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What are the best options for a tourist visa run from Chiang Mai or Bangkok?

Tourist Visa Visa Run Thailand Immigration Vientiane Laos Cambodia Visa Extension Visa Requirements Travel Tips

May 24, 2024

5 months ago

Jeremy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

If I have to leave the country to renew my Tourist visa, where is the easiest, closest, cheapest place to go to? I will probaby be in Changmai or Bangkok. 

Open to any ideas, but prefer the idea of a train or Bus rather than plane, (unless thats impractical) 

Any advice welcome 

Thanks 

jeremy

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Jeremy is looking for advice on the easiest, cheapest, and closest places to perform a visa run from either Chiang Mai or Bangkok to renew his tourist visa. Suggestions include traveling to Vientiane, Laos or Cambodia, with emphasis on taking buses or trains instead of flights. The community discusses the implications of visa policies, including the need to apply for a new visa at an embassy rather than renewing, and the logistics and costs of visa run services.

Jeremy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Originally the idea was to be in Thailand for 2-3 months and then move on to Cambodia/Vietnam/Laos as the mood takes us

No hard and fast plan

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Jeremy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

We're currently travelling through Sicily.

Fly to Bangkok Beginning of July

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Greg ***********

@Jeremy *********

which visa did you enter Thailand with, and do you want to live in Cambodia or Laos for a while? If you entered with a 60-days single entry tourist visa, the 60-days stay permit you received upon entering Thailand will expire, once you exit Thailand. However you could get a 30-days extension on top of the 60 days, on Immigration for 1900.- THB. You can apply for another single entry 60-days tourist visa at the Thai embassies in the neighbouring countries. However I heard that for the Thai embassy Vientiane, you need to wait almost 4 weeks for an appointment. The consulates Savannakhet and Penang offer walk-in service and application to a SETV. In Vietnam the application is super difficult and very strict. In Cambodia it is relaxed but here, too, you need an appointment

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Greg ***********

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Rusty ********

Try getting a 30 day extension first.

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Duncanc **********

Malaysia

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Nigel **************

You can take a train to Vientiane now I think. From Bangkok. Think it started operating last month right tru to Vientiane

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Jeremy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nigel *************

I like the idea of trains rather than flying everywhere. Thanks for the info

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Jeremy **********

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Shaughn ***********

what are you trying to do, be more specific what your plans are in Thailand and the length you plan to be here, as well as your recent history In the country for the best answer

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Jeremy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Shaughn **********

hi Shaughn

We have no hard and fast plan. Original idea was to spend 2 or 3 months in Thailand and then move on to Cambodia/Vietnam//Laos for maybe 2-3 weeks in each

Specifically don't want to be tied to a schedule, hence no outbound tickets yet

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Jeremy **********

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Terary **********

Cambodia is about 3 hours by car from Pattaya. I usually hire a service to run me to the border and back. Its takes about 8 hours round trip (we stop for lunch and the border takes a little bit).

You can do it yourself but I don't think it will be any cheaper and the agents tend to be more organized.

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Jeremy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks Terry for that. Can you recommend a reliable, service, and what should I expect to pay for it?

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Jeremy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for that Terary

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Terary **********

I pay 3500 for a visa run from Pattaya. I don't recall the name of the visa service, maybe First Class Visa (not sure). They operate out of the Victorian on Soi 6 Pattaya Beach Road. I don't know if you're in/near Pattaya.

Someone in this group will have a recommendation for whatever area you're in. Time/Distance will effect the cost.

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Terary **********

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Lynnette *******

@Terary *********

he wants a tourist visa. He'll need to go further than just the border.

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Terary **********

You're right, my bad.

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Terary **********

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Mel *****

Go to laos, Vietnam, or Cambodia

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Graham ******

The cost is partly dependent on whether you need a Visa to enter the neighbouring country so bear that in mind

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Neil **********

right. Was recently surprised to pay 1800 bhat to enter savannakhet for the process

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Greg ***********

@Neil *********

that's cheap. When going to Paxxe, we had to pay 1900 + 100 THB for the Laos visa-on-arrival

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Greg ***********

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Brandon ************

There's no such thing as renewing a tourist visa.

You can apply for a new tourist visa at a Thai embassy or consulate.

Most common locations are Vientiane Laos (appointment required), Savannakhet Laos (no appointment) or Penang Malaysia (no appointment). Most of the embassies and consulates in SE Asia only offer one additional tourist visa so if you've already had 2 in the last year, they may not sell you one.

The requirements will be on their websites and they are generally strict.

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Jeremy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

thanks, very helpful

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Greg ***********

@Jeremy *********

I think you meant, you got a Multi Entry Tourist Visa, and you need to exit and re-enter Thailand in order to activate another 60-days stay permit.

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Nico *******************

@Greg **********

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Nico *******************

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