RSO Travel MatrixShare a trip

← World map

TH

Thailand

Mixed results; a meaningful share of registrants have been refused.

Based on 45 reports. Score 0.40 on a scale from −1 (always refused) to +1 (always admitted), with recent reports counting most. Rated Difficult because about 33% of recent trips by current registrants ended in refusal. How scoring works

What to expect

Of about 17 reports dated 2025 or later, 15 describe uneventful entry, mostly by travelers already living in Southeast Asia or flying in from Europe or neighboring countries.124–911–17 The denials, roughly 14 reports from 2018 through 2026, nearly all involved air arrivals after a US Angel Watch notice, with officers waiting at the jet bridge and never opening the passport.310212426273032343537384044 Refused travelers waited about an hour in an airport office or detention room and flew out on the same or a newly bought ticket; two were made to sign a Thai-language document described as a promise not to return.321253034

Written by an AI model from the reports below on October 12, 2026. The numbers link to the reports each sentence is based on. Read those before you decide.

Law restricts entry for people with criminal records

Thai law excludes foreigners who have been imprisoned by a Thai or foreign court judgment, except for petty or negligence offences or exceptions set by ministerial regulation. It also excludes anyone whose behaviour suggests a danger to the public.

Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Section 12(6) and 12(7) · mandatory

Common questions

Can registered sex offenders enter Thailand?

It's rated Difficult: Mixed results; a meaningful share of registrants have been refused. Of 19 trips reported in the last two years by people on a US registry, 15 ended in entry and 4 in refusal. Thai law excludes foreigners who have been imprisoned by a Thai or foreign court judgment, except for petty or negligence offences or exceptions set by ministerial regulation. It also excludes anyone whose behaviour suggests a danger to the public.

Do Thailand's border officers know about US registrants in advance?

In 12 reports, officers appeared to know before the traveler arrived, which usually points to a US advance notification (often called Angel Watch).

How do travelers usually arrive in Thailand?

Reports on file describe 23 by air, 2 by land. Outcomes can differ by how travelers arrive; each report below says which.

Reports

Been to Thailand? Share your trip
  1. 1Oct 2026 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    The traveler listed this country among destinations visited without reporting any entry problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand

  2. 2Aug 2026 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    The traveler stated they have entered and left Thailand several times without any problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  3. 3Jun 2026 (reported)

    Refused entry

    The traveler was refused entry to Thailand because of a US advance-notification (Angel Watch) notice and was made to sign a document, said to be a promise never to attempt re-entry, written only in Thai.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  4. 4Jun 2026 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    The traveler, based in Southeast Asia, says they have entered Thailand numerous times with a marked passport for medical appointments and returned each time without issue.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  5. 5May 2026 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    A long-term resident of a neighboring Southeast Asian country reported entering and leaving repeatedly over the past two years without any problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  6. 6May 2026 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By air

    During an eight-month multi-country trip, the traveler entered twice with no stops or secondary inspection.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  7. 7Apr 2026 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    Despite reports that this country turns registrants away, the traveler, living outside the US so no notice was sent, entered without any issue.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  8. 8Dec 2025 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · Ubon

    The traveler, no longer on the registry, reported entering Thailand at Ubon without any entry problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  9. 9Jun 2025

    Admitted, no issues · By air

    Flying in from Europe, the traveler entered Thailand and stayed about three weeks without reported issues.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  10. 10May 2025 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air

    Several years ago, before marked passports and advance-notice rules, the traveler flew directly to Thailand with a spouse and was turned away because of an Angel Watch notice.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  11. 11May 2025 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By air

    A traveler with a marked passport described arriving in Thailand under the new digital arrival system; immigration did not ask to see the arrival form and entry was uneventful. The traveler has been living in Southeast Asia for three years after flying to Europe first, then on a separate flight to Asia.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  12. 12May 2025

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Bangkok

    The traveler arrived in Bangkok having completed the new online digital arrival card, which was approved within seconds. The immigration officer did not even ask to see it and entry was again problem-free.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  13. 13Apr 2025

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Bangkok

    The traveler flew from Cambodia into Bangkok with a passport bearing the required endorsement and entered with no problems, as on previous occasions.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  14. 14Mar 2025 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Bangkok (BKK)

    The traveler flew from Phnom Penh into Bangkok and entered Thailand without reported problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  15. 15Mar 2025 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    The traveler has entered Thailand several times while living in Southeast Asia; immigration fingerprints them at each entry but they are admitted.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  16. 16Mar 2025

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Bangkok

    The traveler flew in from a neighboring country with an endorsed (marked) passport and had no problems; stayed seven days and dealt with local officials without issue.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  17. 17Feb 2025

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Bangkok

    Arriving from Europe on a foreign airline, the traveler entered with no issues, received the usual stamp, and spent about three weeks in the country.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  18. 18Dec 2024

    Admitted, no issues · By air

    The traveler entered before Christmas without being asked for any electronic travel authorization and reported no entry problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  19. 19Nov 2024 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    The traveler entered Thailand twice, each time arriving from a neighboring Southeast Asian country rather than directly from the US, without reported problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  20. 20Nov 2024 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · Over land, Poipet land crossing

    The traveler entered Thailand by land at the Poipet crossing and toured multiple cities without problems. They described the crossing as feeling similar to an airport due to heavy traffic.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  21. 21Nov 2024 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air

    A friend of the poster, who had an unmarked passport but had filed the advance travel notice, was refused entry and held in an airport detention room until they purchased a return ticket and flew out.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  22. 22Nov 2024 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By air

    The traveler mentions travel to Thailand among their trips, being photographed and fingerprinted on entry, with no problems reported.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  23. 23Nov 2024

    Admitted, no issues · Over land, Pakse border crossing (Thai side)

    At a land border crossing toward Laos, the traveler presented a passport with the endorsement; the officer held it for some time, never mentioned it, was friendly, and warned only about a limit of two land entries per year before returning the passport. The traveler chose not to continue and stayed in Thailand.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  24. 24Oct 2024 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air, Bangkok

    The traveler was denied entry on arrival in Bangkok; officers were waiting on the jet bridge as they stepped off the plane and never even looked at their passport. They attribute this to a notification sent by US authorities describing them as a danger to children. They had transited a layover city without being stopped.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  25. 25Apr 2024 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air

    The traveler was refused entry on arrival by air and placed back on the same aircraft they arrived on, cutting the trip short by about four weeks. Officials were civil and said they would admit them if a US government official would vouch for them, but it was a Friday evening and the embassy was closed; they were allowed to wait in the airport for about an hour before departure.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  26. 26Jan 2024 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air

    Despite holding a granted visa, the traveler was met by officials at the arrival gate; they never examined the passport or visa and instead showed the traveler the advance notification received from the US, and entry was refused.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  27. 27Jan 2024 (reported)

    Refused entry

    A traveler reported being denied entry to Thailand during the period when they were still on the registry.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  28. 28Jan 2024 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    A former registrant reported entering Thailand three times without problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  29. 292024

    Admitted, no issues · By air

    The traveler entered Thailand arriving from Europe rather than from the US and had no issues at immigration.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant

  30. 30Aug 2023 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air, airport

    The traveler and spouse were turned away on arrival in Thailand; officers were polite, did not search bags, and showed an email notification received from a US-based watch organization. They waited about an hour in the security office and returned on the same aircraft, losing thousands in prepaid travel.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  31. 31Aug 2023

    Admitted, no issues · By air

    A current registrant living overseas returned from Bangkok, going through biometric hand and facial scans without any problem.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · Forum post · Firsthand

  32. 32Jul 2023 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air, Bangkok

    The traveler arrived in Bangkok accompanied by a Thai spouse but was not allowed into the country.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  33. 33Mar 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues

    The same traveler was described as having entered Thailand several times on earlier occasions without any problem before the later refusal.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Secondhand

  34. 34Feb 2023 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air

    A traveler married to a Thai national was refused entry to Thailand; officials appeared to have information forwarded from the US, including screenshots of third-party offender-listing websites, and had identified the traveler from the airline passenger manifest. The traveler was made to sign a Thai-language document understood to be a promise not to return, and the refusal is now on the Thai record.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  35. 35Feb 2023

    Refused entry · By air

    The traveler was refused entry to Thailand after arriving by air; officials showed a notice sent from the U.S. about the traveler's history, which the traveler photographed. The airline returned the traveler to the origin country. A prior trip to Thailand had been successful.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · Former registrant · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  36. 36Jan 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Bangkok

    The traveler, who lives in a neighboring country and books regional flights rather than flying from the US, has entered repeatedly with no problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  37. 37Jan 2023 (reported)

    Refused entry · By air

    The traveler obtained a visa in advance for a three-week family trip but officials were waiting at the aircraft door on arrival and refused entry without even examining the passport. The traveler believes immigration had been sent advance notification material from the US about the conviction.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  38. 382023

    Refused entry

    A commenter described another registrant who had visited Thailand several times without trouble but was recently refused entry and sent back; the traveler suspected a notice had been sent to Thailand even though they do not file the 21-day notice. They faced no legal consequences on return to the US.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Secondhand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  39. 392022

    Admitted, no issues · By air

    A traveler who lives abroad but remains listed on a US state registry entered Thailand a few months before posting, undergoing ten-finger fingerprint scanning and facial recognition at immigration without being refused.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  40. 402020

    Refused entry · By air

    About five years earlier the traveler was refused entry after US authorities sent immigration a lengthy notification labeling them a danger; officers were friendly but still would not admit them.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  41. 412019

    Admitted, no issues · By air, Bangkok

    The traveler reported entering Thailand about six years earlier without any issue at the airport, where a family member met them.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  42. 422019

    Refused entry · By air

    The traveler had planned a multi-week trip with side trips to neighboring countries but was turned away, losing several thousand dollars in non-refundable bookings.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  43. 432019

    Refused entry · By air

    The traveler was refused entry to Thailand about five years earlier and sent back, losing the money spent on the trip. Afterward they avoided flying directly into countries known to turn registrants away.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  44. 442018

    Refused entry · By air, Bangkok airport (arrival by air)

    The traveler obtained a Thai visa in advance but was met at the aircraft door by a team of four officers who never looked at their passport. They held a notification letter from the US Angel Watch program with a printed photo describing them as a danger to children. They were kept inside the airport, allowed to move about until their return flight, and sent back, losing several thousand dollars in prepaid travel arrangements.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand · officers appeared to be notified in advance

  45. 45By 2022

    Refused entry

    Row from the RTAG Travel Matrix, an undated summary last maintained around 2021.

    Registrants turned away
    Yes
    Law bars sex offenders
    No
    Law bars people with felonies
    No
    Has its own offender registry
    No

    Registrant Travel Action Group (RTAG) · Legacy matrix · Summary