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What is the immigration process for a quick flight transfer in Kuala Lumpur to activate a Thai DTV visa?

Nov 1, 2025
2 months ago
I booked a rt flight to Kuala Lumpur to activate a new Dtv entry. My flight back to Bangkok is 3 Hours after I land in KL. Does anyone know the process: will I have to go out of the arrival terminal and to the departures gate for the in/out stamps? Or can I just stay in the terminal and go to my “connecting“ flight?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When traveling to Kuala Lumpur for the purpose of activating a new Dtv entry before returning to Bangkok, you must exit the arrival terminal, pass through Malaysian immigration to get your entry stamp, check in for your return flight, and then go through immigration again to exit Malaysia. Staying in the transit area is not permitted for this process, as you need the necessary immigration stamps. Some travelers have encountered scrutiny from immigration officers when returning to the airport shortly after arriving, so it's recommended to be honest about your intentions and possibly consider extending your stay.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I just got back from doing this. I had a 3 hour layover in KL. Yet the immigration officer asked me what I was doing as I exited KL to get my return flight, and I was just honest with him (maybe I should not have been?) and said I was “coming in and going back out”. He told me “you cant do that”. He was kind enough to let me through which I quite honestly really appreciated. And he told me “next time stay one or two nights in KL if you do this”.
Stuart *********
You have to pass through immigration in KL so you “enter” Malaysia. You then have to check-in to your return flight and go back through immigration to “exit” Malaysia.

You cannot wait in the transit area because you must have the enter/exit stamps from immigration.
Jef ********
I haven’t done it at an air border , but land crossings you need to stamp into the other country.

For example if you border cross at Thai Laos. Border you will end up with 4 stamps.

1 out from Thai. 1 into Laos, 1 out from Laos 1 into Thai.

I’d imagine that it’s the same for air ports also.

3 hours I’m assuming you have no bags, just cruise through get your passport stamped and go back in.