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Do I need a PCR test to travel to Laos by bus if my Thai visa is about to expire?

Thai Visa Extension Travel to Laos PCR Test Requirements Visa Expiration Immigration Office Thailand

Oct 10, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi Guys, My visa is going to expire in a few days. I’m trying to see my options to extend it for one more month. Either asking someone to help me with the immigration office and pay around 4000thb (for the immigration and the office helping me) or going to Laos by bus and come back. I’m ok to go to Laos by bus but I would like to avoid doing the whole PCR test for going and coming? Do I need a PCR test if I go to Laos by bus? Also where can I do a quick PCR they would accept?  I would really appreciate any suggestions. Thanks guys

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking advice on visa extension options as their Thai visa is expiring soon. They consider two options: using an immigration office with assistance for an extension at a cost of around 4000 THB or traveling to Laos by bus to reset their visa. The user wants to avoid PCR testing for this journey and questions whether a PCR test is needed for traveling to Laos by bus and where they might obtain one.

Stuart *********

What visa are you currently on? Do you even have a visa or did you enter visa exempt. Have you done an in country extension already?

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Val *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

I think it was visa exempt since they gave me a 30 days stamp from the airport

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Val *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

I’m on a 30 days tourist visa. I came from Europe with a French passport. Thanks Stuart

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Stuart *********

ok just to clear things up you are not on a 30 day tourist visa. You entered Thailand before October 1st with no visa under the visa exempt entry scheme and were given 30 days entry for free.

That aside have you done an in country extension from that entry?

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Val *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

no I haven’t done any extension. I’d like to extend it. I’m leaving on the 26th of October

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Stuart *********

very easy to do at a local immigration office. You need a passport photo, a copy of your passport data page and a copy of your entry stamp. You fill out a form called a TM7 and pay 1,900 baht. You’ll get a stamp for another 30 days. Depending on the office you use it might take somewhere between 10-40 minutes.

If you mention what office you’d use then we may be able to advise whether you’ll need to have a TM30 filed. Most offices don’t require this for an exempt extension but some are quirky.

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Stuart *********

Most offices have copy and photo places on site or very near by.

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Val *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

thanks a lot for the help Stuart. I’ll be using the immigration office in Chiang Mai near the airport

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Stuart *********

Chiang Mai ask for a filed TM30. Are you staying in a hotel?

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Val *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

do the hotel need to provide it

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Stuart *********

If you’re in a hotel they must file one for you by law. Usually they use an online system. Ask them for a screenshot of their filing one for you. All you’ll need is that screenshot and stuff I mentioned above.

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Val *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

one last question. When you say a copy of entry stamp, you mean the stamp on the passport right? That say it expired on a specific date

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Stuart *********

yes.

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Val *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

thanks a lot for all the information. I really appreciate

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Val *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

im staying at a hotel but they never heard of the TM30. Is this normal?

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Val *******

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