How can I extend my stay in Thailand if my 60-day visa exemption is about to expire?

Dec 27, 2024
a month ago
Paul ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So I’m currently in Thailand. I’m from the uk so I have 60 day visa expemption. I want to stay 5 days past the 60 days expires. I am only 60 miles from the boarder with loas now. How easy is it to cross the boarder? Do I simply just walk over the boarder stamp passport and then walk back? (I have not done this before.)

Also- so my 60 days ends on the 14 February does the 60 days get added onto that date. Or just start again on the point I return.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To extend your stay in Thailand beyond the 60-day visa exemption, it is recommended to visit the local immigration office to apply for a 30-day extension, which costs approximately 1,900 baht. Crossing into Laos and then back into Thailand is possible, but it can be more costly and does not guarantee re-entry. Upon re-entering, you will receive a new 60-day visa exemption dated from your return, not from your original expiration date.
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Brian *********
No you need to cross the river on a friendship bridge via bus usually
Steven *******
𝕄𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 **************************
Go to Immigration and make 30 days exemption. At border they can deny your entry. Look here for Details

******************************************
Darren *******
Go through a travel agent bro, easier and guaranteed stamped re entry
Ralph *******
Are you able to take your moped across?
Peculiar ******
You're nearing the end of your 60-day visa exemption in Thailand.

Crossing the Border into Laos

Crossing the border into Laos is relatively straightforward. You can take a bus, taxi, or songthaew (red truck) from Thailand to the border. The most convenient border crossing near you is likely the Chiang Khong-Huay Xai border crossing.

*Steps to Cross the Border:*

1. *Travel to the border*: From your current location, head to the Chiang Khong-Huay Xai border crossing.

2. *Exit Thailand*: At the Thai immigration office, surrender your departure card (TM.6) and get your passport stamped out of Thailand.

3. *Enter Laos*: Walk across the border to the Lao immigration office. You'll need to fill out an arrival/departure card and pay a small fee (around 10,000 kip or $1.20 USD).

4. *Get a Lao visa (if required)*: As a UK citizen, you can get a Lao visa on arrival. The cost is around $30-$40 USD, depending on the type of visa.

5. *Return to Thailand*: After getting your Lao visa, you can exit Laos and re-enter Thailand. You'll need to fill out a new arrival/departure card and get your passport stamped back into Thailand.

Visa Exemption Period

When you re-enter Thailand, you'll be eligible for a new 60-day visa exemption period. This period starts from the date you re-enter Thailand, not from the original expiration date.

*Example:*

Your original 60-day visa exemption ends on February 14th. If you cross the border into Laos and return to Thailand on February 19th, your new 60-day visa exemption period will start from February 19th, not from February 14th.

Please note that immigration policies can change, and it's always a good idea to check with the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate for the latest information. You should also consider reading a book or two before your travel.. I'd recommend a book "Thailand Unveiled 2024-2025" by James Anderson on Amazon..it has all the info and recommendations you need..you should check it out 😀
Nicolas ********
Laos * not loas
Andy **********
It's better to just go to the immigration office in the area you're staying in, and ask for a list of requirements for a 30 day extension, get everything on the list together, and go back about a week before your current stamp expires, when you get the extension it's added on, you don't lose any days.
Thehoodyguy *************
Just go to your local immigration office it’s so straightforward usually in and out in 20 min proof of hotel/residence and passport it’s 1800 baht or 1900 and they fill in the paperwork for you why even consider a border bounce that will probably end up costing you twice that and zero guarantee of re-entry if the IO decides your trying it on
John *******
If you exit and return, your new stamp has nothing to do with old stamp. You get 60 days on arrival
Ranjit *******
go to the immigration office and get a 30 day extension for 1800 baht approx
George *******
If your nearest border is Nong Khai, then it'd cost you $40 USD= 1360 THB for a Laos visa at the border, then if you come straight back across the bridge there's no guarantee the IO will grant you another visa. If you paid for a Laos visa with Thai baht, good chance they'd charge you more than 1,360 THB. Better as some have advised to go to immigration office and get a thirty day extension, which would cost you 1,900 THB.
George *******
What this guy says is correct:

Paul Carr Its better to get a 30 day exemption from immi mate. Just ฿1900. Over the border will cost more and you have to stay 1 night
Brandon **********
Need visa on arrival for Laos
Jan ******************
Depends which border. Nong Khai - Vientiane is ok, but several borderpoint demands one or two nights out for foreigner’s bouncing on their own now. Easier to go to your local immigration and apply for a 30 days extension. Bring passport with copy of ID-page and last stamps, a pass photo, receipt of your TM.30 if asked for, you apply on a TM.7 form at the immigration and pay 1900 baht in cash.
Tim *********
It is cheaper to go to your Thai Immigration Office and pay 1,900 baht to extend your stay by 30 days. The visa to enter Laos is 1,400, or thereabouts, then add travelling costs
Phil ******
@Paul *****
Its better to get a 30 day exemption from immi mate. Just ฿1900. Over the border will cost more and you have to stay 1 night
Brian *********
@Ph**
you don’t have to stay away a night unless at your visa end - if in the middle you will just get another 60 days
Phil ******
@Brian ********
its been well reported by people doing border bounces in Laos that they have to stay overnight

"We got quite a few reports yesterday of people up in Chiang Rai trying to bounce out/back at the Chiang Khong/Huay Xai border that they have to spend the night IN Lao before they can come back.

It appears at this time it's limited to Chiang Khong; as in there were no reports from Chiang Saen where you cross by boat or Nong Khai & Mukdahan/Savannakhet was stamping people out/back like normal.

Just a heads up people IF you're trying to bounce out/back to get a new free entry stamp at the Chiang Khong border pack a change of clothes and tooth brush

The thing is with those companies they are not like the bounce companies in Bangkok/Pattaya where you pay a price and everything is included getting out or thailand in and out of Cambodia and then back in to thailand.

The bounce companies in Chiang Mai are more like glorified taxi services. They pretty much just take you there and cut you loose, you get across on your own, buy the Lao visa on arrival, pay your way across friendship bridge and back etc.

Anyway just wanted to let the people know up in that area of thailand how the border bouncing is working as of yesterday afternoon.

this is an announcement from one of the border bounce companies in Chiang Mai."
Brian *********
@Ph**
I did it last week went for the day - maybe you haven’t done it. I can’t help different rules in difference places - did mine at Nakon Pathom the 3rd bridge - but it appears you don’t believe me so what can I do / nothing and I don’t really care what’s been reported or your view unless you’ve done it - 🤫- these are the rules same as every other country. What you’re suggesting is absurd. Albeit I don’t know anymore than my experience
Phil ******
@Brian ********
i go over cambodia. No I believe you and maybe different rules
Brian *********
@Ph**
I believe you as well - the Thai immigration officers appear to be a law of their own. Have a great new year
Phil ******
for sure and you have a great New Year too
@Br***
John *******
@Phil *****
is that true you have to stay one night on a border run. Never heard that before
Nick ************
@John ******
no. I know of three people who have gone over to Laos and back to Thailand the same day to get 60 day Visa exempt and that is all in the last couple of weeks at Nakhon Phanom.
Phil ******
@John ******
for Laos
Ralph *******
@John ******
Some people have reported they had difficulties when they came back the same day. For safety it should be a few days at least.
Mark ********
@Ralph ******
yeah I had a problem doing that for 1 day but luckily I have a Thai wife so I just called her and gave the phone to the immigration officer and it got sorted out. Not sure what would of happened if my wife didn’t talk them as they asked for our marriage certificate as proof as well.
John *******
@Ralph ******
good to know, thanks
Nick ************
@John ******
i know two friends who have crossed the border at Nakhon Phanom over the bridge by bus and re entered the same day with 60 days Visa exempt no problem.
Trevor ***********
@Nick ***********
exactly same day in and out
Rob *******
You dont to exit Thailand, just go to local immigration office & extend for 30 days
Andy **********
@Rob ******
Even Geoff Carter managed this. He paid an agent to do all the waiting for him.
Paul ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rob ******
how much is the cost compared to just riding my moped out there?
Warren ******
@Paul *****
this option won't guarantee u entry they could deny u just crossing the boarder to enter the same way again
Paul *********
@Paul *****
I did it at mukdahan
Paul *********
@Paul *****
1800 for Laos visa on Arrival plus photo I did it yesterday
Ralph *******
@Paul ********
Did you return to Thailand the same day?
Paul *********
@Ralph ******
I could of done apparently but I stayed a night as I’ve been told it looks better in your passport by a immigration officer
Paul *********
@Ralph ******
I could of done apparently but I stayed a night as I’ve been told it looks better in your passport by a immigration officer
Paul *********
I also got a 60 day visa exemption when i came back today
Graham ******
@Paul *****
you need a visa to enter Laos which costs more than the 1900B extension
Stephen *******
@Graham *****
1700 baht for Laos visa at nong khai friendship bridge I was there recently
Rob *******
@Paul *****
1900 baht, all info is avalible online
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