No matter how often you travel, it’s still possible to get caught by an immigration rule you didn’t know existed. A single missed detail could ruin your trip.
We recently covered all the passport issues that can get you refused entry to your destination, but what else can ruin your trip if you’re not allowed to board or denied entry once you arrive?
Here’s everything you need to know!
In this post:
Not Having Proof You’re Leaving
Immigration authorities often want reassurance that you’ll leave at the end of your trip. That means you can be asked to show proof of onward or return travel. Airlines may also check this, as they can face penalties for flying passengers who are refused entry, or they may end up responsible for flying you back.
If you’re travelling to the US on an ESTA, a return or onward ticket is a formal part of the eligibility rules, with only limited exceptions.
For the Schengen area, you may be asked to provide documents supporting your plans, such as onward or return tickets. This happened to me when entering Munich, and I was at the front of Club Europe and first in line at security. I was asked to show my return flight booking, which was back from Vienna a few days later.
Make sure you have proof on hand that’s easily accessible. Airport Wi-Fi is unreliable at the best of times, and trying to pull up a booking confirmation on arrival is not the best of ideas.
Being Unable to Provide Proof of Funds
You may be asked to show that you have enough money to support yourself during a trip. You will not always be challenged on it, but it’s part of the entry conditions in places like the Schengen area, where you’re expected to have ‘sufficient means of subsistence’ for your stay (and to get yourself home again). Portugal is a good example, as the specific amounts are given. You must have or be able to have or legally obtain €75 for each entry and €40 for each day.
If asked, bank statements are often the best way to prove you have the funds. Bank app screenshots may be accepted, but do not assume they will be. Credit cards are also an option.
You Don’t Disclose Where You’re Staying
Be prepared to show proof of where you’re staying – whether that’s a hotel, an Airbnb, or with friends or family. You won’t always be asked, but if you are and you cannot answer clearly, it can quickly turn into extra questions (and delays).
In the US, for example, it’s common to be asked where you’ll be staying as part of the standard inspection chat. In Japan, your arrival information includes an intended address in Japan (and you may be expected to provide the address details and a contact number). In the Schengen area, you may also be asked to show proof of accommodation. The list goes on, and even places with relaxed visa requirements occasionally check this.
Have a printout or save the confirmation offline, and have the address written somewhere you can reach quickly.
No Travel Insurance
Some destinations expect you to have travel insurance in place before you arrive, particularly if you’re travelling on a visa. This is also the case on cruises, and many companies will now not let you board without proof of insurance.
Problems can arise when you say you have insurance but can’t provide evidence. A quick screenshot or printout is usually enough, but it must show the names of the people covered, the dates, the destination, and the emergency assistance number.
It’s always best to check your travel insurance policy before you leave to make sure you’re covered in your destination and that you’ve made them aware of anything that’s changed since you took out the policy. Remember that certain credit cards and bank accounts provide travel insurance as a benefit, but there are often age restrictions.
It’s worth noting that the Global Health Insurance Card doesn’t replace travel insurance, but it’s still useful for EU trips. If you still have a valid EHIC, you can keep using it until it expires. If yours is close to its end date, apply for a GHIC sooner rather than later.
Mismatched or Incorrect Advance Passenger Information
Your booking details and Advance Passenger Information (API) must match your passport exactly. If they don’t, it’s often fixable, but if you cannot get it corrected before departure, you may not be able to check in or board. Airlines are required to collect and send passport details to the relevant authorities.
Some airlines require API to be submitted before they will issue a boarding pass. Most airlines allow last-minute changes to passenger information; it can be inconvenient, but it can also be easily avoided.
This is one of those problems that is completely avoidable. Take two minutes to check your API against your passport well before travel, rather than discovering the issue at the airport when your options are limited.
Your Recent Travel History
Some countries treat certain previous destinations as sensitive, and this could catch you out years after you visit.
The most well-known example is the US, under the Visa Waiver Programme. If you’ve been to Cuba on or after 12th January 2021, you are not eligible to use the ESTA and instead must apply for a non‑immigrant visa. A visa is absolutely possible – it’s just slower, and the risk is simply that you won’t get an appointment or approval in time for your trip.
Countries may also ask about recent visits, particularly if they involved disease outbreaks, natural disasters, political instability, or ongoing security concerns.
It’s worth double-checking official government pages before you leave. Rules can change fast. I always subscribe to Foreign Travel Advice email updates for the destination I’m visiting.
Past Immigration Issues in Other Countries
Previous visa refusals, overstays or being turned around at the border can follow you around longer than you’d expect. That’s partly because more countries now share immigration data, including biometrics and visa-related information, through formal agreements.
Many countries have data-sharing agreements. For example, Canada and the US also have an agreement to share visa and immigration information.
Even minor past issues can lead to extra questions. It doesn’t automatically mean refusal, but you’ll need to have a straightforward explanation. If there’s paperwork that clarifies your previous situation, it is best to carry it with you.
Issues With Prescription Medication
Most medication is fine to carry, but some countries classify certain prescriptions as controlled substances. Carrying medicine in unlabelled containers is never a good idea. It’s best to show the original packaging and a copy of the prescription.
If you are taking strong medication, check the rules before you leave, even if you’ve travelled with it before. Some countries require a doctor’s letter stating dosage and the purpose of treatment. Some countries do not allow certain medications to be imported even if prescribed elsewhere, but some also have limits on how much you can bring with you (e.g. 3 months/12 months).
Most countries will have detailed information about this on their applicable sites. For example, in Japan, you’ll be permitted to bring in codeine, morphine or diazepam.
You Don’t Have the Correct Documents
Some countries may need online authorisation in advance, and others still require a visa on entry. For example, when travelling to the US, you will need a visa or ESTA. You must complete the D’Viajeros online form within 72 hours before entry to Cuba, and airlines will check that you have done it at check-in (you’ll need to show the QR code).
Birth Certificates
If you’re taking a child abroad from the UK, you must have permission from everyone with parental responsibility. If you don’t, you’ll need a signed letter from someone who does or a court order.
You should always bring the birth/adoption certificate or divorce/marriage certificate, especially if your child has a different surname from you. More info here
You Don’t Meet Vaccination Requirements
Although you’ll be aware of this, and as a frequent traveller, you’ll have most likely had the required vaccinations anyway, it’s still very important to check. Vaccine entry rules may be based on where you’ve been, not just where you live. For example, Yellow fever entry requirements are common if you’re arriving from certain regions, and you’ll be asked to show your International Certificate of Vaccination.
Pets travelling with you also need vaccination documents, and many countries require microchipping (cats, dogs, and ferrets) and rabies certificates before arrival. You’ll also need an animal health certificate when leaving the UK. Requirements can change with outbreaks, and having the wrong documents can delay you at the border.
What You Pack Matters
It’s not just about restricted goods. Bringing in commercial quantities of goods, even accidentally, can make border control think you’re planning to work or sell items without permission.
Foods, plant products, and certain electronics also raise issues in different countries. This may mean detailed questioning, secondary inspection, or even fines or being refused entry. Australia is particularly strict with this, and you may receive a fine or have your visa cancelled.
If you’re unsure, check the customs website of your destination. It’s easier than trying to talk your way around something that shouldn’t have been in your luggage in the first place.
Wearing Camouflage Clothing
This is undoubtedly one you may not know about or could easily slip your mind. Unfortunately, many people don’t realise this until they’re already on the ground.
Some countries do not allow civilians to wear camouflage clothing. This includes countries like Barbados and St. Lucia, and also includes children. In practice, you can expect anything from being told to change to enforcement action. There are even laws that prohibit possession of clothing made from a ‘disruptive pattern’.
Your Social Media
What you’ve posted online matters. Some countries deny entry to anyone who has publicly criticised their government, even if it was years ago. Social media identifiers have already been collected as part of some US visa applications for several years, and there has been discussion about expanding data collection further for certain travellers. In the UAE and Egypt, there are also strict rules on what you post, which could lead to deportation or detention.
How You Behave at the Border
Immigration officers deal with thousands of people a day, and their job is partly about assessing risk. Appearing evasive, argumentative, or overly nervous can turn a routine entry into something much more complicated than it needs to be, and it may lead to a secondary interview.
Final Words
Most entry refusals don’t happen because of something serious; they are usually due to minor issues that could have been avoided, whether that’s a document that didn’t quite match, an assumption that turned out to be outdated, or a passport rule you didn’t realise applied to you. The best way to avoid this is preparation.
You don’t need to overplan every detail, but it’s worth not leaving the important bits to chance. Do you need a visa? Is your passport valid for a sufficient period? Are there any documents you might be asked to show?
Even if you travel often and feel familiar with how things work, it still pays to check the latest entry requirements. Border rules change more often than you may realise, and experience doesn’t always protect you from that. A quick check before you fly can save hours of stress later.
Have you been caught out by any of these (or something else)? Let us know in the comments below:
