Answered2 years ago
Do I need to stay two nights in Laos to use my DTV visa to re-enter Thailand?
We are currently in Thailand on a visa-exempt entry, but since arriving have received our DTV visas. If we go to Laos to re-enter using those visas, do we need to stay the two nights required by a border bounce? Or should we be able to reenter immediately since we have a valid visa. Thanks for any help you can offer!
Answer summary
The inquiry about re-entering Thailand immediately after obtaining DTV visas from Laos indicates that it's generally permissible to return without staying the required two nights, as this is not considered a border bounce but rather activating a valid visa. Comments confirm that while some borders may have specific overnight rules, if using other border crossings, such as Chiang Khong, re-entry can be done the same day without issues.
15 repliesnewest first
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Katie *********
OPAn update: just did a border run at Chiang Khong with the DTV visa and were able to return same day with no issues.
Luit *****************
@Katie ********
Great to hear that it works how it should work. The restrictions should be there to prevent misuse of visa exempt, not for valid visaAngeil ********
I just did this… 1 night is fine bc you’re not returning on the tourist visa.
Katie *********
OP@Angeil *******
what border did you go through?Katie *********
OPOh gotcha. This is very different than our situation. I am aware this will work! But looking for experiences crossing the Laos border by land specifically
Angeil ********
@Katie ********
I flew to Malaysia for $60 and returned to Thailand the next day
Brandon ************
Only Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong are known to require one night out of Thailand, not 2. Whether they consider you leaving and returning with a visa a border bounce or not is difficult to know. If you are using a different border, you shouldn't have any issues.
Jan ******************
You should be able to re-enter immediately as you’re not doing a border bounce just activating a valid visa. Not all borders to Laos require two nights out anyway.
Luit *****************
@Jan *****************
DTV visa is active from the moment it is granted, on each entry in the country from that moment on, you will be given a stamp for a 180 day stay.The state of the visa will be valid for a period of 5 years starting from the moment of issue, no matter if you enter zero or many times.
Jan ******************
@Luit ****************
The visa is valid and active five years from issue date, but you’ll need to activate and get the 180 days stay the visa gives you anyway. This can’t be done inside Thailand.Luit *****************
@Jan *****************
Every country will have it's own website with rules, but it is a common rule for applying visa worldwide.For Thai embassy in Netherlands this is the link:
************************************************************************
I think it is very clear and also logical.
IMPORTANT:
Thai Visa is for entering Thailand. It is therefore issued to those who are outside of Thailand and will visit Thailand. Therefore, your visa application will be rejected if you are already in Thailand during the visa process.
Royal Thai Embassy, The Hague, has the authority to provide visa service only to those who are in the Netherlands for the entire visa process. Therefore, your visa application will be rejected if you are outside of the Netherlands.
P.S.
When your flight is before the visa arrives, that does not mean visa is not issued in time, but it means you planned your flight wrong.
Jan ******************
@Luit ****************
But sometimes the visa wasn’t issued in time and you needed to leave anyway because of your air ticket. Happens several times and a trip over the border activates the stay based on the visa anyway. I’ve never heard about this restriction regarding application process when you apply outside Thailand. Could you provide an accurate link please. 🙏Luit *****************
@Jan *****************
You should not receive an e-visa AFTER you entered Thailand, because that means you ignored the rules of not travelling to Thailand during application process.Jan ******************
@Luit ****************
This is quite common terminology. If you receive your tourist visa as a e-visa after you’ve entered Thailand on a visa exemption, you’ll need to leave and activate the stay the visa gives you anyway even though the visa is valid for 90 days after it’s issued. I’ll put a line here anyway.Luit *****************
@Jan *****************
I don't see there is anything to activate, you will get entry stamps that each give you the right to stay, but that does not change status of the visa, that is like you say valid and active 5 years from issue date, and you cannot activate something that is already active.Activity
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