Answered9 months ago

How long should I stay in Laos before returning to Thailand on a visa-free entry?

Thailand Visa Student Visa Visa Exempt Entry Immigration Rules Laos Exit and Re-entry

Brendon ****************

asked Jan 21, 2026

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Thank you for this group. I am in the process of getting my student visa, I am due to Vietnam first week of February. My 90 day stay ends on the 23rd of January, I’ll be heading to Laos with a Thai friend of mine so I can come back and get another 60 days until I get to Vietnam for my student visa. How many days do I need to stay in Laos before I can return to Thailand?

Answer summary

The user is seeking advice on how long they should stay in Laos before re-entering Thailand after their current visa expires, as they plan to obtain a student visa in Vietnam. The discussion reveals that there are no strict rules on how many days one must stay out of Thailand, but spending a few hours to a day in Laos may help avoid complications at the border.

14 repliesnewest first

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Graham ******

You ask at the border crossing what their policy is when returning to Thailand on a Visa Exempt entry.

Why did you choose to leave for Vietnam after your current permission to stay ended or is that when your dicumentation will be approved by the Education Ministry?

9 months ago

Brendon ****************

Graham Seal my documentation has been approved. Ho Chi Minh is where the school has another office and my friend who speaks Vietnamese will be here in Thailand at the start of the Feb to accompany me. I’m just biding time until he arrives.

9 months ago

Graham ******

@Brendon ***************

but you apply online on arrival in Vietnam and approval is the receipt of the PDF by email.

9 months ago

Brendon ****************

Nongnuch Kamdee I’m sorry you don’t understand. I’m here in Thailand, I paid the school to do the student visa, I will leave for Vietnam start of February to go collect it. In the meantime I want to extend my stay here in Thailand until my friend arrives to accompany me to Vietnam. Does that make sense?

9 months ago

Nongnuch ********

@Brendon ***************

nobody understands you. If you want to apply on the E-Visa online system of the Thai Embassy in HCMC, you need to be physically in Vietnam and not in Laos

9 months ago

Brendon ****************

Graham Seal I’m not worried about the Vietnam transit. I’m just going to Laos and coming back until my friend meets me here in Thailand and I’m asking how long I should stay in Laos before the entry

9 months ago

John **********

What do you mean by your student visa is in process?

Whether you will have an issue on the border will depend on your history in Thailand

9 months ago

Brendon ****************

@John *********

I mean I’ve paid all the fees to the school and they’ve given me all the documents to take with me to the Thailand consulate in Ho Chi Minh City to obtain my visa. I plan to go at the start of February.

9 months ago

Bob **********

@Brendon ***************

why not just do it in Laos ??

9 months ago

Brendon ****************

@John *********

okay excellent, thank you so much for the clarity.

9 months ago

John **********

@Brendon ***************

in which case you shouldn't have an issue exiting to Laos and re-entering Thailand. There's no rule about having to spend any number of days in Laos but border control might suggest you spend a night. Just don't turn around immediately, spend a few hours and you might not have to spend a night at all.

9 months ago

Brendon ****************

@John *********

I arrived in Thailand for the first time October 26th and get a 30 day extension and will be departing for the first time January 23rd.

9 months ago

John **********

@Brendon ***************

you need to answer the question about your history to get any meaningful answer

9 months ago

Brendon ****************

Bob D'Andrea because the school has an office in Ho Chi Minh that can help coordinate. I’m simply asking how long do I need to be out the country to come back via visa-less entry?

9 months ago