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Will Thai immigration be concerned if parents have a Destination Visa but their children have Visa on Arrival?

Thai ImmigrationDestination Visa (DTV)Visa on ArrivalChildren's Visa RegulationsProof of Onward TravelVisa Exemption
Sep 13, 2024
2 months ago
Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Do you think Thai immigration will be bothered if a family turns up with the parents holding Destination Visa approved passport stamps but the kids not on the DTV with them (meaning the kids will get visa on arrival)?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the implications for families arriving in Thailand where the parents hold Destination Visa stamps, but the children do not have the same visa and instead plan to enter on Visa on Arrival. Most comments suggest that while Thai immigration is unlikely to raise issues regarding differing visa statuses, airlines might be stricter about having proof of onward travel for the children. Participants emphasize that it's better to secure valid visas for kids to avoid any potential problems, although many have traveled without being asked for onward tickets. All in all, ensuring compliance with airline requirements can help avoid complications.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Graham ******
They shouldn't mind because although you will get a 180 day entry stamp that doesn't mean you'll stay 180. If concerned you can get onward tickets for your first entry for all the family before day 60 for about $15 each
2 months ago
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Rebecca *********
@Nadeem *******
 they can’t bannen the kids from thailand but they can refuse them to enter.

They don’t follow your passport in this case.

Except they will be going to school while you are Long Term on. DTV

All depends on the officer sitting there and what day he has. If you want to make sure that the kids can enter without any issues then get them a visa ahead in the uk.

That means they they are already approved
2 months ago
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Bart **************
Immigrations won't be bothered by families coming on different visas, neither would airlines, but bear in mind that visa exemption requires proof of onward travel. The airline might require your kids to have that.
2 months ago
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Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
 we have travelled to several countries with different airlines where we have entered under visa exemption on arrival and never been asked by the airline for proof of onward travel. If they did ask, surely I could say I haven’t arranged onward travel as I don’t know when I’m leaving Thailand. It could be after 60 days or I might be enjoying it and decide to extend for another 30 days. How can you plan onward travel if you aren’t sure of your departure date?
2 months ago
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Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks
@Bart *************
 and
@Darren ******
 I appreciate your helpful guidance. I don’t really want to force myself to prematurely buy expensive return or onward travel tickets for my family of 6.

Ever heard of this website?

**********************


Are they viable? Seen as legitimate by an airline who want to see proof of onward travel?
2 months ago
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Darren *******
@Nadeem *******
 airlines do ask but it seems to depend on whoever the check in person is. I fly regularly to BKK with Vietnam Airlines, most of the time I have a return ticket with them so I don't get asked but whenever I haven't booked a return or outward ticket with them I get asked to provide one. I also flew there last weekend from Phnom Penh and I was asked at check in for an onwards ticket as I was flying back to VN with a different airline.

If they ask, you may or may not get away with your proposed answer. I have seen people being forced to buy a ticket on the spot before the airline has allowed them to check in.
2 months ago
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Bart **************
@Darren ******
 the odd thing is however that Vietnam doesn't require proof of onward travel from visa holders. For the 15 day visa exemption you need it, for anything longer you do not. Vietnam Airlines has been reported by many to wrongly check for proof of onward travel but if you consult the Vietnamese authorities they're quite clear on the matter.

Or were you indeed going all these times with 15 day visa exemptions?

Cambodia requires proof of onward travel only from some nationalities (Ethiopians, Kenians, Zambians, etc.). Entrants from developed countries or from the United States do not need it.
2 months ago
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Darren *******
@Bart *************
 Vietnam Airlines have only ever asked me when I haven't got a return ticket with them when flying to BKK - I live and work legally in HCMC so no issues when flying back there.
2 months ago
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Bart **************
@Darren ******
 aah check!
2 months ago
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Bart **************
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Bart **************
@Nadeem *******
 I fully agree with your point on the reasonability of this requirement. Immigrations is on our side as well; they never actually check. But it remains that having onward travel booked is officially required, and that is what airlines have to go with.

I also have not always been checked, but I guess it's about 90-95% of the time these days that airlines do check if you have it. Consider yourself lucky if you were never checked by an airline flying to Thailand on one-ways.
2 months ago
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Bart **************
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John **********
Ask your airline. Thai immigration probably won't care but the airline might
2 months ago
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Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 I’ve travelled back and forth to Thailand (let alone other places) and NEVER been asked by my airline to produce evidence of visas before arriving at my final destination.
2 months ago
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Duncanc **********
@Nadeem *******
 you’ve never shown a visa for your destination when checking in? Unless a visa isn’t required that’s - Unpossible
2 months ago
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Duncanc **********
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Paul ********
Airline will not let them board a flight without a visa
2 months ago
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Charlie *****
@Nadeem *******
 I entered on ed visa and joey visa exempt, I've also entered on tourist visas and joey be on visa exempt 👌🏼
2 months ago
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Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Charlie ****
 that’s reassuring to know. Just wondered if Thai immigration would be motivated to question why Joey was not on a tourist visa the same as you…

It sounds like they are not fussed at all especially when it’s kids under 12.
2 months ago
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Charlie *****
@Nadeem *******
 only once did someone say that I need to get him the right visa, that was departing Thailand. They didn't say anything on the way back in. Every immigration officer I've ever spoken to just shrugged off my question and said it's ok until he's 12.
2 months ago
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Charlie *****
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Elías ********
@Paul *******
 airline can't request a visa if they're from a country elegible for visa on arrival.
2 months ago
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Declan **********
@Elías *******
 no, but most will opt to ask for proof of onwards travel/a return flight that is within the either 15 days (VOA) or 60 days (exemption) if you don't have a visa instead as they will need to foot the bill on a return flight if you are denied entry and don't have onwards travel.
2 months ago
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Declan **********
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Charlie *****
@Paul *******
 yea they do, all the time.
2 months ago
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Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul *******
 why is that? Because their parents already have a visa (DTV)? Isn’t that what visa on arrival is for?
2 months ago
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Declan **********
@Nadeem *******
 The majority of airlines will ask to see a visa or onward travel within a specified timeframe, especially when it comes to VoA & Visa Exempt because if a person or people are denied entry and do not have a ticket out of Thailand they have to foot the bill.
2 months ago
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Paul ********
@Nadeem *******
 yes so why did he not get theirs on the dtv?
2 months ago
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Paul ********
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Maksym ***********
Better to have a valid visa for kids, for some cases this can be important. But in general kids can enter on visa exemption and then overstay.
2 months ago
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Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Maksym **********
 so in the scenario I have posted here, it’s feasible that the kids can enter on visa exemption (visa on arrival) even if their parents are on a pre-approved DTV?
2 months ago
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John *******
@Nadeem *******
 - just to clarify, visa exemption is different than visa on arrival. 90ish countries can just pass through immigration without a visa (visa exemption). Some nationalities can’t and will need to go to a special counter and apply for a visa on arrival.
2 months ago
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Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 thanks for the clarification. I must make sure I don’t use “Visa on arrival” in this as we are from the UK and are visa exempt when we arrive.
2 months ago
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Nadeem ********
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Maksym ***********
@Nadeem *******
 they can. But if they stay long term already, immigration can ask questions each time. And tell to do correct visa. But not deny...
2 months ago
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Declan **********
@Nadeem *******
 You need to contact your airline before you worry about immigration. The airline is your first hurdle.
2 months ago
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Maksym ***********
@Declan *********
 airline can check return tickets and that kids nationality allows visa exemption only
2 months ago
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Declan **********
@Maksym **********
 Most airlines will not allow you to board without a legitimate visa unless you have a valid return ticket or onward travel to another country within the 15-day (VoA) or 60-day exemption because they must foot the bill to send you back if you are denied entry.

If the airline will allow them to travel without a return ticket or onward travel ticket, there is very little chance they will encounter problems with immigration. Hence, I stated that they need to contact their airline.
2 months ago
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Declan **********
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