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Which visa run is quicker: Koh Samui or Chiang Mai?

Visa RunKoh SamuiChiang MaiVisa TypesTravel TipsThai ConsulateExpats in Thailand
Mar 5, 2023
2 years ago
Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
visa run - which one takes less time on the road? If you are based in Koh Samui or if you do the visa run in Chiang Mai. What is the quickest and less annoying?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion explores the quickest options for visa runs from Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. It highlights that flying from Koh Samui to Cambodia can be the fastest route with minimal road time, while a van from Chiang Mai offers proximity but still involves some travel time. Comparisons are made to other options such as flying to Singapore and considerations for obtaining different visa types, particularly in relation to Education (ED) visas.
Paul *******
By road obviously the closest location will be Kawthoung, Myanmar, but that border crossing remains closed to foreign nationals. Thais are allowed to use it to access some islands though, but not other foreigners.

So the next closest will be Malaysia, but with the ferry and the lack of an expressway on the Thai side, it will take much of the day just to reach the nearest border, which is Sadao. From there, it's another 90-100 mins drive to Penang, where there's a Thai consulate.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
Just heard that Kawthoung is now open.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
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Bobby ********
My advice is seek out Tod Daniels . But give him your full situation, what your plans involve and he will advise best visa for yourself and your child. Then, and only then, work out the best way to get these visas. You'll find Tod in this group

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2 years ago
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Oliil ******
How about Malaysia border like Satun or Penang asper you stay in south of Thailand
2 years ago
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Steve ********
Which visa do you need to get? Some embassies are easier than others
2 years ago
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Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 will get my son Ed visa with a school and I will get guardian
2 years ago
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Miri *****
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Luke *******
flying to/from Singapore is the easiest. but not cheap lol
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Miri ****
 It could. You need to speak with the school you are enrolling with to see if they can arrange the ED visa in-country
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Miri ****
 Tourist visa is only available from an embassy or consulate.
2 years ago
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Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 so entry 45 day visa stamp will allow us to get ed visa right?
2 years ago
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Miri *****
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Steve ********
@Miri ****
 Yes, you have to go to an embassy or consulate to get the ED visa. Isn't that what you're after? You said Visa Run, which means you're requiring a visa. Is that correct?
2 years ago
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Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 I don't know. Right now my ed visa where he follows me will end. I have cancellation letter. Then I was thinking to get the tourist visa while I apply for his school because there's a lot of papers they need to do and while they prepare then I am on the tourist visa. Isn't that how it can be done? He follows me on my ed visa so his visa gets cancelled too
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Miri ****
 Are you sure you just don't want a simple 45-day entry stamp?
2 years ago
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Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 yes I think so. I'm confused. Never did visa run
2 years ago
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Miri *****
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Steve ********
@Miri ****
 If you want a visa you have to visit a Consulate or embassy.
2 years ago
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Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 I thought I could apply for ed visa with school while on the 45 days tourist visa stamp right? I'm confused
2 years ago
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Miri *****
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Steve ********
@Luke ******
 Thai Embassy in Singapore is not the easiest to deal with
2 years ago
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Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 would I have to go to embassy or just do visa run?
2 years ago
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Miri *****
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Casey ******
From Samui, fly to Cambodia. No time on the road. Definitely quickest.

If by van, of course CM is fastest given proximity to border. You’re 2.5 hours by van and ferry before you even reach the mainland.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Casey *****
 yes if flying to Singapore from Samui is too expensive, then, if one wants to save time, a domestic flight to Chiang Mai or Rai, followed by a bus or taxi ride to the border is the way to go. From Chiang Rai, there are cross-border buses to Huay Xai (Bokeo), which makes crossing the border even easier.
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Casey *****
 The OP isn't doing a border bounce remember? It's a visa run remember? Jesus! What a tosser
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Casey *****
 Actually she wasn't sure what she wanted as her further post indicated. Anyway, I'm joining
@To**
 McGowan and withdrawing from any further communication with you, as you obviously have no idea about trying to help people, and little idea about visas or Thailand geography. I urge the OP
@Mi**
 May not to listen to you, as you're obviously just a shit-stirring POS
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 Cheers mate.
@Miri ****
 CM is quicker than Samui by van.
@Todd ********
 is right Singapore is faster but 22k each way (I did it in January) and Cambodia is a nice balance of affordable and not hours in a van.

Sorry so many old timers made it so difficult to get decent information on here for you. It’s a way for them to feel relevant in their last years of life.

You’ll get a visa either way, and even if the option you choose is not the most efficient you’ll learn for next time. Good luck!
2 years ago
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Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Casey *****
 so what kind of visa would I get if I go to embassy as opposed to that 45 day stamp?
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Miri ****
 the best way to go about it is to have your school explicitly tell you what they need (specifically how much time they need or what visa/stamp you need to be on).

When you know this information you will know exactly what you need to do and then we can help find the best solution.
@Steve *******
 did ask you the right question. Are you sure they can’t work with 45 day exempt stamp? (Border bounce)

If that’s the case, and you confirm that, then whether you bounce to Malaysia from Samui or CM to Laos it will be the same stamp just depends what’s most convenient for you.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Miri ****
 if you “border bounce” (terms are very important here because people love to nit-pick) you will get 45 days (before March 31) or if you do a visa run you will get 60. The visa run will require a consulate visit which could mean a few days depending where you go to process.

From what it sounds like with your education visa it’s important for the school to tell you what their requirements are. If they just need time to process everything then 45 days will be enough.

If they need to get the ed visa approved and have you enter on that it will require another trip.

If there is anything I can recommend is to have them tell you what they need and do what they say. If you have to bounce and then re-enter on the visa do it. If they can process it while you’re here but need days left, it saves you an extra trip.

Long story short they know what they need, or at least know how many days they need.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
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Steve ********
@Casey *****
 I requested clarification from the OP. Instead of waiting for her reply you had to stick your nose in with your smart-ass comment, which was followed by a stupid laughing emoji. Ultimately what value was your stupid post?
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 moreover, I posit, quite directly, that CM border bounce is faster than Samui. Todd disagrees. You stated you agree with him.

You’re saying now that a CM bounce is longer than a samui bounce? You seem to be quite knowledgeable. You’re agreeing that Samui is faster than CM?
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 it looks (maybe I’m wrong) for a way for you to proclaim how smart you are and how stupid she is.

Of course we know she probably means bounce but you say no such thing. Why not phrase it like that?

She is talking about land travel time for a visa run from samui or CM. Where is your answer? Is that your thing? It literally says what she wants in her question and I’m “putting people down” by highlighting she told you what she wants.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 you didn’t request clarification the OP literally, explicitly stated what she wanted. You’re quick to mention putting people down, but she told you exactly what she wanted.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
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Steve ********
@Casey *****
 Yes, which I why I thought your smart-ass remark about a visa-run seemed odd to me, but perhaps you like to put people down.
@To**
 McGowan and I will never see eye to eye on the subject of visa agents, but you'll find he's forgotten more about the geography of Thailand than you'll ever know, so I'm agreeing with what he says.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 setting that aside is your professional opinion that the travel time from CM bounce is quicker than Samui? You see knowledgeable let’s get this straight also.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 and I DESPISE smart ass comments on boards where people just want help. What was the issue. Honestly.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 wait honest question. My smart ass comment? Honestly what did I say. I last bounced to Singapore it wasn’t worth it. Cambodia is better and CM is faster than Samui. Honestly what was smart assed?
2 years ago
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Casey ******
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Todd *********
@Casey *****
 lol. Holy. Geography is not your thing. There are exactly zero direct flights to from Samui to Cambodia. The quickest way by far is direct to Singapore. If by van, CM is the longest and silliest way to go. The Malaysian border is 400kms from Samui. The Laos or Myanmar border north of Chiang Mai is over 1500 kms away. Guess which take longer. And you can only border bounce to either. It's further for visa runs. For visa runs, Singapore is the easiest by far. Penang or KL next. Phnom Penh, Vientiane or Phu Quoc also reasonable by plane but all require going thru BKK.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Todd ********
 we can agree that the OP asked about a visa run, but let’s work out our points about CM vs Samui. You’re saying samui is quickest, right?
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Casey *****
 Pretty sure the OP wants a 45-day visa exempt stamp only, but you're the know all who insisted she wants a visa 😆😆😆
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 yes I think so too. I’m just establishing now why I’m bad at geography and how the Samui bounce is faster than CM as
@Todd ********
 so eloquently pointed out.
2 years ago
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Casey ******
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Casey ******
@Todd ********
 all true, but let’s be honest the next comment to be made was going to be, “but direct to Singapore is 22k each way.”

But in fairness it wasn’t asked yet.

So you’re saying CM at 14 hours (cited
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is better than Samui at 18 hours plus getting to Nathon for another 45 min (cited
*****************************************************************************


To be clear, you’re saying the 18 hours starting 4:30 already at the pier in Nathon is better than the 6:30am departure in CM?
2 years ago
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Jo **********
@Casey *****
 no I fly to Singapore every month it’s 5000 each way
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Jo *********
 from samui?
2 years ago
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Jo **********
@Casey *****
 yes and 7000 from chiang mai
2 years ago
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Jo **********
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Steve ********
@Casey *****
 Which consulate are you suggesting?
2 years ago
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Steve ********
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Steve ********
Visa run or border bounce?
2 years ago
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Miri *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 don't know actually
2 years ago
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Casey ******
@Steve *******
 the post must have been edited because the first two words of the post literally say visa run. 😂
2 years ago
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Casey ******
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Rob *******
following
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Rob ******
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
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