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What is considered a visa run in Thailand?

Thailand Visa Rules Visa Runs Border Runs Visa Exempt Entry Travel to Laos Travel to Cambodia

Sep 13, 2017

7 years ago

Inna ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone! Does anyone actually know what considers as a visarun? If I go to Lao or Cambodia for 3 or 4 days, is it still a no-no? Or visarun is when you leave Thailand and come back on the same day? Thanks in advance!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A visa run typically refers to traveling to a neighboring country, such as Laos or Cambodia, to exit Thailand and then return in order to reset your visa conditions. It can involve simply exiting and returning on the same day (border run) or going to a Thai consulate to apply for a new visa, which generally requires at least one overnight stay. The specifics can depend on your nationality and the visa type you are aiming for.

Tod *********

How about you tell us what you're actually trying to do.

Are you wanting to go to a thai consulate and BUY a visa for thailand

OR

Are you just wanting to go to the border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in&out of another country and stamp back into thailand to get a visa exempt entry?

Depending on your nationality you can get a 30 day visa exempt entry by land TWO times in a calendar year.

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Inna ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

great, thanks! I'm second option, and two times is exactly what I need. It is great that it is still possible to do this, I have to say!

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Inna ************

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Joe ***********

A border run or border bounce means you just go through border checkpoints on both sides of the border to Exit and near immediately return to Thailand after getting Exit and Reentry Stamps

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Joe ***********

And I forgot Visas on Arrival are also required for Border Runs

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Inna ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

ah, ok, thanks!

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Joe ***********

When you go for a Visa Run you have to get a Visa for the country you are entering.... Visa on Arrival are common such as for Laos or Malaysia.

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Joe ***********

Border Runs are Not Visa Runs

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Joe ***********

Visa Runs often go like this... Go to the Thai Consular Services office in the other country. At about 8:30 am get in a queue... Then after 9:00 am apply with the application form for the Visa you want to buy... The Applications window will close at 11:00 am

The next day after 2:00 pm you go back to the same office to collect your passport with the new Visa sticker or stamp in it

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Inna ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

JD Gruen: A Visa Run will require at least one overnight stay

- you just said it 20 min ago, that's why I'm confused. but I'll go with your latest words and hope for the best. thanks! :)

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Joe ***********

Border runs take 15 minutes to 30 minutes - not staying in the other country. There have been a few exceptions to this but it is not wide spread.

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Joe ***********

You are combining definitions

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Inna ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

yeah, so I'm trying to define the limits of this 'immediately' condition :) if I stay there for several days - does it count as tourism or still a visarun?

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Inna ************

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Sam ******

As long as you have 20.000 gs to come back in to Thailand they don't care

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Thomas ********************

Stop with the bs Sam! Please

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Danny **********

Samuel Webb are you talking about entering on the visa exempt over land or getting a tourist visa from a consulate and entering over land?

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Ron *******

Samuel Webb, let us know the outcome from wherever immigration ship you too the next time you need to visit an immigration office in Thailand.

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Robert *******

Samuel Webb, I hope you understand that you are fully responsible for your passport and stamps inside it. If you get checked someday and that Officers suspect wrong doing you will have bigger problems on your hand. Stop advising people to bribe their way into Thailand or any other illegal activity.

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Sam ******

Whatever mate fact is you can pay immigration fact !

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Jim *******

Giving advice against the laws is Dangerous to others here seeking correct facts

.

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Robert *******

@Amornrat *********

I did not have to guts to ask, but like to see those stamps.

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Amornrat **********

just send a picture. I have seen stamps from all border and even in the South they mark them 1 n 2.

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Sam ******

Believe what you want. I'm still here with paying on the border

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Robert *******

, sorry mate, but I give advice by the rules. Breaking them is your own choice and not recommended.

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Robert *******

Thai Immigration will tell you when you want to stamp out, that you can not come back. Most of the time the will advice what to do and not let you pass the border.

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Sam ******

Ok but pay 200 immigration ignore it

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Robert *******

This is the Immigration rule:

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Coleman *******

what would happen if for whatever reason someone did not know this and went to do a 3rd border run in Mae Sai...they really would not let them in? Cause that entry into Burma is not valid to travel or stay there long...

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Sam ******

So shows how much you know. 200 baht in your passport and proof of 20.000 no problem

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Robert *******

You have 4 Visa Exempt Entry stamps by land borders this calendar year?

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Sam ******

Ok sure I'm on 4th stamp no problem.

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Robert *******

You can only use a Visa Exempt Entry by land border twice a calendar year, you can wave all the money you like but if you are there for the third time, Immigration would not let you pass the gate.

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Sam ******

Sorry mate. I write quickly. Immigration

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Robert *******

Who is they?

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Robert *******

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Joe ***********

Visa run means you go inside a neighbor country to a Thai Embassy / Consulate and apply for a visa

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Joe ***********

A Visa Run will require at least one overnight stay

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Joe ***********

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