Is there a difference between a border bounce and a visa run?

I take full responsibility for separating the two on this group :O :P ;)

I started using "border bounce" to denote people who were just going to the border, stamping out of thailand, in&out of another country, then right back into thailand <- either to get a new free stamp entry OR to activate a new entry on a valid multi-entry visa.. (and yes, you can 'border bounce' by air too by flying out/back :P )

So to me these are the two things

𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘 <- 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱.

𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗥𝗨𝗡 <- 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗥𝗨𝗡 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸

You people are free to call it what ever you want to, :P

BORDER RUN versus VISA RUN difference

People usually interchange the terms 'border run', and 'visa run' with no issues,

BUT I'm here to tell you they are two completely different things. 😮

Now that the land borders with MOST countries are open for exit/entry (Myanmar and Cambodia land borders are still closed both ways) I thought it prudent we go over the terms of what's what.

*** BORDER RUN:

A “border runner” is going to a border or fly to another country, and on the way stamps out of Thailand.

He stamps into another country.

Now he theoretically can turn around and stamp right back into Thailand. This would be a “same day border bounce”.

Or he stays in that country for a few nights or even weeks, before he re-enters Thailand visa-exempt, again.

This would still be a “border run” by the meaning of the word.

A “border run” means you first exit, and then re-enter Thailand on a visa exempt entry.

Or you leave and by re-entering you activate another stay permit you are elegible to, if you hold on a valid multi-entry visa, like the DTV, a multi-entry Tourist Visa or if you are on a 1-year extension of stay for which you bought a re-entry permit.

*** VISA RUN:

A “visa run” means that you exit Thailand either by land, sea or air, and enter another country with the intention to apply through the Thai Embassy’s or Consulate’s E-Visa online system for a specific visa type for Thailand.

A visa run requires you to prove in the application that you are physically inside the country where you apply, and you need to remain in this country until the visa gets granted and issued.

*** Now, the question about how many visa-exempt “border runs” one can do within a one-year period, this is a wholly different and critical topic.

Not at all the same.

Many people think they are the same and use the different phrases interchangeably. Except as

@Ja***

said a bounce is when you leave and re-enter over a land or sea border or by air. A “visa run” is where you go to a nearby country to apply for a visa.

Semantics mainly but could be specific for some answers to be valid.

For most people yes but in reality a border bounce gets you a new entry stamp whereas a visa run gets you a new visa you pay for to use on entry

If you are only seeking a new entry STAMP in your passport... then a BORDER BOUNCE will get it for you.

A VISA RUN is when you are going to submit an application for a New Thai Visa with a Thai Embassy or Consulate by using the Evisa online application system.

IF you have a Visa or extension of stay, then it's important to buy a re-entry permit before you leave Thailand to keep your current Visa or extension valid.