Planning
If you're refused entry to a country: what happens and what you can do
It happens rarely and it's worth knowing how it works. What gets checked at the border, what rights you have and how to cut the risk to almost nothing.
Tomás Berruezo 6 min Photo by Ondrej Bocek on Unsplash It's rare, and that's why nobody knows what to do when it happens. An approved permit doesn't oblige any country to let you in: the decision always belongs to the border officer, and it's made on what they see in front of them.
What actually gets checked
- That the purpose of your trip fits the permit you're carrying.
- That you have an onward ticket within the allowed period.
- That you can support yourself during the stay, by card or in cash.
- Where you'll be sleeping, with a booking or a specific address.
- And your history: previous entries, long stays, or exits and entries to the same country in quick succession.
That last point explains most real cases: someone who enters and leaves the same country every three months eventually looks, from the border's side of the desk, like someone living there without permission.
What happens if you're refused
The usual course is a longer interview, a written decision and a return on the first available flight, normally at the expense of the airline that brought you. During that time you can ask to notify your consulate, and you should.
Keep any document they give you: it's what later tells you whether an entry ban is attached and for how long.
The border doesn't weigh your intentions: it weighs what you can show in two minutes.
How to cut the risk to almost nothing
- Carry the paperwork downloaded AND on paper: booking, return ticket and insurance.
- Have the exact address of the first night to hand.
- Answer what you're asked, without long explanations or jokes.
- Don't lie about the purpose of your trip. It's the one mistake that turns a formality into a serious problem.
- If you're going to work remotely, find out beforehand whether the permit you hold allows it.
How to check which permit applies to you is in how to know if you need a visa.
Frequently asked questions
Can I be refused entry with an approved visa?
Yes. A permit authorises you to board and to present yourself at the border; the final decision always belongs to that country's officer.
What do they check at the border?
The purpose of the trip, your onward ticket, your funds, your accommodation and your history of entries and exits.
What happens if I'm refused?
Usually an interview, a written decision and a return on the first available flight. You can ask to notify your consulate.
How do I reduce the risk?
By carrying your booking, return ticket and insurance on paper and on your phone, knowing the address of the first night and answering what you're asked without embellishment.
