!! 🤷♂️🙄🙄
Gregg *******
OPPaul Hogan I'm sifting through the input...🤣😎
Malcolm **********
Most countries require a minimum of 6 months on a passport to enter. It might be a good idea to check with the Thai embassy and the airline you are traveling on as both could refuse you entry/travel for not meeting the visa/visa-exempt requirements
Nongnuch ********
Malcolm Whitlock you can enter Thailand via a land border with a passport validity of less than 6 months. The problem is the airline. Most airlines won't let you board for Thailand if your passport has a validity of less than 6 months. Thailand itself does NOT have such a rule
Malcolm **********
As I said best check with the embassy as most countries do. If the embassy can verify that there is no requirement then showing a printout of that verification to the airline when boarding should help but a check with the airline as well would still be a good idea.
Nongnuch ********
Malcolm Whitlock the Thai embassy knows nothing about entry rules of Immigration, they are under a totally different ministry. . . . A Thai embassy will just tell you that there is a 6-months minimum validity rule for an application to a visa for Thailand. That's all they know
Mark *********
You are basically too late, you need to go home to renew it or stay in thailand and renew. When i was back in UK I had to get a same day passport because of similar
Gregg *******
OPThanks Mark Staples, I am working FIFO in Australia and living in Thailand, currently in Australia. I am due to fly home for 12 nights on Wednesday and I will return a day early and renew my passport in Perth before flying back to work. Thanks to some of the responses, I'm sure that it will be ok. I have a long history of entering and exiting for short periods over the past nine years.
Ian *******
Gregg Davis how will you renew your passport in Pert, and get the new one back, within the 12 days. I am no expert here, but I would expect it will potentially take more than your allocated time. I believe you send your old passport in along with the application to renew.
Gregg *******
OPIan Whyte after I apply in Perth I will work for 4 weeks and then fly to Brisbane to visit my adult daughter for my next 2 week break. That should be enough time and if it's not, I still have another 4 weeks of working after that before I will need it again.
Tony *********
They can stop you . How lucky you are will be determine who you stand in front of ?
Gregg *******
OPThat is true Tony Cabello. I have a 9 year history of short term stays in Thailand due to me working FIFO for 4 weeks in Australia and living for 2 weeks in Thailand on my breaks. I have become well aware that attitude and appearance has a lot to do with access in Thailand.
Laurie **********
I've never had a problem with airlines flying out of Australia
Glen *********
Not worth the risk, they can reject you
Arnold **********
Airlines stop you traveling to
Arnold **********
Yes
Warwick **********
We just travelled to Thailand ,
Entered by suvarnabhumi airport. My daughters passport expired 6 months and 1 week after our return flight.
No one said anything in Australia or Thailand
Entered by suvarnabhumi airport. My daughters passport expired 6 months and 1 week after our return flight.
No one said anything in Australia or Thailand
Angelo ***********
Warwick Sinfield Note: 6months and 1 weeks is > 6 months.
Lisa *********
Warwick Sinfield coz it was still a valid passport with more than 6 months left on it
Malcolm **********
Warwick Sinfield well that's more than the 6 months required for entry and as you said it's even for when you left.
Chris *******
My son flew with me last year with only 3 months left on his passport, it was only a 2 week stay and had a return flight, no one questioned it at all.
Brandon ************
Call your airline as soon as possible and ask them. They're the only ones who matter. Thailand will let you in if you can get there. But most airline staff are trained to not allow anyone to travel with a passport valid less than 6 months. MANY countries do not allow people to enter if their passport is not valid for 6 months, but Thailand is not one of them.
John ********
@Brandon ***********
they will contact the country ahead to make sure. I had this happen when about to leave Thailand to Singapore,passport had 1 day less than six months on it. Couldn’t travelBrandon ************
@John *******
because Singapore has a 6 month rule. Thailand does not.John ********
@Brandon ***********
correct. I was one day out. But I think airline staff will check. I was checked in and stopped at the gate after checksGregg *******
OPMany thanks
@Brandon ***********
, that's a weight off my mind.Activity
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