Is the Kawthoung - Ranong border crossing now open for foreigners with passports?

Pre-Covid, any Burmese land border that permitted entry to foreigners (since August 28, 2013 there have been only 4 official ones: 1) Mae Sai-Tachilek 2) Mae Sot-Myawaddy 3) Phu Nam Ron-Htee Khee and 4) Ranong-Kawthoung Operated on a dual system.

This meant that without a visa obtained in advance, you were subjected to the local rules applying to that border crossing, which were different for each one.

Tachilek was the most generous, with its 14 day border pass allowing travel to Kengtung and sometimes even the Chinese border town of Mengla (sin city).

The most restrictive was Myawaddy, which only allowed a one day pass for travel up to the trade zone, 12km from the border. Thais were later granted weekly passes, but not sure whether this was only for residents of Mae Sot or Tak. General Thai citizens were only being granted day passes and in any case, vehicles could only ever be brought across for the day.

Phu Nam Ron-Htee Khee apparently allowed Thailand based expats to buy a 14 day pass on arrival permitting travel as far as Dawei, but not sure if anyone has ever made use of this.

None of the border crossings forced you to come straight back to Thailand after getting a stamp. Most border bouncers did this, because they weren't interested in exploring Myanmar or even stopping for a cup of tea on the other side, but the fact is, you always could.

Currently, due to the precarious security situation, this is reality at Myawaddy. They won't let you enter the town. Its border bounce only. Once Phu Nam Ron reopens it might be the same.

@Stuart ********

24 miles was the limit that i recall, but with a visa this doesn't apply. I'm not sure whether any of the Burmese land borders are now allowing entry with a visa again, which was the case pre Covid.

All I know is that Mae Sai-Tachilek allows travel to Kengtung on a border pass (obtainable on arrival) and requires a guide (both for Thais and 3rd country foreigners like most of us).

The other border crossings currently allow only a bounce or maybe, limited travel from the border.

Since they're asking for Covid documentation (whereas Myawaddy is not) I assume that spending the night on the Burmese side is now permitted at Kawthoung but you can't travel too far from the city. I can't imagine them asking for Covid documentation on the Burmese side just for a bounce, which is why Myawaddy isn't, because you can't enter the city there, only do a bounce (even though if you were permitted it would be day return only, same as what Thais are allowed).