Can a South Korean citizen renew their 90-day visa in Thailand by doing a border run to Myanmar?

South Korea Visa Thai Visa Regulations Visa Extension Border Runs Visa Exempt Entry Immigration Rules Thailand

Jun 29, 2018

6 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

I've got a friend who is from South Korea. After receiving a 90 day Visa. They were advised at the Immigration office they were only able to extend for 7 more days. They did this, and now, they would like to renew for another 90 (or at least 30 days). If they do a border run to Myanmar, will this allow them to renew their VISA??  

Thanks for your help!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A South Korean citizen who has received a 90-day visa in Thailand can extend their stay for an additional 7 days but will not be able to renew for another full 90 days through a border run to Myanmar. Due to specific immigration rules, they need to fly out of Thailand and return by air to qualify for a new 90-day visa exemption, rather than attempt to re-enter via land borders.

Tod *********

It is the thai immigration officers at the borders NOT the visa run companies that won't let people from the 5 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru & South Korea) that get 90 day visa exempt entries bounce out and back in by land.

So no they can't go to the burma border, stamp out, stamp in&out of burma and stamp back in.

There are reports that in the south of thailand people from those countries are charged 3000baht to bounce out and back in to get free a 90 day visa exempt entry (1000baht per 30 days).

They need to fly out and back in.

6 years ago

Luke ******

I think what you are referring to, Robert Lagas, is that some visa run agencies are saying South Korean nationals cannot do same day in-outs at land borders. However, upon entering Thailand, regardless whether it's by air or land border, South Korean nationals are entitled to a permission of stay of 90 days. And this is confirmed by many websites. Otherwise South Koreans would not be allowed to enter by land visa exempt, which is ridiculous.

6 years ago

Ryan *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Got it. To clariry, flying to KL in the morning, and flying back on the same day is fine for South Korean nationals under the 90 day visa exempt entry?

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Ry**

just so we're clear, they don't have ANY visa, and you can't renew a visa even if they had one.

They showed up here without buying a visa from a thai consulate before hand and because they come from South Korea they were stamped in for free for 90 days on what's called a visa exempt entry.

In order to get a new 90 day visa exempt entry stamp they'd need to fly out and back in. Like

@Lu**

, said it's not WHERE they go that's important it's that they pick a place they can get into without having to buy a visa for that country to get stamped in and out.

I'd say have them fly to KL one morning and right back that afternoon, South Koreans don't need a visa to get in Malaysia and r/t tickets are pretty cheap.

6 years ago

Luke ******

The destination does not matter, whether it's the best option or not depends on where in Thailand you are should you want to get the cheapest flights.

PS: It only matters in the sense that some countries like Myanmar or Cambodia charge for visa on arrival, so that would be an added cost.

6 years ago

Ryan *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Got it. So a flight to Kuala Lumpur and back could be the best option??

6 years ago

Luke ******

Well techically it should qualify on land borders, but because of corrupt land borders and corrupt IO's people that qualify for 90 day visa exempts are being hassled for tea money it seems. So in that context maybe flying out and in is advisable.

6 years ago

Ryan *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

My question is purely about the process of how to renew the visa. In this case, it seems like a flight works, but a land border cross does not, is that right?

6 years ago

Luke ******

Yep, the OP is asking: If he goes out via a land border such as Myanmar and comes back does he get 90 days. I understand visa exempt permissions of stay derived from bilateral agreements are not extendable at local Immigration, so he gets 7 days to leave, but he was asking something else there.

6 years ago

Robert *******

By reading that the application for Extension of Stay is not approved and they got 7 days, I may assume that these people are inside Thailand and as you said they can not do the same day border run.

6 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

People of South Korea have the 90 day Visa Exemp Entry as part of their bilateral agreement. They have to fly out and in to get this.

6 years ago

David ************

6 years ago

Reply to

David ************

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