Can South Korean citizens cross into Thailand multiple times by land without visa restrictions?

Sep 7, 2024
2 months ago
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Dear member,

I need your advice bacause I am really confused. I have a Korean passport which is a Visa exempted to Thailand.

I am currently staying in Laos and I have been to Thailand 3 times by crossing a land border named Chong Mak since April 9th. I attached the photos of my passport for your reference. I read many postings of 2 times limitation to enter Thailand per calendar year by land crossing. I thought I could cross to Thailand through land borders without any limitations. Please correct me if I am wrong. Cheers!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses confusion regarding entry limitations for South Korean passport holders crossing into Thailand by land. Initially, the user believed there were restrictions on the number of entries allowed per year, but community responses clarified that these limitations have been rescinded as of July 2024, allowing more than two entries per calendar year. However, it was advised that frequent border crossings may raise questions with immigration officials. The user confirmed successful crossing into Thailand without issues while citing a doctor's appointment.
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Dear members,

Good afternoon. Big thank you all for the kind advices and comments on my question.

Today, I crossed Chong Mek land border without any issue. The immigration officer asked where I was going and I told her I am going to a doctor’s appointment. She smiled at me and put a

stamp on my passport. Cheers!
Bart **************
You're not wrong.
Dca *****
FYI—

For South Korean (RoK) passports and a few other countries who have BILATERAL visa waiver/visa exemption with Thailand, the 2 free land entries limit per calendar year never applied to them and could make more than 2 land entries into Thailand per calendar year.

A specified by various Royal Gazette Notices: Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Burnei;

others: Laos, Vietnam, Russia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and few others I don't recall at the moment
Dca *****
Sawasdee and Sabaidee Everyone!

Expats in Laos (and others) regularly go to and from Thailand for day trips for various purposes besides tourism: medical visits, stock up on groceries, bring the odd equipment for repair to specialists/experienced in Thailand, source spare parts for household items, even just enjoying a family outing, etc.

That's why the restriction of 2 free land entries per calendar year to most of the tourist unilateral visa exemption countries starting in January 2017 was really a bummer for expats in Laos and even those Lao families with members holding foreign passports.

Because, getting the 6 month Thai METV was quite inconvenient, such as competing in the queue with all those doing Thai visa runs, et al just to do day trips across the bridge/border every so often (above the twice per year limit).

Notwithstanding all I have said, expats in Laos do support Laos and the Lao economy (buying and using local goods and services), but enjoying something different just a short drive across the bridge every so often more conveniently would be nice.

That's why it is great news that, along with expanding the tourist unilateral visa exemption to 60 days and 93 countries/territories, the 2 free per calendar year land crossing limit seems to be rescinded as well, but some Thai Immigration officers at various border posts along the Lao-Thai Border still say otherwise.

It is unfortunate that there is nothing yet published in the Royal Gazette nor any publicly seen or circulated Notices or Directives from the Thai Immigration Bureau (สตม) that would say the 2 free land entries limit has been "officially" rescinded.
John **********
@Dca ****
I've not seen anything "official" but it certainly seems to be the practice
Dca *****
@John *********
Yes, hopefully, the elusive 'official document' eventually pops up
John **********
It looks like you are back and fore regularly but only for short periods inside Thailand. That's not the behaviour of a typical tourist so it may raise other questions as to what you are coming to Thailand for
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
Hi John, I have a one year Laos Visa and go to Thailand for hospital visits and holidays. Thanks 👍
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes. You are right. I applied a long term visa to open a bank account and to obtain a driver’s license.
John *******
@Alexander ********
- if you have a 1 year Laos visa, why is each of the entry stamps into Laos good for only 30 days?
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
Hi John, Good point. I just got my Laos Visa a week ago. 😊
John *******
@Alexander ********
- Noted, but when the other poster highlighted the strange travel behavior shown by your visa stamps, you referenced your 1 year Laos visa, which you didn’t have at the time any of those stamps in/out were being made.
John **********
@Alexander ********
I'm sure that's fine, especially if you can show your appointments
David ********
@John *********
say you like Buddhist culture and are visiting temples to understand it more. You could travel in Thailand forever doing that 🤣🤣🤣🤣
John **********
. Sure but that would make you a resident
Fish **********
I can confirm there is no issue to go through land entry for more than 2 times a year from Laos or neighbouring country as my spouse has done that numerous times (>5 time land entry) a year for short visits.

The immigration officer may ask if they sense you are doing a lot of border runs and staying prolong period without a long term visa.
Nigel *********
@Fish *********
might be helpful if you mention what passport your spouse uses as some countries (eg Malaysia) were never subject to the 2 entries rule.
Fish **********
@Nigel ********
nope , Laos subjected to 2 land crossing per year , together with rest of the list while unlimited arrival by plane. Having said that , it is almost never enforced and questions are asked only at the discretion of the immigration officer
Fish **********
@Nigel ********
Laos passport passing through Vientiane to Nong Khai. Not only her but many of her friends and family members also travel frequently to Thailand via same channel
Nigel *********
@Fish *********
ok. I might be wrong but I think Lao passport was always exempt from 2 land crossing a year, like Malaysia
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Fish *********
Good to know that! Thanks Fish 👍
Kool *******
With your entry history expect to be questioned, if not denied entry, because you follow a pattern of trying to live in Thailand long term as a tourist.
Tim *********
@Kool ******
or possibly of being a mule
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
Thnaks for the heads up 👍
Brandon ************
Koreans qualify for 2 entry programs without a visa. The first is "visa exempt" which used to be 30 days but is now 60 days. Koreans also qualify for "visa waiver" which is 90 days for Koreans.

Visa exempt used to be limited to 2 times per year at a land border, but as of July 15th, 2024 that limit was removed. There was never any limit to number of entries using visa waiver.

If you enter too many times, or spend too long in Thailand, without a visa, eventually the immigration officers will use their discretion to question why you are spending so much time in Thailand without a proper visa, and can warn you or possibly even deny you entry.
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Thanks for clarifying my misunderstanding. I have never heard about “ Visa Waiver”. Can you elaborate more about it?
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I greatly appreciate your help. 😀
Brandon ************
@Alexander ********
it's another entry method available to Koreans. It's from bi-lateral agreement between Thailand and Korea. Both countries offer it to each other.

It may or may not be available at a land border
Jonathin *******
@Brandon ***********
Hi Brandon. Can I ask what your source is for the July 15 no limit to entries? I ask because in other groups I still see people giving advice that the 2 land entries is still the law. TIA
Brandon ************
@Jonathin ******
an MFA official did a YouTube interview and stated it. And multiple people have both reported asking at the border and also shown their 3rd visa exempt stamp of this year.

Also the 2 land border entries per year was never a law. It was a policy.
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Hi Brandon, Thanks again. 👍😀
Chris *******
@Brandon ***********
also verified by local immigration offices.
Alexander *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ******
Thanks Chris 👍
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