Thailand is more flexible on their visa requirements which allows for visitors from 64 countries to stay for under 30 days without a visa. A felon can visit Thailand if they have a passport with some exceptions.
Felons can visit Thailand as long as they aren’t currently on probation or have any warrants outstanding against them. Someone whose committed a past offence can freely travel internationally if they don’t have a court order preventing them from doing so.
Thailand is a beautiful paradise with less restrictive visa and entry requirements. It allows tourists to easily make travel plans and is well known for being budget friendly. Felons of course would want to experience Thailand’s beauty along with everyone else.
Where To Apply For Permission To Enter Thailand?
Before booking your trip to Thailand, you will need to get a passport from your home country. Each country has their own requirements but there are some similarities between the requirements.
A passport can be obtained by anyone who is a citizen of that country unless there is a court order barring them from doing so.
Some countries are more restrictive about if their past offenders are able to obtain a passport, and it is best to check your countries relevant requirements before booking your trip. You will need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months when entering Thailand.
In some instances felons can be denied a passport by their home country. If they owe above a set amount in child payments, if they have been charged on drug or human trafficking charges, convicted with a federal crime or if there’s a court order banning them from travelling.
It is recommended that you check with your country’s passport requirements and what situations could prevent you from obtaining one. This process can take some time to complete, on average it takes about 6 weeks to receive your new passport.
Once you have gotten your passport, you will need to establish if you are required to get a visa to visit Thailand and what these requirements are.
If a past offender is able to obtain a passport from their home embassy, they can freely travel to Thailand if they are staying for less than 30 days – if they are from a visa exempt country such as the United States, Australia or the United Kingdom.
Citizens from countries that fall out of Thailand’s visa exempt list will be required to get an approved visa before leaving the country. It is best to check what Thailand’s visa requirements are for your home country as it may differ.
If you are required to obtain a visa to visit Thailand, you can visit the nearest Thailand embassy to you. Here you can apply for your visa either in person, via mail or online.
Usually, you will need to prove you have a valid passport, enough money to support yourself and your dependents during your stay in Thailand, booked round trip tickets to Thailand and booked accommodation to be granted a valid visa.
Who Qualifies To Enter Thailand
Thailand is an extremely popular tourist destination and almost anyone can visit the country freely.
In total 64 countries can visit Thailand visa free for 30 days. For longer stays you will be required to obtain a visa. A tourist visa allows one to visit for 45-90 days and costs about $30 per day but this is subject to change.
You will need to have a valid passport from your home country and will need to meet their requirements in order to obtain this. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 more months before entering Thailand.
A visa can be applied for at your nearest Thailand embassy, online or by mail depending on the Covid restrictions in your area.
Non visa exempt countries will need to get an approved visa from their nearest embassy before they can leave for Thailand and in some cases can get a tourist visa as they land in Thailand.
It is however best to get a visa before you leave your country to avoid complications.
Once you’ve established if you can enter Thailand with or without a visa, you can begin planning your trip. Thailand doesn’t have many restrictions as to who they’ll allow to enter their country.
How Can Felons Travel To Thailand
Felons are able to travel to Thailand just like everyone else. They can book a flight as long as they are not on the no fly list or they can visit Thailand via a cruise.
Felons may have an easier time booking a trip on a closed loop cruise where the cruise returns to the same port they left from. However, there aren’t many restrictions on how felons can travel internationally, barring some exceptions.
If the felon has served their time and does not have any current warrants out for their arrest and aren’t on parole, and they’re allowed to leave their country than they can choose how they’d like to travel to Thailand.
Airlines or travel agencies won’t request your criminal history when you are booking your trip, however officials at the border or airport may request it.
Are Felons Required To Disclose Their Criminal History?
When applying for a visa, a felon may be required to submit a criminal history report. Thailand doesn’t ask about a criminal history on its arrival form, and so if you aren’t applying for a visa it is not necessary to disclose your criminal history.
Airlines won’t request a criminal history report however agents at the border may request your criminal history. Your passport number could also be flagged for their attention when booking the flight or checking in.
In essence, unless the Thai embassy or authorities ask you when you arrive in Thailand, you are not required to disclose your criminal history or record. Your previous convictions are no longer relevant if you have served your dues.
If Thai authorities request you to disclose your criminal history it is best to just be honest. It is highly unlikely that they will block your entry into Thailand unless you have an active warrant against you.
There have even been reports of tourists returning to Thailand after being convicted within Thailand and being allowed entry back into the country. Thailand does not take crime lightly within its borders, but is lenient on past offenders being allowed entry into the country.
The only problems a felon may have is booking a flight if they have drug or human trafficking charges against them. They may also have an issue if they are on the no fly list.
There are very few circumstances that hinders a felon from being able to travel freely internationally. Thailand welcomes all tourists who can legally leave their countries borders and return freely.
In Conclusion
Felons who don’t currently have a warrant out for their arrest, aren’t on parole and are allowed to leave their country are free to visit Thailand. Felons can also be granted a visa if this is required, it depends on what they were convicted of.
Everyone dreams of travelling and while felons may face more obstacles, if they have already completed their punishment and aren’t restricted by their own country then they should be free to visit Thailand and experience its beauty for themselves.
