A method and apparatus for forced cell/RAT reselection is disclosed. In one embodiment, a cellular mobile communication device may attempt to access a network through a serving cell. Responsive to determining that access to the network is barred through the serving cell, the mobile communication device may determine if another cell is available through which it may obtain access to the network. If another cell providing network access is available, the mobile communication device may force reselection from the serving cell to the new cell. If no other cell providing access to the network is available to the mobile communication device, a forced reselection of a radio access technology may be performed.