THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A "BORDER BOUNCE" & A "VISA RUN"
People usually interchange the terms 'border bounce', and 'visa run' with no issues
BUT
I'm here to tell you they are two completely different things. :o
Now that the land borders with MOST countries are open for exit/entry (burma is still closed both ways) I thought it prudent we go over the terms of what's what
BORDER BOUNCE
a border bounce is going to a border, stamping out of thailand, stamping in and out of another country, turning around and stamping right back into thailand to either enter the country on a visa exempt entry (which you are allowed two by land in a year) OR to activate another entry on a currently valid multi-entry visa.
You can also border bounce by flying to a country that's open (meeting the entry requirements there) then fly back to thailand (meeting the entry requirements to get in here too).
VISA RUN
This is where you go to another country and BUY a visa of some type from the thai consulate there before you come back to thailand. Most thai embassies &consulates nearby have a turn in the application in the morning one day, pick it up the next afternoon (business days). So that means you're staying in another country a few days
The thai consulate in Phnom Penh Cambodia has a posted turn around of 3 working days.
The thai consulate in HCMC has a booking system and does not allow walk-inz. The thai consulate in Singapore has their own online application system (that is not part of the eVisa system).
SOME thai consulates have a list of countries who cannot apply for visas OR who have long processing times (up to one month) so check the website of the consulate you're using BEFORE you wing your way there thinking you're going to apply for a visa and everything will be fine.
Many people actually apply for and get their thai pass approved BEFORE they even fly out of thailand for a visa run or a border bounce (especially now with the reduced entry requirements and the improved speed of approval for thai passes)
Remember no matter if you're border bouncing (by air or land) OR visa running (again by air or land) you have to meet the requirements to get IN to the country you're going to and then meet the entry requirements to get back IN to thailand when you return.
At this time there are so few reports of people who have entered by ANY of the open land crossings that it is not even worth asking about it.
Good luck, I'm sure we'll hear more and more reports soon about people visa running (getting visas from thai consulates near by) or border bouncing (exiting/re-entering)
TLDR : Answer Summary
This post clarifies the distinction between two terms often used interchangeably by expats in Thailand: 'border bounce' and 'visa run.' A border bounce entails exiting Thailand, briefly entering another country, and returning to Thailand, often to reactivate a visa exemption or multi-entry visa. In contrast, a visa run involves traveling to another country to apply for a new visa at a Thai consulate, requiring a longer stay. The post also highlights the importance of meeting entry requirements for both the exit and re-entry into Thailand.
