Thailand Blacklist Check: Find Out If You Are Banned From Entering

Reviewed by Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556, for ThaiLawOnline, a Thai law firm acting for foreigners since 2006.

Last updated on 10 November 2026

We check with the Thai immigration authorities whether you are on the blacklist, and tell you in writing what we found and what your options are. Thailand has no public online lookup, so a written request is the usual route.

• Who it is for: anyone who overstayed, was deported, was refused entry, has a criminal record, or simply wants certainty before booking a flight.
• Fee: depends on the case. We quote after reading your immigration history and confirm the fee in writing before we start.
• What we never do: promise that a ban will be lifted, or promise a result. The decision belongs to the Thai authorities.

1. Send us your passport details and your Thai immigration history.
2. We confirm the fee in writing and you sign a power of attorney.
3. We make the request to the Immigration Bureau.
4. We report the result to you in writing, with the options the law gives you.

What the Thai blacklist is

The blacklist is the list of foreigners the Immigration Bureau will not admit to Thailand. Its legal basis is the Immigration Act B.E. 2522. Section 12 lists the characteristics that bar a foreigner from entering, and section 16 lets the Minister order that a foreigner, or a class of foreigners, is not permitted to enter where the Minister considers it inappropriate for the benefit of the country, public order, culture, good morals or the welfare of the people.

Grounds for an entry ban under the Immigration Act

Section 12 bars entry to a foreigner who, among other grounds:

• has been sentenced to imprisonment by a Thai or foreign court, except for a petty offence, an offence of negligence or an offence excepted by ministerial regulation (section 12(6))
• gives reason to believe that they are a danger to society or to public peace, safety or national security, or is wanted under an arrest warrant issued by a foreign government (section 12(7))
• gives reason to believe that they are entering for prostitution, trafficking, narcotics, customs evasion or other business contrary to public order or good morals (section 12(8))
• is not permitted to enter by order of the Minister under section 16 (section 12(10))
• has been deported by Thailand or another government, has had the right of residence revoked, or was sent out of Thailand at the Thai government’s expense, unless the Minister has granted an exemption as a special individual case (section 12(11))

Overstay bans

Staying in Thailand without permission, or after permission has ended or been revoked, is an offence under section 81 of the Immigration Act, punishable by imprisonment of up to 2 years, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both. An official may also send the person out of the Kingdom under section 54. The length of a re-entry ban after an overstay is not written in the Act itself. It comes from a Ministry of Interior order and depends on how long the overstay lasted and whether you surrendered or were arrested. Our guide to visa overstay, criminal charges and blacklists sets out the ban periods in full.

How a blacklist check is done

There is no public database. We make a written request to the Immigration Bureau on your behalf, under a power of attorney you sign, with a copy of your passport and the details of your past entries and exits. Where you were deported or arrested, the dates and the place help the Bureau find the record. We then report to you in writing what the Bureau said.

A check tells you the position on the day it was made. It is not a guarantee of entry. A border officer decides on admission at the time you arrive.

What can and cannot be done about a ban

You can:

• wait until a time-limited ban expires, and keep proof of the date it started
• for a person deported or sent out of Thailand, ask the Minister for a special individual exemption under section 12(11)
• where an officer orders you to leave because you fall under section 12, appeal to the Minister within 48 hours of learning of the order under section 22, except in the cases under section 12(1) and (10); the officer must stay your removal while the appeal is pending
• correct a record that is wrong, for example a mistaken identity or an overstay that was in fact covered by an extension

You cannot buy your way off the list, and nobody can lawfully promise that a ban will be lifted. A request for an exemption is decided at the Minister’s discretion. We explain your chances honestly before you pay for any further step.

What to send us

• A clear copy of every passport you have used in Thailand
• Your entry and exit dates, as far as you know them
• Any deportation order, court judgment, police record or receipt for an overstay fine
• The reason you think you may be blacklisted

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Related: Visa overstay and blacklists, Deportation from Thailand, Immigration blacklist.

Frequently asked questions