This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Can you exit Thailand and return through a Laos border crossing without a Laos visa?
Thailand immigrationVisa rulesLaos border crossingVisa on arrivalNON-O visaExpat adviceCrossing bordersVisa regulations
May 16, 2017
9 years ago
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTERDid Ash just delete his post thinking he could, leave Thailand and return, at a Laos border crossing without entering or buying a visa for Laos?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation discusses the misconception that one can leave Thailand, briefly enter 'no man's land' near a Laos border, and return to Thailand without obtaining a Laos visa or entry/exit stamps. Commenters emphasize that this is not feasible as Thai immigration will likely refuse re-entry without proper documentation and may send individuals back to apply for the necessary visa.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Andrew *******
F
Jan **********
Let him try please let him try
Jan **********
Irony, dear, irony.
Amornrat **********
Please do not try.
Reply to
Amornrat **********
Reply
Tod *********
Believe me Ash, ain't the first foreigner to try this (& I'm sure he won't be the last either ;) ).
The question comes up on thai related forums ALL the time.
There is an extremely small (and in minuscule) chance the I/O at passport control won't look for your lao visa and entry exit stamps.
Most reports I've read say the foreigner was sent back to get the lao visa along with the entry/exit stamps BEFORE they're stamped into thailand.
The question comes up on thai related forums ALL the time.
There is an extremely small (and in minuscule) chance the I/O at passport control won't look for your lao visa and entry exit stamps.
Most reports I've read say the foreigner was sent back to get the lao visa along with the entry/exit stamps BEFORE they're stamped into thailand.
Amornrat **********
and there a few that you not read about, they are the ones locked up and deported for illegal entry.
Reply to
Amornrat **********
Reply
Andrew *******
I've heard and read of people doing this at various borders. Of course you *should* get a visa for Laos (or wherever) and Thai immigration will probably turn you back if they check and notice you don't have one...but they evidently neglect to check this at least a certain proportion of the time.
Don't get me wrong - I think chances are that you won't get away with it, but the chance of them not noticing are definitely higher than 0%/impossible. How many people enter Thailand each day with the incorrect stamp? It's definitely more than zero. ;)
Don't get me wrong - I think chances are that you won't get away with it, but the chance of them not noticing are definitely higher than 0%/impossible. How many people enter Thailand each day with the incorrect stamp? It's definitely more than zero. ;)
Amornrat **********
and how many sit in IDC because of such small oversight. I can tell you a few. Thai Immigration in general do not like to look you up, but in such case, even you have a entry stamp it is considered as illegal entry.
Reply to
Amornrat **********
Reply
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTERAsh Gourley. Nice try but, as Im sure you know now, it cant be done.
Jacco ***********
LOL there is NO way it can be done, in none of the four neighboring countries, Thai immigration will see that you are lacking an entry/exit stamp from the other country and will send you back
Maxim ***********
What do u mean? You can't cross Nong Khai to Dongphosy without paying the visa on arrival. If you mean u got rejected at border in Poipet well if you don't pay the bribe it's game over.
Troy *********
I'm currently on 13 months on mine
Tod *********
@Ma***
, They most certainly do have a year-long multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa for thailand. With that visa you need to exit/re-enter thailand every 90 days, but you can get almost 15 months of stay out of it.Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Maxim **********
. Yes the non-imm OMaxim ***********
They don't have 1 year multi-entry in Thailand? Do you mean non-O something? The 6 months multi-entry do exist yes but u need to make it in ur own country (or Perth i've heard?).
Maxim ***********
Yeah border crossing have never been a problem in any country for me but everytime I in and out Laos the same day it seem to take longer and more eyebrows then Myammar.
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Maxim **********
. Around $150 for the 1 year multi entry to Thailand.Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Maxim **********
.Border crossings. For whatever reason you go.Maxim ***********
Not sure if u mean crossing or border run in and out inside 30 min. If both well I was probably unlucky. Myammar border much cheaper $10 usd... Laos is $40+ for Canadian.
Jacco ***********
@Steve ******
Yes and FSB III (Nakhom Phanom) is pretty ok as wellSteve *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Maxim **********
, nong khai, mukdahan and chong mek crossings all seem to be fairly user friendlyJacco ***********
@Maxim **********
Yeah :) Easy there, I got my two stamps as well, and I'm just a tourist, next time it's visa time in Vientiane :)Maxim ***********
I'm relocating to Phnom Penh saturday, not for that particular reason but 1 year multi-entry for $280 is very appailing.
Jacco ***********
@Maxim **********
So you are done doing border runs now :)Maxim ***********
I had some problem in the border near CM (Chiang Khong?) on a border run late last year. They told me to not come back at this border and do a proper visa next time although this was my first border run that year. I've done 2 border run in Tachilek this year and it was $10 usd and very easy in and out.
Jacco ***********
@Steve ******
Yeah Lao is easy, entered Lao many times, although never to do a border run, Lao is a destination in it's own right :)Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTERMaxim Thibodeau. Laos border crossings are no problem, IMHO easier than Myanmar.
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jacco **********
. Yep. That's what I said.Maxim ***********
Even trying is a bad idea they might feel insulted and just blackmail his passport. Border run in Laos is not that easy anymore, easier in Myammar.
Jacco ***********
@Steve ******
Ash thought he could exit Thailand and enter Lao without paying for a visa on arrival on the premises that he would return straight away, or even not enter Lao at all. If he does enter Lao he will pay for VOA, if he does not enter Lao, he will be send back by Thai immigration and still pay for the LAO voa.Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTERAll the comments said he couldnt.
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThis seems to be what Ash thought he could do with his origional post.
Maxim ***********
Did not see the post, if he ask for it it mean he don't know? If he delete post knowing it mean people said he could?
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTEROf course it's not possible, that's what we're saying!
Maxim ***********
That's impossible. It's a nice angle to try but 0% chance it work.
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI think he means trying to leave thailand, enter 'no mans land' and then return without entering another country
Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Ade ******
Done that at Nong Khai. Tried at Poiphet and got sent back!
Maxim ***********
Did not see his post but he can't, in Malaysia you can.
Amornrat **********
In such case, at land border, going OUT/IN without having the other side visa and entry/exit stamp, Thai Immigration in Bangkok or elsewhere would consider this an illegal entry. You must have the other side visa and entry exit stamp.
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTERMaxim. But you still have to enter Malaysia, albeit, some countries dont need a visa. Ash was talking about leaving Thailand, not entering Laos, and then re-entering Thailand.
Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
16 comments
2 years ago
21 comments
2 years ago
21 comments
2 years ago
11 comments
2 years ago
38 comments
2 years ago
6 comments
2 years ago
22 comments
2 years ago
19 comments
3 years ago
10 comments
3 years ago
19 comments
3 years ago
5 comments
3 years ago
8 comments
3 years ago
Is it legal to do a same-day border run from Thailand to Laos and back for a new 45-day entry stamp?
16 comments
3 years ago
1 comments
4 years ago
2 comments
4 years ago
44 comments
4 years ago
5 comments
6 years ago
12 comments
6 years ago
13 comments
6 years ago
4 comments
7 years ago
12 comments
8 years ago
5 comments
8 years ago
9 comments
8 years ago
43 comments
8 years ago
12 comments
9 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.