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What documents should I prepare for a land border run to Laos from Thailand?

Border Run Visa Requirements Travel Documents Thailand Immigration Laos Border Crossing Visa Types Non-B Visa Expat Experience

Sep 14, 2023

a year ago

Othman ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, I will be doing my land border run to Laos this weekend.  Have anyone of you been asked to show the following recently?

Thank you. 🙏

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around experiences shared by expats regarding their land border run to Laos from Thailand. Key points include the importance of having proper documentation like cash, hotel reservations, and outbound flight tickets, especially for those with extended stays or multiple border bounces. Some users report being questioned by immigration officials due to their lengthy stays, while others mention smooth crossings with minimal questioning. There seems to be confusion among some travelers about the necessity of carrying these documents, despite clear guidelines stated on official websites.

เตเต้ ******

Nope. Did two this year at Mukdahan checkpoint and the only question asked was to clarify on my TM6 that it said Ubon because I was in a hurry and my handwriting sucks.

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Justin *********

I’m confused why.. if it’s on the official website.. people still seem confused and even argue as it whether it a good idea or even needed..

Why would someone *not just have this in hand, just in case. It’s like they want their not wanting to confirmed by a random person on the internet.. worse are those who don’t simply have what’s asked, but then get angry at the IO when they’re denied. Same applies for tourist visa applications.

It’s baffling to me.. what’s the logic here..? 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Terary **********

I crossed that border a long time ago... Just border bounce, I was on the Lao said of border for 30 minutes.

I don't recall if they ask for more documents or not.. They probably did. The immigration officer sent me the supervisor who then had a stern conversation with me.. She was actually a nice lady. In the end she said "... next time... when come back...", point being they're pretty cool up there but its a good idea to travel with all the things you need.. No reason to cause yourself a head ache.

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Jonathan **************************

Got pulled aside at Chiang Mai airport and questioned coming back from Kuala Lumpur, and asked to show the same three proofs I'd already had to submit in Kuala Lumpur to get the tourist visa in the first place.

I'd had two border bounces, the second of which I'd only done a week or so before, so as not to have to go on a visa run on my birthday.

They were making an issue of the fact that I'd been in Thailand for years - even though, for all those years, I was legally working on a Non-B visa, and had quit my job just over two months before.

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Jonathan **************************

The point is, always have the Three Proofs with you as you can be asked at any time. This also applies to border bounces.

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Jonathan **************************

You *can* be asked at *any* time.

It all depends on the individual immigration officer in front of you.

I've come across accounts of people being asked for the three proofs at every crossing I can think of - even when they already have a visa approved.

Its even happened to friends of mine who came here with *no* previous history of staying in Thailand in their passport.

It costs $10-20 to "rent" an onward ticket (cancelled after a few hours), and its easy to make a no-prepayment reservation on Booking dot com & cancel it later.

Better safe than sorry, and have the three proofs with you.

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Maxim ***********

Yes, many "land borders" will ask, but that's not what we are debating. You said this "I've come across accounts of people being asked for the three proofs at every crossing I can think of", which is factually incorrect. Many borders like Nong Khai and Mukdahan will never ask for the 3 proof of. And you wont find anywhere on the internet people denied their 2 visa exempt entry per year at such borders.

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Maxim ***********

@Jonathan *************************

No, you cannot be asked at "any time". It depend entirely on the border you are trying to enter from.

No, you have not come across people being asked for the 3 proof of at "every crossing I can think of", this is factually incorrect. Mukdahan, and especially Nong Khai, do not ask for this ever.

Your friends were not doing a border run in Laos.

Onward ticket is well known and people who enter by air often use it.

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Jonathan **************************

@Maxim **********

Yes, I have. I have come across people being asked at land borders.

It all depends on the individual immigration officer you're dealing with.

Using Onward Ticket and making a cancellable, no-refund hostel booking, at the end of the day, does not do any harm.

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Maxim ***********

@Jonathan *************************

In brief, wording matter. "Land borders" is a general term. A specific border will have specific ruling varying from: never ask, sometimes ask, always ask.

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Maxim ***********

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Maxim ***********

@Jonathan *************************

But that would be untrue. Each airport and each border have different requirement (some a lot, some little, some none). General out of context advice is not helpful to OP situation at all.

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Maxim ***********

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Maxim ***********

@Jonathan *************************

Your situation is not a border bounce, nor in Laos.

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Maxim ***********

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Jeffrey **********

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Steve ********

Depends solely on your recent history of border bouncing. A buddy of mine had continuous Covid extensions and when he did a bounce about six months ago he was asked for these proofs as the immigration officer told him he'd been in the country "too long". He had the cash (in various denominations) but had to arrange a hotel and an outbound flight within the 30 days

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Maxim ***********

The border bounce was most likely done in Cambodia, not Laos. The two famous Laos border run (from Nong Khai and Mukdahan), ask nothing on either side. I did my 2 border bounce this year (did 15 over the last 12 years in these border) and never got asked anything. If someone like me never get asked anything, nobody else does.

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Maxim ***********

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