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What are the best and worst checkpoints for a Thailand visa run?

visa runThailand visa checkpointsLaos border crossingsPoipet border crossingPenang visa runMae Sai border crossingvisa run service companiesexpat advicelong-term stay in Thailand
Oct 29, 2022
2 years ago
Gordon ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Best and worst checkpoints for visa run?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The community discussion highlights various experiences with visa run checkpoints in Thailand. Many agree that Laos border crossings are the best options for a smooth visa run, while Poipet is frequently cited as the worst due to chaotic conditions. Penang, Malaysia, is also mentioned as a simple crossing. Using a visa run service company is recommended, especially for those with complicated visa situations. Members recount personal anecdotes about their experiences, emphasizing the need to avoid Poipet if possible.
Ryan ***********
How to stay long term?
2 years ago
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Darren *******
Is Mae Sai open? Always found that to be an easy visa run
2 years ago
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Alex *******
I just went to Ban Laem a few days ago. It was a breeze. Defiantely do NOT go to Poipet.

If you have many stamps on your passport, covid extensions and bogus volunteer visa it is recommended you use a visa run company.
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
Poipet was like the Wild West for me. I used it my first time travelling in Thailand, around 10 years ago. My friend and I thought we were already in Cambodia and decided to have a quick flutter in the casino, seeing we both enjoyed a gamble. We ended up getting stuck in the no man’s land, between Thailand and Cambodia for the night as the Cambodian office had closed by the time we got there…

The only hotel available was a casino workers hotel that from what I could gather, no foreigner had ever stayed at before. The looks we got were priceless 😅. When going to our hotel, we were followed by a motorbike gang who were openly carrying guns…

Then came the next day where we had to bribe the Cambodian officials to roll back the stamp one day, because we had not officially stamped into Cambodia yet. When through the border officially, I have never smelled a place more rancid. Mothers were throwing their kids at us, while trying to touch our pockets. Taxi drivers were fighting in the street over trying to get our business for the journey to Siem Reap. We just pushed through all the crowds and walked deeper into the rancid town, followed by a group of taxi drivers, still squabbling…

We walked for about a mile until there was only one driver still following. Decided we could take him on if he tried anything dodgy and negotiated a $20 trip to Siem Reap. Just before we reached Siem Reap, he pulled into a car park, where we were met by a Cambodian man with a Cambodian style wooden tuk tuk… Thought here we go again, it’s a set up. The guys name was David, apparently 😂 He said he could be our driver while in Cambodia and charged $8 a day, for the entire day. He ended up being one of the nicest people I have ever met and totally changed my early view of Cambodia. He earned double the normal fee, at least. Picked us up and took us to breakfast and waited for us, then to wherever we wanted to go for the day…

Poipet, avoid, it’s wild. But at the same time, was a hell of a memory and experience.
2 years ago
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Martinho *********
@Karim **************
 Thanks for the dope story, mate 😎👍
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Martinho ********
 I have so many stories from my first trip travelling to SE Asia… Considered writing a book about it but I just don’t have the writing skills. Definitely had enough drama and content 😅
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
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Eran *************
Poipet is a nightmare. Learnt that the hard way over 7 years ago.
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
Nigel Hall yes it was heart breaking to see so many children begging. I’m not sure when you went through Poi pet but, 10 years ago it was really intense. They weren’t just sitting and begging, mothers were literally trying to hand their children to us and pushing them onto us.
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Eran ************
 Poipet was like the Wild West for me. I used it my first time to Thailand around 10 years ago. My friend and I thought we were already in Cambodia and decided to have a quick flutter in the casino, seeing we both enjoyed a gamble. We ended up getting stuck in the no man’s land, between Thailand and Cambodia for the night as the Cambodian office had closed by the time we got there…

The only hotel available was a casino workers hotel that from what I could gather, no foreigner had ever stayed at before. The looks we got were priceless 😅. When going to our hotel, we were followed by a motorbike gang who were openly carrying guns…

Then came the next day where we had to bribe the Cambodian officials to roll back the stamp one day, because we had not officially stamped into Cambodia yet. When through the border officially, I have never smelled a place more rancid. Mothers were throwing their kids at us, while trying to touch our pockets. Taxi drivers were fighting in the street over trying to get our business for the journey to Siem Reap. We just pushed through all the crowds and walked deeper into the rancid town, followed by a group of taxi drivers, still squabbling…

We walked for about a mile until there was only one driver still following. Decided we could take him on if he tried anything dodgy and negotiated a $20 trip to Siem Reap. Just before we reached Siem Reap, he pulled into a car park, where we were met by a Cambodian man with a Cambodian style wooden tuk tuk… Thought here we go again, it’s a set up. The guys name was David, apparently 😂 He said he could be our driver while in Cambodia and charged $8 a day, for the entire day. He ended up being one of the nicest people I have ever met and totally changed my early view of Cambodia. He earned double the normal fee, at least. Picked us up and took us to breakfast and waited for us, then to wherever we wanted to go for the day…

Poipet, avoid, it’s wild. But at the same time, was a hell of a memory and experience.
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Eran ************
 yes, but you will remember it forever…
2 years ago
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Otto *********
@Eran ************
 Equals my experience
2 years ago
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Otto *********
Klong Yai to Koh Kong is also a hussle.
2 years ago
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Eran *************
@Otto ********
 getting grom Poipet to Siam Reap was costly too.
2 years ago
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Eran *************
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Greg ******
Is it recommended to use an agency? I pretty much only heard of people having problems when they’re attempting the journey alone.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Greg *****
 definitely recommended especially if you have an entry history.
2 years ago
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Greg ******
@Stuart ********
 Is one year of an education visa cause for concern? What kind of history would warrant the agency versus flying in and out for example?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Greg *****
 can’t really say. It’s at the discretion of the immigration officer so could be for any reason red flags are raised.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Allan ********
I always go with Penang. Simplest border crossing.
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2 years ago
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Alvina ********
@Allan *******
 can you extend this visa in Thailand for an additional 30 days?
2 years ago
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Allan ********
yup, just did it in Hua Hin last week. Visa extension is similar across Thailand so this is fairly up to date
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2 years ago
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Allan ********
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Stuart *********
Best. Any of the Laos border crossings.

Worst. Poi pet in Cambodia, followed by any of the other Cambodia ones.

Use a “visa run” service company. They “pre-grease” the wheels and should ensure a smooth bounce for you.
2 years ago
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Ryan ***********
@Stuart ********
 border runs can only be done so many times though?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Ryan **********
 visa exempt 2 times in a calendar year by land. No technical limit by air.
2 years ago
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Ryan ***********
@Stuart ********
 Got it, I thought they changed for some reason. Have a great day.
2 years ago
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Ryan ***********
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Shane ********
@Stuart ********
 poi pet is strict for people from America too? Or just for countries that have illegal workers in Thailand ?
2 years ago
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Richard ******
@Shane *******
 Do not go to Poipet! I speak from experience.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Shane *******
 yes. Pretty much any nationality.
2 years ago
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Shane ********
@Stuart ********
 wow what do they want? Money stuck in-between the passport pages?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Shane *******
 could possibly help. Probably depends on how many notes you tuck in.
2 years ago
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Shane ********
@Stuart ********
 lol imagine you made those notes with a scanner and photo printer
2 years ago
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Shane ********
Technically you aren't "using" it as a transaction, could just be art work you left in your passport, them taking it as bribe would make them admit they are taking a bribe
2 years ago
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Shane ********
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Gordon ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have heard that Phuket is less strict than BKK for arrivals, any truth to that ?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Gordon *******
 From posts here yes. Chiang Mai too.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
Neither are gonna help you if you have a passport full of Covid extensions and are trying to get back in exempt.
2 years ago
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Gordon ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 I have had covid extensions in the past but I never stayed in the country longer than 6months. I arrived visa exempt at bangkok last month and was waved straight through. Guess it depends on the IO.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Gordon *******
 absolutely. If they think you’re trying to milk the system they’ll stop you. If they’re having a bad hair day they’ll stop you. Up to them.
2 years ago
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Gordon ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 that being said stopping is by no means a rejection, if you have hotel flights and money. I have also heard they like to give a warning not to try and enter with visa exempt again for a while.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Gordon *******
 “stopping you” may be a mild questioning, a full on grilling, a request for grease money or a flat out denial of entry.
2 years ago
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Josh **********
@Stuart ********
 So what to do then? 🥲
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Josh *********
 contact
@Thai *****************************
. They offer a “expedited” entry system for a fee.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Sam *********
@Stuart ********
 I agree, Poipet is terrible.
2 years ago
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Nishant ************
@Stuart ********
 Do they help indians in visa run too?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Nishant ***********
 you’d have to check with the company. I’ve seen posts from people from certain countries that have said they “weren’t allowed” on the bus/van because of their nationality.
2 years ago
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Nishant ************
@Stuart ********
 how can i check? Laos and Cambodia offers visa on arrival to Indians.
2 years ago
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Jannik ******
@Nishant ***********
*********************************************************************
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Nishant ***********
 contact a “visa run” service and ask them.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
I use quotes as you’re not actually wanting a visa, just doing a bounce but that’s what they call themselves.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Brandon ************
@Stuart ********
 I'd argue that any Myanmar border is the actual worst, but Poipet is probably still worse 😂
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Brandon ***********
 When they were open the Ranong one was great. 40 minute boat ride across. Cheap duty free on the other side. Plus only 4 hours from Phuket rather than the 6+ hours to a Malaysian one.
2 years ago
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Jason **************
@Stuart ********
 all sites & agents say Myanmar immigration is open again, but for DIY no agencies have tours that we’ve found, we plan to do this in 2 weeks, fingers crossed!!
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Jason *************
 ok let us know how that works for you. From reports we see the Myanmar borders are closed to foreigners. Happy to be updated if that’s changed.
2 years ago
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Jason **************
@Stuart ********
 after too much confusing info online and just now a few calls with a translator #Ranong border run is not open or an option for foreigners… Thankyou! You made us triple check and saved us a lot of faffing around 🙏🏼
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Stuart ********
 I meant as of today 😛
2 years ago
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Miguel *************
@Stuart ********
 Penang was a kind of a headache with the long list of requirements. Next time, I’ll do Laos - although next time will probably be in a few years.
2 years ago
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Miguel *************
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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