Answered9 years ago
Is Padang Besar a good option for a quick visa run from Hat Yai?
Is Padang Besar a good place for a quick visa run from Hat Yai? (I'm on visa exempt and I need a few more days)
Answer summary
This discussion provides various experiences regarding making a visa run to Padang Besar from Hat Yai. Many users found Padang Besar to be a convenient option for a quick border crossing, noting the ease of entry and exit with minimal queuing. However, some shared less favorable experiences, particularly regarding crowded conditions at the land border. Additional comments highlight the importance of carrying proof of onward travel and sufficient cash for entry, as well as the possibility of extending a visa exempt entry at an immigration office for a fee.
15 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Karen *********
OPThank you all for your comments :) I'm just coming back from Padang Besar. It was an easy in and out. I was the only foreigner so the custom officer took her time with me. I needed to show her proof of onwards travel but she didn't ask to see if I had the cash. Good luck! :)
Aslam ******
At Sadao I showed him USD he told me...show Thai Baht only...
Aslam ******
Only... harassment... the key is to remain calm as they will find ways to wind you up
Paul *********
Padang Basar is in my experience easy and fast. Stamp out of Thailand jump on one of the many motorbike taxis and they take you over go through the car line at the Malaysian side so no queuing and same on way out. 50 baht well spent.
Paul *********
Easily done in a day from Hat Yai.
I’ve done it from Samui to Padang Basar and back in a day.
I’ve done it from Samui to Padang Basar and back in a day.
Karen *********
OPI'm not sure I understand what you mean. I'm in Thailand now. Not far from Hat yai
Paul *********
yes but where are you starting from?
Karen *********
OPYou did this in one day?
Francesco ******
In my experience it was the worst visa run I did.last December, got it by train, getting in was OK, but the land border to get back in Thailand was incredibly crowded, smashed in room for more than an hour with no ac and no fan. It was the land border you cross by foot or vehicle, I suppose the one you do by train my be better..(I didn't want to wait until my next train.. Terrible idea..) But I suppose if you are already in hat yai, being so close to you, is still your better and cheapest option.
Ivan ************
The train border is easy in the Malaysia-Thailand direction as well, you just get off the train and the passengers shuffle through the station (Malaysian and Thai immigration are in the same room, in Malaysia) where they stamp you all out and in, very quick and no questions.
Tod *********
The southern land borders are notorious for asking for proof of funds when entering the country on a border bounce. Even though the real rule is 10K baht be prepared to show 20K baht (or the equivalent in foreign currency) in cash if you're bouncing at a land border in the south.
Did you already extend your 30 day visa exempt entry by 30 days at the immigration office?
Did you already extend your 30 day visa exempt entry by 30 days at the immigration office?
Tod *********
@Karen ********
, face it you're not the first foreigner to overstay in thailand :/ Go to the immigration office, pay your overstay fine of 1500baht (which you will have to pay anyway) then apply for the 30 day extension for 1900baht. They will date the extension from the expiration date of your original stamp (so you'll lose the days you overstayed off the extension).Karen *********
OPThanks! My fee for overstaying three Days will be 1500 so I suppose there's no point in doing that?
Steve *******
@Karen ********
. The price is 1900btKaren *********
OPThank you. I didn't know I can extend my visa exempt:) Do you know the price for it?
Activity
7 joined7
people
Related
25What are the experiences of doing a land border run to Padang Besar without a visa company?
319224mo
What are my options for traveling out of Thailand while on a DTV visa with expensive flight prices?
2.4k2697mo
Which entry point is easier for a DTV holder to pass through: Hat Yai or Krabi?
389148mo
Is it safe to do a visa run to Cambodia now?
8.9k671179mo
Is it possible to refresh a DTV visa with a same-day exit and re-entry to Thailand?
5.4k40649mo
How should I maximize my stay in Thailand with my Non-O visa?
3.6k27411y
What are the best options for a visa run from Krabi to Malaysia or Myanmar?
1.1k461y
Does a tourist visa renew when re-entering Thailand after flying out?
5.1k30361y
How can I extend my 60-day visa-exempt entry in Bangkok for an additional 30 days?
1.3k5162y
Is it acceptable for UK passport holders on a visa exempt to fly out and back in a few days for a visa run?
2.6k23152y
Can I use my tourist visa after a border run, and how many extensions can I get on my current entry?
860583y
How can I extend my stay in Thailand on a visa-exempt entry and do I need a TM30 filed?
1.9k9263y
What should I do if I overstay my visa in Thailand by one day?
4.8k33403y
Can I extend my visa exemption the day after it expires in Thailand?
9391163y
Should I extend my visa for one day or pay an overstay fine at the airport in Thailand?
5.3k38634y
Can I do a visa run to Malaysia and what are the best visa options for staying longer in Thailand?
1.7k13104y
What are the best border options for a visa run from Thailand right now?
1.1k754y
What is the best way to handle a border run from Bangkok to Cambodia or Vietnam?
2.9k24174y
Can I apply for a one-year extension on my NON-O visa after an initial 60-day extension based on marriage, or do I need to do a visa run?
794444y
How can I extend my visa exempt status at the MTT counter in Thailand?
9391185y
Can we apply for another 60-day e-visa in Thailand before the first expires?
906565y
How long can I extend my visa exempt stay in Thailand and what reasons are acceptable for the extension?
1.3k5195y
What are the requirements for crossing the border from Butterworth to Thailand by train as a SETV holder?
591318y
What is the proper procedure for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand after moving from the USA?
1.3k1048y
What do I need to know for my first visa run from Thailand on a Non-O visa based on marriage?
1.7k13109y
Resources
Need help with your Thai visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served