Is 5500 baht a normal rate for a visa run from Pattaya to Cambodia?

Aug 26, 2024
3 months ago
Dwan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am on a multi entry 60 visa, I am from the Untied States. I did the initial 30 extension, that cost 5,500 baht using a service. Been here 90 days on the September 1st, so I need to leave the country and come back to start the next 60 days. They said it cost another 5,500 baht for the van to Cambodia and back. Is this the normal rate- I’m in Pattaya, this is my first time here.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user from the United States shared their experience regarding the cost of a visa run from Pattaya to Cambodia. They paid 5,500 baht for the service, which has drawn mixed reactions from the community. Many commenters pointed out that the price seems excessive compared to doing the run independently for significantly less, often suggesting alternatives like flying to nearby countries for a better experience. Some users also commented on the risks and challenges of doing border runs, especially with changing immigration rules.
Charles *********
5500 they are robbing you blind
Ian *********
u can fly to udon thanni then go nong khai and go over the friendship bridge to laos go and come back same day or stay a while .easy, laos visa is around 35$ .
Ian *********
update In July, Laos introduced visa exemptions for tourists from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, China, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Finland, and Greece to boost its tourism industry. Citizens of these countries can enjoy a 15-day visa-free entry into Laos.
Terary **********
I paid 3900 to do border bounce

My agent charges a bit more to do the visa extension. It seems counter intuitative, but it is what it is.

I am also on METV. I do border-bounces every 60 days and skip the extension.

You can do both yourself, if you want to save the money.

There are now a few other visa options available and supposedly when you stamp-in on visa exempt you get 60 days, so there doesn't seem to be a benefit to the METV, but I am still using it, when I stamp in this weekend I will use my METV and not visa exempt. I am waiting for the dust to clear before I figure out my next visa. (nobody seems to know what is require to get an extension).

In my opinion Pattaya immigration is crooked which explains why extension are so expensive.

My visa Agent is on Pattaya Beach Road, Soi 6. They're in The Victorian (the only respectable establishment on that road).
Tony *******
I just did same day border bounce to Cambodia last week on my own (Using Multi entry Tourist visa). 1500 baht for Cambodian visa then another 500 baht for same day return.
Bob **********
Yes
Rich ****
Fly to KL or Vientiane for 5000 baht. Spend a few nights there. Fly back. This looks more legit overall. And much safer than the minivans.
Carlos *********
If you are willing to spend 5,500 for something that should have costed 1900, why start getting frugal now!?!

Listen to Brandon, because you can only do 2 border crossings per year, but flying doesn't have a limit.
Chris *******
@Carlos ********
the limit of 2 land entries has been lifted.

There is no limit now on any entry, until an IO decides there is....
Carlos *********
@Chris ******
oh, cool. Didn't know that, thanks
Baz *********
I would look at a flight to Cambodia and stay a night or two in Phnom Penh..

It's an interesting city with plenty of nightlife.
Mike *****
As far as I know, the cheapest out/in flight is to go to Vietnam either Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or DaNang. I've seen flights as cheap as $40USD each way so it's super cheap and you could even stay a night or 2 to check it out if u want. As for 5500b for a 30 day extension?? - you should just go to immigration in Jomptien and do it yourself for 1900b. The agency right next to the lineup area will fill out the forms for you and give you the proper pics and their help only costs a few hundred baht So add on Bolt taxi cost, and it comes in less than half of what you're paying and it's one of your basic Thailand experiences. Just make sure you arrive before they open to get agency help right away and get in line so you're done in just an hour or 2.
Baz *********
@Mike ****
Depends on your passport country as to entry rules to Vietnam...

British citizen don't need visa before travel but US and Australia and other countries do..

Some airlines won't allow you to board the flight if you have a certain passport and have not obtained a visa before traveling
Mike *****
@Baz ********
I forgot about visa rules. Thx for adding that.
Ling *****
@Baz ********
yes people this is true.
Mikolai ********
I'd advise to spend more than one day abroad. The only time I was questioned at Suvarnabhumi by an immigration official was when I did a 1 day run to Kuala Lumpur.
Brian *******
for $8000 baht you can fly to cambodia about 99 minute flight and have hotel room and come back next day.. dont fly to dmk immigration officials are hassling people doing visa runs..

side note cambodia takes up a whole page on your passport for their over sized sticker… ans have us cash for visa on arrival at airport
Sally *******
You can fly to Hong Kong in 4hrs and costs less than 4,000 baht. Make a nice weekend break of it!
Angelo ***********
An extension costs 1900THB. To get out of the country you take a bus and come back for 200THB in total. No idea why one with a valid multiple entry visa is doing a "visa run" border runs or what ever.
Dwan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Angelo **********
I am in Pattaya- where would get a bus to leave the country and come back for 200 baht. You definitely have my attention!! Sorry I'm new to this- if I leave and come back will I need that TM30 paper and photos, or do I just arrive back in as when I initially arrived in Thailand for the 1st time. I appreciate your info- Thank you
Angelo ***********
@Dwan *******
Pattaya is more expensive. Because of the distance. Cambodia would probably be the simplest, Myanmar is a bit closer, but I have no idea about the political situation. If you need a quick solution, I suggest to extend once first, so your current stamp is 90 days in total. Gives you time to think about the leaving and reentry. There are sometimes super cheap flights, e.g. Vientiane. Or Kualalumpur. Or Nanning in China. I once ha a flight with Air Asia to Japan and back for$40.
Dwan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Angelo **********
? I have already extended the 30 day and have been here 90, so that really isn’t what I need
Wayne ******
I've done Visa runs ...the most deadly mini bus rides I've ever had ...we had to physically stop on bus driver a she was on drugs.

Just fly out and have a short break in Cambodia,Vietnam ,Bali or Laos ...and live to tell the experience
Austin *********
Why don't you get the new DTV and work with that. It will be cheaper in the long run. Look into it. I am 68yr old and just got it.
Adrià ********
5500 bahts for an extension that costs 1900 and filling a paper. What a scamers...
Conny **********
So why don't you take normal transportation and walk over the border yourself for a fraction of that cost.

Rome2rio.com gives you a hint
Nongnuch ********
@Conny *********
this is almost impossible to do it in Aranyapathet/Poipet by yourself. Maybe at another border point or at a Laos border point, but not from Pattaya to Cambodia. The officials at the Thailand/Cambodia land borders will scam money out of you
Conny **********
@Nongnuch *******
what problem did you encounter? And when were you there?
Nongnuch ********
@Conny *********
what do ya think, agencies are organising border bounces for? They all are GREASING the wheels of corrupt border officials . . you are free to do it on your own, but don't cry SCAM if you run into problems. I am referring to repeated visa-exempt border bounces. Your first one will face no problem, however if you try that repeated times, they will give you a hard time at the land borders. They will make you fly to Thailand from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. There are many reports in FB visa advice groups on the topic of the scams going on at these borders
Conny **********
@Nongnuch *******
because it's an easy way to make money.

So you have absolutely no real in person experience at all?

Got it ...
Nongnuch ********
@Conny *********
i frequented the poipet border many times
Nongnuch ********
@Conny *********
almost EVERY Thia Visa Advice group is handing out WARNINGS regarding visa-exempt border bounces in Poipet on your own. If you have a valid visa - Okay, no problem. But if you are attempting a visa exempt re-entry into Thailand - in all FB groups this plan will raise a red flag
Conny **********
@Nongnuch *******
it was the Cambodia evisa.... It just makes it easier and cheaper to have that. Back to Thailand is definitely not a problem if you have a passport with exemption privileges.

And there's scammers that try to make extra visa fees with "helping" you fill in the false paperwork. I saved a group of about ten foreigners last time.... Just say no ..
Nongnuch ********
@Conny *********
just watch out, consecutive visa-exempt entries will be refused once the officer at the border decides that you are misusing the tourist visa and exempt visa system
Conny **********
@Nongnuch *******
I have done it. You just have to avoid talking to the scammers that want to help you where the buses stop. Just walk right to border border. If you have prepared a evisa its easy to just turn and go back once they stamped you in at the Cambodia side
John ********
There are several companies in pattaya that take you directly to Cambodia and back the same day. 5 star visa runs and first class visa runs. Google is your friend
Paul *********
3,700 try here used them a lot
*********************************
Pertti *************
2900baht. You need phone number?
Pertti *************
0958834115 daily service all includes.
**********
*****
*****
daily service all includes.
Dwan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pertti ************
I will give you a call tomorrow
Pertti *************
@Dwan *******
******************************************************************
My friends and colleagues has use this service many times and I think it's best value and safe compared many providers who drive like crazy
Ning ******
You can do your own 30 days extension. Just bring tm30, a passport size photo, passport and copies, 1900b cash. You can take a bus to bangkok, than another bus to Cam (might get deny when you want to stamp back on the same day, and they might ask you to stay a night.) or you can get another bus to lao from the same bus station (mo chit) (nong khai. and take a tuk tuk to immigration, after stamp out, take a 30b bus to lao immigration. Nakornchai Air is a nice bus service.
Dwan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ning *****
I already did a 30 day extension - I have to leave and re-enter, do I still need a Tm30 and photos or just a copy of my multi entry 60 day tourist visa- like when I originally entered Thailand?
Nongnuch ********
@Dwan *******
you will need your landlord/hotel do a new TM30 when you arrive back from a trip abroad
Dwan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nongnuch *******
ok thank you
John ********
@Ning *****
horrible recommendations. He is in pattaya no need to go to Bangkok or Laos.
Brandon ************
I've heard rumors that the price for a border bounce through agencies has gone up since they changed visa exempt from 30 days to 60 days. Basically cutting down the number of trips these agents can expect to run in half, so they needed to increase their prices to make up for it.

You can probably fly to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and back for nearly the same amount of money.
Steven ***************
@Brandon ***********
. I did it yesterday. Flew to KL and back same day to reactivate my non O multi spouse visa. 4100 baht return. No issues at all at kl immigration or thai immigration on return. Just need to make sure you actually enter kl and not stay airside of passport control there. KLIA Exit is now fully electronic for most western passports.
Us *****
@Brandon ***********
it amazes me how the Thais don't understand supply and demand. When business is down, they increase prices to make up for the decrease in demand. Thus, it would lower their demand in the long term. This is also true for all businesses they run.
Richard ******
@Us ****
including the current exchange rate 😡
John ********
@Us ****
how many businesses do you run and how many do you employ?
Us *****
@John *******
I just have a business degree and my family runs an Asian supermarket in America. My understanding of economics is pretty decent I believe.
John ********
@Us ****
maybe study up on ‘elasticity of demand’ it’s taught in economics 101.
Us *****
@John *******
I know all about demand. The Thais think that their goods and services are inelastic but it is actually elastic. Westerners will look for different options if they increase their prices too much. I would rather fly out to another country and relax.
Phil ******
@Brandon ***********
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THB4500 for Hong Kong, Israel, Mauritius, Mongolia, Turkey, incl Cambodia Visa and general fees.

THB6000 for China, Taiwan, Macao, incl Cambodia Visa and general fees.

THB3800 Russian (60day), DON’T WORRY, YOU STILL UNLIMITED, incl Cambodia Visa and general fees.

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