Can a US passport holder obtain a visa on arrival when entering Thailand from Lao?

visa on arrival Visa Exempt Entry US passport holder Thailand immigration regulations land entry Visa Exempt Entry validity SETV visa duration

Oct 17, 2018

6 years ago

Curt **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I have a friend from the US who is coming here for 62 days and his plan is to get a visa on arrival  in Bangkok and then go to Lao and come back through Savannakhet  and he asked if I thought he would have any problem getting a 30 day visa on a land entry there. Does anyone have any experience with that?

He made one trip here in January and had been back in the US for 6-7 months.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A US passport holder cannot obtain a Visa on Arrival in Thailand as it is only available for 21 countries. Instead, he can enter Thailand using a Visa Exempt Entry, which allows for a 30-day stay. If he exits Thailand and re-enters, he can obtain another 30-day Visa Exempt Entry. There is also an option to apply for a regular Short-Term Tourist Visa (SETV), which can be extended for an additional 30 days, totaling a 90-day stay.

Terary **********

He should be fine.. But if he has time time, it may make more sense for him to get a regular SETV. That can be extended 30 day for a total of 90 days.

6 years ago

Curt **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Terary *********

He's in beantown so I think he's styled. I'll pass along the suggestion. He hasn't been here at all in 2018 after all so it shouldn't be an issue but you never know.

6 years ago

Terary **********

Can be done at many Thai Embassy. It doesn't necessarily have to be in the U.S. The advantage to doing it in the U.S. is that he can get a multiple entry.. The disadvantage of the U.S. location.. There are few location and if your friend is near one of them great.. Otherwise will have to be done via mail (makes me nervous but others do it - I suppose).

He can get SETV here in SE Asia - or many other locations (not Tokyo, not china - can be donw in Combodia, Lao Myanmar, Vietnam, ... most places.

6 years ago

Curt **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Does he need to apply at a Thai embassy in the US for a SETV?

6 years ago

Reply to

Curt **********

Robert *******

If he holds a US passport he can NOT get a Visa on Arrival, that is just for 21 countries, cost 2.000 Thb and only gives 15 days of Stay. He is with this passport legible to get the Visa Exempt Entry that will give him 30 days of stay. If he leaves Thailand and come back he can get a new Visa Exempt Entry.

6 years ago

Curt **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert ******

I need to ask but I think only had one land entry. Thanks for the info.

6 years ago

Robert *******

It is the same Visa Exempt Entry for 30 days, but he can only do this twice a calendar year on entry by land borders. So the question now is what did he do during his trip in January?

6 years ago

Curt **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Sorry, I meant VEE. The first one isn’t a concern, he wants to know if he can get another 30 by land at Savanahket or if it’s only 15 days.

6 years ago

Reply to

Curt **********

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