10 Reasons You Could Be Denied Entry To A Country Or Detained

Travellers should ensure they meet the requirements of border control officials when venturing to foreign countries, if they are to avoid entry refusal or, even worse, possible detention.

In the US alone, more than 270,000 travellers are denied entry at the border each year and forced to return home.

The strictness of entry requirements varies from country to country but with border protection officials given broad powers to decide if a traveller is eligible to enter or not, refusal is more common than people realise.

Tourists can be refused entry for many reasons ranging from having incorrect travel documents to showing signs of a mental or physical illness.

Holidaymakers can also be caught if there is damage to their passport, no matter how tiny it seems, prompting a decision to detain someone.

Now, experts at www.StressFreeCarRental.com have compiled a 10-point list that travellers should observe so that they don’t ruin their holiday before it’s even started.

Medical problems
It is a requirement for visitors entering many countries to meet minimum health standards, and travellers may be found unfit to enter if they have certain medical conditions. Border forces who believe that someone is abusing substances, carrying prescription drugs, lacking vaccinations or possibly having a contagious disease may also be denied entry.

Financial reasons
Travellers may need to prove to border protection that they have sufficient funds to cover their travel and trip to be admitted into certain countries. In the USA, if a holidaymaker is being hosted by someone else and has insufficient funds, it is advised that this is confirmed in writing to show border patrol officers. Spain also requires visitors to have €90 per day to sustain themselves in the country, or their entry could be rejected.

Criminal related
A criminal record may prevent holidaymakers from entering certain countries. Each country will have its own rules and criteria, which should be checked with the relevant embassy or immigration authorities beforehand to see if any documentation is required.

Bringing/ not declaring restricted substances
Travellers should not attempt to bring dangerous items into a country; if they do, they must declare them. In Australia, travellers may be denied entry at the border if found to be bringing any unpermitted items into the country, which includes some types of food, plants, drugs and weapons.

Damage to passport
A tiny tear or the slightest water damage to a passport could be enough for immigration officials to render the travel document invalid.

Passport Validity
Passport holders may be denied entry to a country even if it is in date. EU and Brexit regulations now mean UK Citizens need a passport issued within the previous ten years, and it must be valid for at least three months after the date they plan to leave the EU country they are visiting. Outside of the EU, some passport requirements call for at least six months of validity from the date of departure.

Not having the number of blank passport pages required
Holidaymakers could be denied entry to foreign countries for failing to check passport blank pages. If a passport runs out of pages, the holder is expected to renew it sooner than the expiry date.

Having a mental health condition
Many tourists have been turned away from entering the US because of their medical records and stopped from boarding flights. They can deny entry to people with a mental disorder that could pose a “threat to the property, safety or welfare'' of themselves or others.

Getting done up for passport picture
Getting too glam for a passport picture could see makeup lovers banned from their flight if staff believe the picture isn’t them.

Not having an onward flight booking.
Some countries are very strict about having an onward or return booking flight if they deliberately or inadvertently overstay their visa and become difficult for authorities to track. Many Asian countries require travellers to prove when they will be leaving, and they have been asked to confirm they have a ticket out of there.