Answered2 years ago
Is it necessary to go through immigration when doing a same-day border bounce from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur?
I have a border bounce coming up shortly. Phuket to KL return same day. On arrival at KL Airport is it advisable to get stamped in then stamped out again or is it ok to just exit the aircraft on arrival into KL, look for the gate of the departure flight back to Phuket and just go to that departure gate and wait thus bypassing their onerous Immigration. TIA.👌
Answer summary
When making a same-day return trip from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur (KL), it's necessary to clear immigration upon arrival in Malaysia. Travelers cannot bypass the immigration process, meaning they will be required to get stamped in upon arrival and then stamped out before departing back to Phuket. While some commenters noted the efficiency of the immigration process in KL, others shared personal experiences that indicated varying outcomes based on individual circumstances and visa types. For those on specific visas like the NON-O, it's advised to ensure compliance with immigration rules to avoid potential re-entry issues.
69 repliesnewest first
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William ******
You have to officially enter the country & officially leave it again. Thus going through immigration twice. You can’t just pop in & out at your leisure without officially arriving & departing.
Mark ********
OP@William *****
I did last bounce. You shouldnt comment on things you know very little about.Thomas ************
If you're not even going through immigration in KL then why would you even get on the flight in the first place? Be sure to let us know how this incredible new life hack works out though
Mark ********
OP@Thomas ***********
*sigh* because m y O A v i s a e x p i r e s a n d t o k e e p i t a l i v e I h a v e ....why am I even wasting my time explaining life to you. Be gone with ya.Thomas ************
@Mark *******
no no, please, finish that sentenceThomas ************
@Mark *******
so you're not going to finish the sentence? Can't blame you, it was a bit half baked to begin withMark ********
OP@Thomas ***********
I cant Tom..I'm buried half way up ya sister.😂
Pat *******
Immigration both ways. Good bar not far. Sit there for a few hours.
Mark ********
OP@Pat ******
Youre on to it 😊Pat *******
@Mark *******
did it last year.
Phillip *******
Unsure if still works I went Masot yes no going over border. Go left side of bridge have Thai Imigration one stop shop. Went fill out papers go down stairs left side looking at bridge tiny shop get your photo taken. Go back up stairs give photo wait pay your Baht for the process all done. Go over road have nice Thai food at the reataurant then down check the market.
Tony **********
Why not just go to Ranong and do it over land with a quick speedboat ride?
Mark ********
OP@Tony *********
You go to Ranong in your shitty speedboat. I fly..always Business class.
Pino ************
😂😂😂😂😂 very interstellar questions 😂😂😂😂😂
Mark ********
OP@Pino ***********
Wish I never F'n asked.
Lena *******
@Mark *******
Gosh Mark you're supposed to know everything like these guys all did when they started coming to Thailand. You're not supposed to ask. These forums are just for everyone to be smug.Lena *******
@Mark *******
And lonely ones.Mark ********
OP@Lena ******
there are lots of very small penis*s replying to my question.
Ralph *******
Do you have checked luggage?
Mark ********
OP@Ralph ******
no.
Leigh *********
I thought you had to spend one night in another country but I have never been there.
Paul *******
@Leigh ********
You have to go into the Malaysia so go though immigration and then see if they will let you leave the same day. People have been caught and charged with overstay in Thailand only leaving Thailand and not entering another country. Enjoy KLLeigh *********
@Paul ******
my friend Joe hops over to Laos or Vietnam or Cambodia for a night or sometimes for a week to sightsee.
Karsten ********
I think boarding pass is more important... last trips to KL I didn't get any stamps...
Danny *******
Why not use the opportunity to actually travel instead of just wasting time and money on visa runs? Variety is the spice of life, go and actually experience another country besides just their immigration counter.
Neil ********
@Danny ******
I don’t know why more people don’t do that. It’s just about planning your time as the cost is there.Mark ********
OP@Danny ******
I have been everywhere that I want. I dont like Malaysia. I have no reason to stay there. I am not wasting timeI am retired thanks. I retired at 51. My home is in Phuket.
Steve ********
@Danny ******
I agree, it's not for everyone but sure beats hop out, hop in. Just got back from Malaysia for two weeks, before that Vietnam for a month, Philippines for 59 days, Laos a month. Cambodia next.
James **********
@Steve *******
I am in the travel for the joy of it group, but it's a choice. He might have, wife, kids, and dogs to get back to.James **********
@Danny ******
it's my interwebs fantasy, Man.Danny *******
@James *********
can't the wife take care of the kids and dog, otherwise what is she for? A decoration? Lol
Neil ******
@Danny ******
why not get a visa that doesn’t require you to leave the country so you aren’t wasting time and money flying to Malaysia and instead can go to actual places you want to go?
Andy **********
@Neil *****
he said he is on an O-A visa, if I'm not mistaken, you can get 2 years out of that visa, with 1 border bounce, and then you need to do an extension of stay, it's not like he is bouncing in and out regularly for free stamps.Neil ******
@Danny ******
I live in Thailand full time. I never have to leave. And, I still visit other countries. I am in Qatar right now and was in Italy right before. Just because I don’t have to leave doesn’t mean I don’t. But, I’m not forced to leave.Mark ********
OP@Andy *********
100% correct.Danny *******
@Neil *****
because the Thai elite visa starts at like $12,000 and I don't need to stay in one place for five years following the same routine every single day, it's easy to spend three months in one place and visit other countries too, we are living on the far side of the world surrounded by dozens of other unique countries and culturesNeil ******
@Andy *********
that wasn’t in the OP. I didn’t read every single comment to see if there was additional information added.
Declan **********
Need to "stamp" in and out.
You're through entry in less than 5 mins and through exit in less than a minute if you're from one of the countries that can go through the automatic gates (you just have to submit your MDAC before
You're through entry in less than 5 mins and through exit in less than a minute if you're from one of the countries that can go through the automatic gates (you just have to submit your MDAC before
**********************************************
Nigel *********
@Mark *******
this is the correct answer.., I did it a week ago... I doubt theres a way you can get to departures from arrivals anywayMark ********
OP@Nigel ********
I have a gap of 3 hours between flights.
Ivan ************
@Mark *******
that should be plenty of time, I did it with 2 hours and it wasn't that close although I wouldn't have wanted the immigration line to be any longer.Declan **********
Oh I should add, you can only submit your MDAC up to 3 days before arrival
Pete ********
😆 good luck coming back the same day
Steve *******
@Pete *******
Why? There's no rule for not coming back the same day.Pete ********
@Steve ******
no I thought same until got denied entry and 10k bribe to get stamped in for 60 daysMark ********
OP@Pete *******
She doesnt wear any.Pete ********
@Mark *******
tell your mother i have still got her panties here from last time ……Nigel *********
@Pete *******
there'll be no issues coming in with aa non o visa to phuket same day... not like slopey land borders.Ralph *******
I think with online check-in you could do it. You should get an online boarding pass.
Mark ********
OP@Ralph ******
I did that last time and it worked.Mark ********
OP@Pete *******
Read my post again...Ralph *******
@Mark *******
He means that Thai immigration may not let you in.Mark ********
OP@Pete *******
Its Phuket Airport . Phuket to KL Then KL back Phuket.Pete ********
@Mark *******
you dident say what visa you had in your post …..I have education visa also and I left to uk for 3 days came back and got denied entry ….. same day boarder bounces aren’t going down well at survanabhuni at the moment ….,, I’m British passport also
Mark ********
OP@Ralph ******
Yes. They did last time.Mark ********
OP
Dan ********
Depending on what country you are from, they use passport scanning machines in KL these days. No need to deal with an immigration officer. I did it a few weeks ago. Both in and out. No stamp in passport.
Stuart *********
You have to pass immigration in Malaysia to enter and then again to exit. You can’t just stay in the airside section to board a plane back.
Lloyd *********
@Stuart ********
why? If I'm travelling from Perth to Bangkok via KL, I get off first flight and walk to departure gate for next flight. What's the difference?Stuart *********
@Lloyd ********
The OP was wanting to do a border bounce. That means leaving Thailand to go somewhere and return. You are just on a connecting flight so don’t need to pass immigration in KL
Stuart *********
@Lloyd ********
They possibly don’t with electronic gates these days. But they might have ways.Lloyd *********
@Stuart ********
how does Thailand immigration know what you did?Stuart *********
@Lloyd ********
That’s exactly what I said in my reply to the OP. You need to enter another country and exit before coming back to Thailand to do a border bounce.Lloyd *********
@Stuart ********
that's not what you said in your post. Does Thailand immigration care whether you entered another country or not?
Mark ********
OP@Stuart ********
Yeah the reason I ask is because this is what I did on the same border bounce around 5 years ago. It was successful, back into Phuket they didnt bat an eyelid. Maybe they missed the fact that there was no stamp from Malaysia on entering and I was just lucky.🤷♂️
Ning ******
stamp in and out.
Terary **********
Are the flights booked together? Do you need to check-in for your departure?
Mark ********
OP@Terary *********
I usually do online check in for both flights and print off my boarding passes before I leave home to Phuket Airport.
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