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Can I exit Thailand via Nong Khai border with two passports and obtain a new visa on arrival?

Thailand Visa Policy Passport Procedures Visa Exempt Entry Immigration Rules Entry and Exit Requirements

Oct 1, 2025

7 days ago

Maxim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I went through the search function of this group and found posts saying opposite things, so here I am with my situation:

My New passport is completely empty. I got it a few weeks ago.

The last entry on my old passport is a 60 days visa exempt entry, of which I've extended by 30 days, and then by 60 days (visiting Thai wife).

My 60 days will expired on October 5. The immigration office in which I did the 60 days extension is far from where I am, so I'm not going back there to transfer extension (I don't think i need to anyways?).

My plan was to leave via Nong Khai border by showing both passports. So they will void/stamp the old passport, and then on the Laos side I'll do the visa on arrival in new passport. *I will come back by air using safe entry*.

But then, searching the group, I found posts saying conflicting things. My understanding is that since my last entry is visa exempt, I can just do what I said above. But if I was on a longer term visa, I would have to leave by air so that they transfer from old to new passport (something they can't do at border).

Am I correct or missing something?

Thank!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user seeks clarification on exiting Thailand using a new passport after being in the country under a visa-exempt entry, with some comments confirming that they can simply show both passports at the border and exit without needing to transfer extensions, while others caution about potential re-entry issues based on their visa history.

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Brandon ************

You're correct. No need to do anything except exit Thailand. It's only long-term extensions where an upcoming extension is planned that really need to be transferred.

6 days ago

John **********

You just show both passports on the way out. You have nothing to transfer. But be aware that having a new passport does not hide your history of living inside Thailand so you may have an issue when you return

7 days ago

Maxim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

I already got denied in December last year (Nong Khai), and got in with an agent at BKK. I plan to use Thai Visa Center this time around. They guaranteed 100% entry. I plan to do Non O based on marriage after that. I'm tired of border run.

6 days ago

John **********

@Maxim **********

why not just get the 90 day Non-O visa from Laos while you are there and you will have no problem entering, then all you need to do is get the 12 months extension of stay before the visa expires?

6 days ago

Reply to

John **********

Maxim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

Thank you! That's what I thought, but I went through search history here and found a few posts of people saying that it needed to be transfer although it was confusing between visa, visa exempt, or what.

7 days ago

John **********

@Maxim **********

if you were on a long-term visa you would need to transfer, but you are not

6 days ago

Reply to

John **********

Pete *******

You don’t qualify for visa on arrival and are a target for entry rejection based on your entry history.

7 days ago

Pete *******

Ahh okay, it was not clear to me that you were referring to a Laos entry and not an entry into Thailand. Now it makes sense.

7 days ago

Maxim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Pete ******

I meant this: "So what I got told: "Give both passports to the guy at the passport control Booth when you stamp out they will stamp you out on the new passport and make a note that you entered on the old one and then you use the new passport to enter Lao". So I'm not bouncing that border.

7 days ago

Maxim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Pete ******

I have never heard of someone getting denied VOA in Laos :)

7 days ago

Reply to

Maxim ***********

Lynnette *******

You won't get a visa on arrival. You'll get another exempt entry of 60 days.

7 days ago

Maxim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Lynnette ******

So what I got told: "Give both passports to the guy at the passport control Booth when you stamp out they will stamp you out on the new passport and make a note that you entered on the old one and then you use the new passport to enter Lao".

7 days ago

Lynnette *******

@Maxim **********

ok, thought you meant voa into Thailand. My mistake. I think you show both passports like you said. But others may know better.

7 days ago

Reply to

Lynnette *******

Maxim ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Lynnette ******

Laos provide VOA, not Visa exempt entry.

I think you misunderstood what I'm asking.

I'm not doing a border run.

I just want to leave Thailand from Nong Khai and enter Laos on VOA.

But I've read previous posts where people said that you have to transfer visa exempt extension first to new passport before crossing. But a good source told me this was not true at all. To just show both passports upon leaving.

7 days ago

Reply to

Maxim ***********

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Can I extend my 60-day visa exempt stamp with a new passport in Thailand without leaving the country?

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