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What is the cheapest way to do visa runs from Samui?

Visa Runs Cost-effective Travel Samui Thailand Immigration DTV Visa Border Crossing Travel Tips

Aug 3, 2025

21 days ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Ive tried to search for this in the group but cant find the right answers. We'll be living in Samui but will need to do visa runs obviously, what is the cheapest way people are doing this? Needing money to stretch as on a soft power DTV so no money coming in.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user inquiring about affordable options for visa runs from Samui received various suggestions. Most advise traveling via ferry and bus to Ranong or the Malaysian border, which are considered the cheapest methods. Some noted that direct flights are more expensive, while others provided alternatives like extending the DTV visa at local immigration offices to avoid frequent runs. Community members discussed the cost of living in Samui and provided insights on budget-friendly travel options.

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Anonymous ******************

Ferry/bus to krabi - Kuala Lamper

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I know its more expensive with living in samui, for those saying to look at cheaper places. I have enough money to last but wanting to keep the cost down if possible rather than spending a lot traveling for the visa run.

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Andrew ********

Find somewhere cheaper if you're concerned about the cost of visa runs ....

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Andrew *******

cheaper than the UK and we have a budget, weve around 15 years worth of money but if I can keep it reasonably cheap it can hopefully last longer. I know people in samui and know there is cheaper places but I dont know anyone in different locations so want to live there for now whilst finding my feet :)

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Andrew ********

Anonymous participant Good one... Enjoy

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Andrew ********

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Biff *******

Interesting choice of location for living on a budget.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

cheaper than the UK and we have a budget, weve around 15 years worth of money but if I can keep it reasonably cheap it can hopefully last longer. I know people in samui and know there is cheaper places but I dont know anyone in different locations so want to live there for now whilst finding my feet :)

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Luit *****************

Anonieme deelnemer for living long time in Thailand like 15 years, you also might look at a visa to stay long time. DTV is a tourist visa, and I wonder, even in case it still exists in 5 years, you can get one again for soft power. Convincing them you need over 5 years for a soft power activity might be hard. When you get the correct visa for your stay, the borderruns are not necessary.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

we might not live here for that long, I was saying i had enough money for that amount of time. A lot can change in that time so for now DTV works for us.

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Luit *****************

Anonieme deelnemer Indeed a lot can change, it is even very difficult to tell if the money is enough for 15 years...

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

this isn't what im asking...

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Luit *****************

Anonieme deelnemer I know, but when you want to prevent the cost of border runs, the best is to just get a visa that matches your purpose of stay.

But I don't understand the problem of the cost of the border runs, compared to the cost of 6 months soft power activity the cost of a border run every 6 months is relative very low.

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Luit *****************

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Biff *******

Anonymous participant fair enough but it’s one of the most expensive places in Thailand. In the medium to long term, I’d advise you to start looking elsewhere.

If you’re going to live in Thailand for a long time, learn the language and explore the country.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

ive travelled there for 3 months so we know different parts. We prefer the more raw/traditional parts for as a young couple we want to be around friends weve made there for the start but hopefully will move around after the first 12 months

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Anonymous *************

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Henrik *****

If on DTV look in to extending at nearest Immigration office, may be the cheapest way.

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Luit *****************

Might be the best option indeed, but still need a borderrun every year when you want to live in Thailand on a tourist visa.

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Henrik *****

Wrong adress, I haven’t ask for advice.

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Henrik *****

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Soulfo ***********

There is a visa run service from samui but it's long af

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Greg ********

Will the cheapest not be a van to Malaysian border?

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Marney ********

Ferry bus 🚌 to Ranong. Cheapest way

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Anonymous ******************

Ferry, bus, train to Malaysia Songkaikolok border, stamp in and out and come back again. Long but cheap. Or bus to ranong from Surat.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 331 thanks for this! When ive googled Ranong, it says thailand?

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

Anonymous participant try looking at a map and see where it is

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

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Stuart *********

Ferry and your car or a bus to Ranong. Closer than Malaysia but still a long trip.

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Stuart *********

Well yes. Ranong is the port where you get the speedboat to Myanmar. Kawthoung is the name of the place in Myanmar that the boat goes to.

You can try to DIY with a long tail boat but the way easier option is taking the speedboat from the Grand Andaman hotel for an all inclusive fee (which includes the speedboat, fees on the other side and return).

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

ahhh ok! Get it 😅 thanks for this!

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Anonymous *************

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

when ive googled, it says ranong is Thailand...

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Anonymous *************

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Anonymous ******************

Well you're in Samui... Not ideal to save on a visa run.

- Direct International flight: Expensive

- Direct domestic + border cross or second international flight: Pricy and long

- Ferry + domestic flight from Surat + border cross: OK price but long trip

- Ferry and your car/bus to Malaysia: cheap but very long trip

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Anonymous ******************

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