What are the current border crossing requirements for land borders in Chiang Rai province?

Aug 25, 2024
3 months ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Attention ALL Members

Issues at the land border crossings with Lao in Chiang Rai province (Chiang Saen/SEZ and Chiang Khong/Huay Xai)

I deleted the last post :O as now getting new information from the border run companies

BOTH land borders in Chiang Rai province are requiring people stay out of thailand Chiang Saen says overnight and Chiang Khong says 2 nights out

They are saying it's an order from the immigration dept :/

Sorry to have posted sketchy info. This is the latest we have. If you're up in the Northwest of Thailand and need to bounce you should plan on being IN Lao a day or two.

At this time NO other land borders are are affected...
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Recent changes at the land border crossings between Thailand and Laos in Chiang Rai province now require travelers to stay outside Thailand for one to two nights, depending on the specific border. Chiang Saen mandates an overnight stay, while Chiang Khong requires a two-night stay. This directive appears to come from the immigration department. Travelers are advised to check with border run companies regarding current conditions and possible exceptions at other borders. Discussions indicate that there are no major issues reported at other borders, such as those with Cambodia and Malaysia. Those using different visa types, such as TR visas or multi-entry Non-O visas, are also weighing how these new regulations might affect their travel plans.
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Paul ********
Thanks
Ed ******
Does anyone know the border run situation in Nong Khai ?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
shouldn't have issues up there, but really all you can do is try it, see AND be ready to spend the night out if you need to

I mean I sure would have a contingency plan so you can stay out if you have to
Ed ******
@Tod ********
Out and in Thailand, less than an hour yesterday, no issue, the only one is that the town will be flooding in the next days.
Ed ******
@Tod ********
ok thanks, I will try this way and give any feedbacks, in 2 weeks !!!
Cait *********
How sure are you that Chiang Saen is only making people stay overnight and not 2 nights; is this from multiple reports? Thanks! Also, do you know what time Chiang Saen border closes?
Cory **********
What about those with a multi entry Non-O stamp?
Mark *************************
2 friends just came in back today after staying for 2 nights and they were asked to show plane tickets as proof of when they will leave thailand. They had to buy the cheapest flight tickets (to Penang for 3000+ baht) and they were let thru. One had used up all his land border crossings per year + extensions, the other one only border ran twice (including this time and 1 extension this year. One is from Singapore and the other French. Huay Xai - Chiang Khong border.
Scott *******
@Mark ************************
Hi. Just for clarification, are you saying your one friend had already done two land crossings this year and was allowed a third land border crossing?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Scott ******
no issue at all getting a 3rd land entry, the day they went to 60 day entries by air/land for those 90+ countries they did away with the 2 bounces for free stamp entry by land in a calendar year rule
Mark *************************
@Scott ******
Yup, looks like the only thing standing now is the new rule that does away the old 2 times per calendar year rule.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
thanx for the update, it's just those 2 borders, dunno why, not any other Lao border is doing it, no cambodian or malay borders are
Mark *************************
@Tod ********
the weird thing is that the officer told them that all borders are doing the same now. Dont know if the officer is telling the truth.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ************************
he most definitely is NOT, 🙂 bounce companies in bangkok ran people to cambodia and back today no incident at all
Mark *************************
@Tod ********
thats crazy. Most probably said that to scare both of them, or everyone passing that border for that matter. And I was also surprised they were asked to show onwards plane tickets, its rare for land borders, at least in my experience.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ************************
indeed it is rare to ask for onward travel, proof of funds or lodging comin' in by land 😕 dunno why they're doing that other than to deter people from bouncing at those borders
Mark *************************
@Tod ********
so many borders that have way more people bouncing in and out but they chose these 2 rather secluded borders. Its madness. Would love to find out what is actually going on, these sort of things happening only at 2 borders are just madness. Oh, one more thing, after the 15th of July, an officer in Central Plaza Chiang Rai told me that extensions now are unlimited, one just needed to pay 1900 to extend every month with 'no limits' (those are his exact words). He said it rather loudly at the counter and everyone heard him. Fast forward to last night, my friend called the Central Plaza Immigration and he was told only 1 extension after coming in from another country. Have you heard of such a thing as unlimited extensions after the 15th of July?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ************************
they are confused, ENTRY to thailand on 60 day free stamps are "unlimited" (subject to the approval of the officer stamping you in)

extensions are ONE 30 day extension per entry like always, that most definitely DID NOT CHANGE
Callum ****************
So which borders are safe right now to not have to stay over?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Callum ***************
that's beyond the scope of the group, contact the service provider in your area that bounces people out and back and ask them

No issues with Cambodia (most borders) or Malaysia it seems
James ***********
What a great bonus to have to stay in Laos 2 nights , because SHE is such a Stellar , Gentle country 🏞️

🙏 amen
Topaz *********
if i'm in chiang mai, is there a better way to do visa run than to laos?
Brandon ************
@Topaz ********
Take an international flight out and back in the same day (assuming you mean border bounce and not visa run).

If you want to do a visa run this will not affect you because both the embassy and consulate in Laos take at least 2 days to process your visa application.
Bart **************
If these borders are saying it's an order from higher up, would it be prudent to plan two nights away also at other borders?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
In hindsight
@Bart *************
it sure couldn't hurt to plan for a contingency.

I heard that more than a few people at the border were really wound up because they didn't have anything but the clothes on their backs and had to stay in Lao 2 nights
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
as a general rule it would not 😕 a border bounce company in Bangkok bounced all their people out and back today with no issue at all at Cambodia

AND

I posted the out/in stamps from someone friday that bounced at Mukdahan without issue

It's Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong right now in Chiang Rai. We don't know why
Laura *******
Do you know if this also affects if I enter with a tr visa from Laos to Thailand and NOT exemption?

I received my tr visa one day after I arrived so I got exemption, now I would use the tr visa for a border run
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Laura ******
if you're using one of those borders up there in Chiang Rai there's a good chance you'll be kept out at least overnight. Ask them before you stamp out of the country. They'll tell you
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