Is it possible to get a 4th visa exempt in 2023 at Wang Prachan? I heard they are the best border to pass.
Otherwise I’ll go for a tourist visa. I’m not ready to get a longer term visa.
Thank you 🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A 4th visa exempt entry at Wang Prachan may not be possible in 2023 if the individual has already used two visa exempt entries via land border within the same calendar year. To continue the stay in Thailand, obtaining a tourist visa is recommended.
Frank **********
Better to get a tourist visa Twinkletoes. 5555
Todd *********
You have entered 3x by land on visa exempt this year already?
John **********
You were lucky to get 3 if they were all this year. Sorry I don't know the answer to the visa question, pretty embassy specific so I'd ask them
always interesting! Thx. Some places definitely are more lenient. And agencies can facilitate
Reply to
Todd *********
Reply
John **********
Remember that a visa is no guarantee of entry so choose your border carefully. You've been here quite a long time on a mix of visa exempt and tourist visas.
Someone told me that I could not apply for a tourist visa a second time in one year at Penang and that I should go to Kota Bharu instead, do you know if this is likely to be true? 
Is Takbai which is the border close to Kota Bharu an easy border to cross also?
From Kota Bharu Wang Prachan is 1 day driving away…
as it will be a whole days travel from anywhere in Thailand, to Wang Prachan, to possibly get knocked back. I have completed 4 land entries in 2023, I think a few days overstay on each occasion, and 12 days on one occasion due to a misplaced passport, although I'm pre-screened through a trusted agent. On my last trip, I've ended up in the immigration back office, with the one male and one female I/O's and the supervisor, them sharing Thai snacks with me, a little small talk and then talking openly about myself, my situation (I've applied for Elite visa, but a 2-3 month back log). Before I left, I asked if it were possible to carry on taking this route, ie 5 and 6 Entries plus 30 day extensions in a calendar year, and beyond, they all looked at each other and agreed yes. But this is a very very unique situation but goes to show there is flexibility in the discretion of the IO's about the 2 land entries.
is the agent in coordination with the Van company? From Koh Phangan who could I book? Is it a much better idea that I go with the van and an agent, rather than to drive with my Motorbike there?
yes, agent gets you a seat in the van. Most Pha ngan/Samui agents can help. Tell them you want border bounce to Wang Prachan, and that it's your 3rd or 4th bounce, and can you get pre-screened and given the 'ok'. They'll need to send a copy of your passport. But book early as they do get booked up. But you can ask to ride your bike, even if they have a seat available. I have on one occasion gone on my bike and followed the van (and on two other occasions I did not need any assistance at the borders). It's not a bad drive if your confident, or crazy. Obviously the vans go at 100mph, literally, but if you got the location/satnav all sorted, you can get ahead in the early hours when the roads are empty. The last 1-2 hours are through a national park and that's a glorious drive/ride. What bike do you have ? I've driven to Wang Prachan, Pedang Besar, and Ranong, (all about 5 hours each way from Donsak), on my Xmax, 300cc, and it's fine (fine as in, I nearly died on a few occasions, not my fault, but at 140-160kmh, it's hard to point fingers, and that's part of the buzz of riding across Thailand, it's not for pussies) I wouldn't recommend any smaller engine size. And get new tires and brakes for the trip. Any problems, you can drop me a message on here - I might actually be THE world authority of obtaining slightly shady Visa's and driving a motorbike to a border like a maniac on the day of visa expiry. If you could see my visa history 😱
50 days ago I drove with my Yamaha Tricity and went to Malaysia with it. I’m confident on the drive.
So you mean if I go with my motorbike I still need to follow the van so to arrive at the same time because the driver or agent would be the one to do get me the stamps on arrival?
ok that's good to hear. but a Tricity ? Jeez what engine size and top speed is ? How long did that take from Donsak ? And did you cross the border WITH your bike ?
From Koh Pha Ngan, you can book with any of the agencies on Samui. I would say it's a 100% better idea to go with agency as they will tell you what is possible. There is one agency right outside the immigration office on Samui and of course HD Visa.
yes, you will go with them in a van from Samui. One day trip, leave early and return late. It will make a difference for sure. 3500 baht is current cost for the whole trip I think...
hmm. Not sure. This is the office directly in front of Samui immigration on the right hand side. Check on the Samui or KPN expat sites, someone will have their contact info
also Samui Visa run and HD Visa, offices down on the main road, turn left out of maenam soi 1, but you'll need phone numbers I guess ... And Easyway, directly opposite soi 1.
Wang Prachan is 'friendly' but I'd advise going through an agent, getting pre-screened and travelling with them. The drivers literally walk you through immigration, out and back in, anyone with any problems gets looked after. I've even seen one of the drivers go into the immigration office, clip the ear of the I/O who is drawing attention to something, and the driver reminds them of what's happening, ie, 'you're meant to look the other way' and hurrying the IO's along. Last time I was there, there were 8-10 minibuses full, from various agents around the country. If just 500 baht a head goes to the immigration coffers, that's 50,000 a day at least. 350,000 baht a week. 1.4million a month. Divide that by the number of senior staff and middle management, you can understand how these things come about.
Todd *********
If I read your comments, it seems that 2 is the rule. And he says three already complete. Are you wrong or him?
He hasnt specified whether his entries were by land or by air.
Official guidelines are no more than 2x by land.
No official limit for air entries, though the more consecutive entries you have, the greater the likelihood of being at least questioned, and told its time to either wind things up or get a long-term visa.
I think he actually has. There is no airport at Wang Prachan.
And yes - we all know those are the official guidelines, but something like this appears, the ‘rules boys’have a stroke instead of listening to what is really happening.
Why would anyone be even mildly concerned about being questioned? It’s normal for every country. Just officers doing their job.
And nobody is ever gonna tell you to ‘wind things up or get a long term visa’.
That’s only for FB show and tell.
Thai immigration officials are well aware of the limitations of the system
It depends on how many of those 4 have been by crossing a land border. You're only allowed to do 2 visa exempt entries to Thailand at a land border per calendar year.
If you have already done 2, the only option is to try and fly back to Thailand or to apply for a visa before returning to the land border.
I did 3 already. So I’ll go for the visa. Can I apply for a tourist visa a second time at Penang or is it best that I got to go to Kota Bharu?
Henrik *****
From Thai Embassy Visa information website:
Nationals ( country ) who are currently traveling in other countries and wish to travel to Thailand cannot apply for e-visa with the Royal Thai Embassy in ( country ). They may either enter Thailand under 30-day tourist visa exemption scheme or contact the Royal Thai Embassy in the countries they are traveling in if they wish to stay in Thailand for longer than the tourist visa exemption scheme allowed. If they wish to apply with the Royal Thai Embassy in ( country ) , those nationals of ( country ) must first return to their respective countri, before applying.
Applying in any orher country, is trying to circumvent the basic rules, about applying from the country in which they have residence.
You replied to a comment about needing to apply for a visa in the country you reside in saying thats only true for METV visas, to which i replied its not only METV but evisa’s as well, which can be TV or METV
neither is the person who made the comment you replied to and tried to correct with also incorrect info. Seems silly to try and correct someone when you’re not correct either 🥴