Preamble: It is important to note that the examples below are real examples of foreigners having been blacklisted from Thailand. However, many may read this and say that “someone they know” was not blacklisted for the same offense. Thus is the duality of the legal system of Thailand, and to be fair, many other countries around the world. There are thousands of laws that are enforced most of the time. So, just because you did not get blacklisted for one of these offenses does not mean that others were not. As always, read the relevant laws of the Kingdom of Thailand. 

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1. Ganja / Marijuana.

Some foreigners enjoy watching the sun set with some ganja. Despite Thailand recently re-classifying parts of this plant, as well as allowing some medical cannabis, possession and use of the parts of the plant that most people use is still illegal. This class 5 drug can easily get you blacklisted for up to 100 years in Thailand. Yes, it’s true. So many foreigners receive bad advice about this topic, saying that “it’s no big deal” and that “you will only pay a fine at court” and released. In most jurisdictions in Thailand, the local police and immigration police will follow the Immigration Act of 2522, which gives them to right to deport and blacklist you. So next time you consider lighting up, consider the consequences of not being able to enter Thailand again for many, many years. 

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2. Work Permit.

Many foreigners need work permits to legally work in Thailand. However, some cannot find a valid way to obtain one, and some have received work permits from other sources for companies they know nothing about. It sounds innocent enough – paying for this service that does not harm anyone. However, we know of several cases involving foreigners who have work permits for jobs they are not actually doing. If there ever is an audit of the provider, be sure you will be blacklisted.

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3. 1-Day Overstay.

Overstay is one of the most common offenses committed by foreigners in Thailand. In the good ole days, you simply paid a fine of 500 baht per day, with a maximum fine of 20,000 baht. However, in 2021 Thailand, you can be blacklisted for even 1 day of overstay, if you are “arrested” for doing so. We know of real stories of foreigners who were arrested with 1-day overstay, pulled off their bus as they were going for their visa run (before COVID). Apparently the police knew the route that the visa runners were taking, and knew that many of them would be on overstay. We know of another story involving a foreigner who called his embassy to ask for advice on what to do with the overstay. The embassy advised him to go to immigration… where he was promptly arrested and charged with overstay. Having to go through the arduous deportation process through the IDC, he was also blacklisted. If you are in this situation, definitely seek consular support from your embassy, but legal support from a capable law firm.