What is the best visa strategy for an upcoming trip to Thailand with a planned return after visiting Cambodia?

Oct 17, 2023
a year ago
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, thanks in advance!

Flying into BKK, then flying out just short of 3 months later.

Planning on spending about 7-8 weeks in Thailand, then heading to Cambodia for a month and then heading back to BKK before leaving for UK again. (So will be in Thailand / BKK for a few days before the flight home)

Assume here the best plan here is to apply online for 60 day single entry tourist visa before I leave. I'll 'use this up' and then leave for Cambodia, and then when I come back into Thailand I assume I'll be on the standard 'no visa' standard 30 day tourist visa if I'm correct?

AIRLINE EXIT CHECK:

So the airline will check/require an 'departing' flight - to which the 3 month return will be valid (I assume as they don't care about visa this end) Airline don't know, nor care surely. They just want proof of exit at any time?

VISA:

The application for 60 day Thail visa WILL require exit date and proof, so I assume best bet here is to buy a BKK->Cambodia bus and use that as the proof I need?

Thanks in advance for this, much appreciated.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user plans to spend 7-8 weeks in Thailand before heading to Cambodia for a month, and they want to know about the best visa strategy. They are considering applying for a 60-day single entry tourist visa and then using a bus ticket to Cambodia as proof of onward travel. Respondents advised ensuring proof of exit to comply with visa requirements and suggested purchasing a flight ticket rather than a bus ticket to avoid potential issues.
****
Just buy the onward tickets.com for like $12 and you’re good for life.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@ ***
These are only valid for 48hrs tho, and this is for thai visa application, not the pre departure checks before leaving the UK. Or am I missing something here? Quite possible!
Alistair **********
Plan seems fine. Maybe just book a flight from Thailand to Cambodia instead of a bus ticket within the first 60 days. It'll minimize potential issues with applying for 60 day visa and airport staff.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
You say to buy within first 60 days, but on my visa application I need to do online pre travel requires the ticket proof on application it seems?
Alistair **********
@Chris *******
you'll need proof of leaving for the visa application. So if you book your flight from Bangkok (or wherever in Thailand) to Cambodia then that will meet the requirements for the visa application and keep airline staff happy. Bus ticket can sometimes be accepted but not always, so easier to just fly.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you.
Henrik *****
With a 60 days touristvisa, you need to have a onward ticket out of Thailand within the 60 days, since you only have got permit to stay in Thailand for those 60 days, and you need to show, that you intend to comply with that agreement ( eventough you may have other plans.)

It is at check-in they may check if you have the onward ticket.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
Yes that makes sense, so 1) Visa application requires proof of 60 day exit, which I can buy a flight for.

2) Airline doesn't care if it's 1 month return or 6 months I guess? As they are literally checking a return is valid, rather than actually within 'visa requriements'?\
Henrik *****
1) The onward ticket doesn’t need to be a flight, just a cheap ticket out of Thailand.
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