Entry refused under the exemption
Repeated back-to-back visa-free entries, no onward ticket or no funds when asked.
The fix. Carry the ticket, booking and funds; frequent visitors should switch to a multiple-entry TR or DTV.
Why Thailand visa applications get refused, and the fix for each
Why Thailand visas get refused: 25 reasons across 5 routes, each with the fix, written from the official rules and verified.
What gets these files refused
25 refusal reasons across 5 routes, each taken from the officer's published decision criteria and paired with the evidence that answers it. The largest group is funds and income (6 of 25), which is also the easiest to fix before filing.
| Theme | Reasons | Routes affected | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds and income | 6 | 5 | Entry refused under the exemption |
| Documents and forms | 5 | 4 | e-Visa rejected for documents |
| Eligibility and timing | 5 | 4 | Wrong consulate |
| Sponsor or employer | 5 | 4 | Institution not recognised |
| Ties and intent | 2 | 1 | Purpose mismatch |
| Relationship evidence | 2 | 1 | Unregistered marriage |
Visa-free entry and tourist e-Visa: refusal reasons and the fix
Thailand Visa-free entry and tourist e-Visa, government fee Free for 30 days under the visa exemption; 60-day tourist e-Visa INR 3,000; verified against thaievisa.go.th. The route page carries the eligibility test, fees, timeline and document checklist these reasons refer to.
e-Visa rejected for documents
Photo not meeting the embassy's rules, bookings in another name or statements under THB 20,000.
The fix. Follow the embassy's common-mistakes list; Vistolane checks the file before payment, because the fee is not refunded.
Wrong consulate
Applying to New Delhi while resident in Maharashtra, Gujarat or Goa (Mumbai) or in the eastern and southern states (Kolkata, Chennai).
The fix. Choose the post for your state of residence on the portal; applications filed with the wrong post are rejected.
Purpose mismatch
A course or work mentioned in the form while applying for a tourist visa.
The fix. Use Non-immigrant ED for study over 60 days, Non-B for work and DTV for remote work.
Overstay or ban on record
A previous overstay fine or blacklisting.
The fix. Pay fines before leaving; disclose the history and apply for a visa rather than relying on the exemption.
Non-immigrant ED visa: refusal reasons and the fix
Thailand Non-immigrant ED visa, government fee INR 7,000 single entry (90 days, then extend in Thailand); verified against thaievisa.go.th. The route page carries the eligibility test, fees, timeline and document checklist these reasons refer to.
Institution not recognised
A language or vocational school without a valid MOE licence, or a school on the immigration watch list.
The fix. Choose licensed institutions; Vistolane checks the licence number before filing.
Weak enrolment evidence
Only an offer e-mail, or no letter addressed to the embassy.
The fix. Ask the registrar for the formal admission letter and the embassy request letter.
Funds or sponsor unclear
Statements under THB 20,000 or a parent's account without a sponsorship letter.
The fix. Add the sponsor's letter, their statements and the relationship proof.
Attendance failures at extension
Thai-language students who missed classes are refused extensions and must leave.
The fix. Keep attendance above the school's threshold; switch programmes formally if needed.
Working on an ED visa
Caught working part-time without a permit; fines, deportation and a ban.
The fix. Have the employer apply for a work permit and change of status first.
Non-immigrant B visa and work permit: refusal reasons and the fix
Thailand Non-immigrant B visa and work permit, government fee INR 7,000 single entry; work permit THB 3,100 in Thailand; verified against thaievisa.go.th. The route page carries the eligibility test, fees, timeline and document checklist these reasons refer to.
Employer ratio or capital not met
Fewer than four Thai staff or under THB 2 million capital per foreigner.
The fix. Add staff or capital before filing, or use a BOI-promoted entity; Vistolane's partner pre-checks the company file.
Salary below the band
Extension refused because the Indian employee earns under THB 50,000 a month.
The fix. Set the contract at or above the band; the work permit alone does not protect the extension.
Reserved occupation
Job title on the list of 40 prohibited occupations.
The fix. Reframe the role to the professional duties actually performed and attach the degree.
Incomplete company documents
Missing VAT filings, outdated affidavit or unsigned contract.
The fix. Use documents issued within three months and have each page company-stamped.
Working before the permit
Starting work on the 90-day stamp before WP1 is approved.
The fix. Attend orientation only; begin paid duties on permit issue.
Non-immigrant O visa: refusal reasons and the fix
Thailand Non-immigrant O visa, government fee INR 7,000 single entry per dependant; verified against thaievisa.go.th. The route page carries the eligibility test, fees, timeline and document checklist these reasons refer to.
Unregistered marriage
An Indian religious marriage without a certificate, or a certificate without apostille.
The fix. Register the marriage in India, apostille it and have it translated; register at a Thai district office for extensions.
Funds not seasoned
THB 400,000 or THB 800,000 deposited less than two months before the extension.
The fix. Transfer early and keep the bank letter and passbook updated on the day of filing.
Sponsor's status lapsed
The worker's permit ended or the student left the course.
The fix. Dependant extensions follow the sponsor; switch the sponsor's status first.
Income letter not accepted
Monthly income claimed without the embassy affidavit or 12 months of transfers into a Thai account.
The fix. Use the bank deposit method or obtain the Indian embassy's income certification.
Working on a dependant visa
A spouse working without a permit.
The fix. Spouses of Thais can apply for a permit; dependants of foreigners need their own Non-B.
Destination Thailand Visa: refusal reasons and the fix
Thailand Destination Thailand Visa, government fee INR 30,000 (5 years, 180 days per entry); verified against thaievisa.go.th. The route page carries the eligibility test, fees, timeline and document checklist these reasons refer to.
Remote work not proven
Freelancers without contracts, or an employer with a Thai office.
The fix. Provide signed contracts, invoices and the employer's foreign registration; Thai-linked work means Non-B instead.
Funds not seasoned
THB 500,000 deposited shortly before applying.
The fix. Hold the balance for three months and show the statements from the start.
Course provider not registered
An informal gym or unlicensed school letter.
The fix. Use a registered provider with a tax ID; attach the payment receipt.
Wrong consulate or missing follow-up
Filed at the wrong post for your state, or extra documents not supplied in time.
The fix. Pick the post for your state and watch the portal for requests.
Working for Thai clients
DTV cancelled after providing services in Thailand.
The fix. Keep clients and payments offshore, or move to a work permit route.
Questions, answered
Can I reapply after a Thailand visa refusal?
In most systems yes, straight away and with a new government fee: the refusal letter lists the grounds, and a fresh application that answers each ground usually does better than an appeal, which only some routes offer (for example UK family visas and Australian onshore decisions). A few decisions carry a bar, typically for false documents or statements, so read the letter for any time limit before paying again.
Is the government fee refunded after a Thailand visa refusal?
Almost never. Government fees pay for the decision, not the outcome, and visa application centre charges are not returned either. Japan is the exception among the countries here: its visa fee is collected only when the visa is issued. Vistolane's filing fee is refunded under the on-time guarantee, not for a refusal.
Does a refusal affect my next application or other countries?
You must declare it. Every major application form asks about previous refusals, and an undeclared refusal is itself a ground for refusal; in the United Kingdom deception in an application can bring a 10-year ban. A declared refusal with a short explanation and the corrected evidence is routine and is read as a fixed file, not a weak one.
How does Vistolane help after a refusal?
The refile flow in the applicant portal lists the grounds from the letter, maps each one to the document or fact that answers it, reuses the documents that were already fine and files again; the free eligibility check shows your band before you pay a new government fee, and licence-checked partners handle appeals where a route offers one.