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Is it better to do a visa run to Laos or to apply for a tourist visa extension in Thailand?

Visa Rules Tourist Visa Visa Extension Visa Run Thailand Immigration Expat Advice Chiang Mai

Dec 5, 2023

2 years ago

Im finishing up 2mo stay in TH is it better to do visa run to Laos or stay and apply for tourist visa extension? 

Appreciate tips

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around whether it's more beneficial to proceed with a visa run to Laos or to apply for a tourist visa extension while in Thailand. Many commenters suggest that applying for an extension at the immigration office is usually easier and cheaper than traveling to Laos to obtain a new visa. However, it is pointed out that one can only get a single extension on a tourist visa. Users from Chiang Mai express different experiences, highlighting convenience and costs associated with each option, and the general consensus leans towards applying for an extension before considering a visa run.

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Sean ********

I'm on a 60 day visa want to stay here till mid April. I know I can extend 30 days and two border runs. I was thinking is it better to get a retirement visa I have all the means for dueing it. On my way back to my home get my re entry visa and come back in October less hassle.

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Above is not my post

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Henrik *****

Make your own thead, and get more answers than piggybacking on another persons thread.

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Sean ********

is that english 😳

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Sean ********

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Nongnuch ********

you pay 1900.- for the 30 days touristy extension. Doing a border bounce to Laos would need you buy a Laos VOA for 40.- US Dollars plus the expense for the travel. Doing the extension first, will give you leeway for still doing a visa-exempt border bounce plus another extension, bringing your theoretical stay permit to 60+30+30+30 = 150 days

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

thanks ... just clarifying i already got 1 tourist visa extensin in Chiang Mai.......im hearing immigration does nmt give 2 tourist visas walking in ?

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Nongnuch ********

you can only get a 30-days tourist extension ONCE. Before the stay permit expires, you must exit Thailand. However you can apply on a Thai embassy or consulate for a 60 days Tourist visa in a neighbouring country

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Nongnuch ********

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

On youtube vlogs there is no clear distinction visa run vs visa bounce

Thank you for clarifying

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Nongnuch ********

you cannot "visa bounce". you either do a visa run (visit a Thai embassy in another country and apply for a visa) OR you do a border bounce, means you exit Thailand, enter another country, turn around and enter Thailand again

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Nongnuch ********

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yes i didnt realize there was a difference,

I wasnt sure if i can get a 2nd tourist visas ext at immigration or do i need to do visa bounce exit th and buy laos visa then re enter th the same day with a 30 visa

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Graham ******

You get one tourisn extension of 30 days per entry stamp.

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Nongnuch ********

that's a "border bounce" or "border run". . . .there is nothing such as a "visa bounce". There only is a "visa run" which means you are visiting a Thai embassy to apply for a visa

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Nongnuch ********

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

i went to immigration for one 30 tourist ext ,,,, this will be my 2,nd

I havent been offered a 60day tourist visas

Yes going to immig is cheaper and faster more convenient

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Nongnuch ********

well it's not all clear what you intend to do. You mention doing a "visa run" - which means you are visiting a Thai embassy or consulate in a neighbor country to apply for a tourist visa. Or did you mean just wanting to do a "border run" i.e. border bounce? Do you confuse these two ?

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Nongnuch ********

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Andy **********

@David ********

exactly, everyone just comments saying it's easier to do an extension, it's not if his nearest immigration office is a two hour drive away and he lives around the corner from the border into lao, he doesn't say anything about his location.

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

New question .....can i enter Laos then the same day re enter Thailand with NEW 30 day tourist visa ..... or is there a. 24 hour waiting period i must remain in Laos ?

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Andy *********

good point im in chiang mai the immigration is 10 minutes away

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Nigel **************

if you have already got a 30 day extension on your 30 day visa exempt entry then u have to border bounce. Come back in u get another 30

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Bruce ****

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@Nigel *************

sounds like lm going to laos for the day thanks all

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Nigel **************

yep u have no option I'm afraid

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Nigel **************

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Henrik *****

When you are on a 60 days touristvisa, the best and easiest is to do a 30 day extension at immigration.

Stay longer than that you need to leave Thailand.

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

i got a 30 day tourist visa on arrival at bangkok airport then 1 tourist visa ext for 30 days at cm immigration

Im not familiar with 60 tourist visa ?

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Henrik *****

You are confusing the different options.

Touristvisa has to be applyed for outside of Thailand, is up to 60 days, and can be extended 30 days at immigration.

Visa-on-arrival is limited to few countrys, is 14 days and cost a fee.

You probably arrived on visa excempt 30 days without fee.

Can be extended 30 days for 1900 Baht.

After that you need to leave Thailand.

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Henrik *****

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Paul ********

Border run 23?? Extension 24,Border run,Extension ,Border run Extension that's your lot for 2024

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

sry i dont follow / understand

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Paul ********

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Paul ********

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David *********

That’s really depends on where you are in Thailand

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Bruce ****

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@David ********

im in chiang mai just 10 minutes frm immig office . I wasnt sure how many or often i could get a 30 day tourist visa ext going to immigration office (i have gotten 1 already)

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David *********

you only get one extension on the tourist visa, so border run or change visa.

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Can i go to immig 1 or 2 days early before this visa expires and if they tell me no then i do a visa bounce ??

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@David ********

oh others in this group are saying to go to immigration ...... now im more confused than before haha

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David *********

others are saying you can go to immigration for an extension because they didn’t know you have already extended once.

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David *********

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Michael ********

Extension is easier

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Michael *******

thanks alot yes hands down cheaper & easier but didnt know thai cut off for the number of tourist visa extensions

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Andy **********

can extend once each time you stamp into Thailand.

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Andy **********

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Bruce ****

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@Michael *******

thanks alot

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Bruce ****

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Graham ******

The extension will work out cheaper than travelling and buying a Laos Visa.

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Steve ********

Get extension at immigration

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks alot so much easier

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks alot

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

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Bruce ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks alot

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Bruce ****

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