Will I receive a 30-day visa exempt stay upon re-entering Thailand from Cambodia?

Sep 1, 2023
a year ago
Gavin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi! I looked online for info on this but was left a little bit confused so I'd really love some clarification.

I arrived in Thailand on 10th Aug (first visit in this year) and currently have a 30-day visa exempt stay which I will extend, on September 8th, for another 30 days. My plan then is to cross the border by land into Cambodia before that expires and come back.

I'm confused whether on coming back from Cambodia by land I will receive 30 days of visa exempt stay (which is what I want) or only 15 days. I've also heard conflicting reports about whether or not I will be able to extend that for a further 30 days. In my ideal scenario, I would then do another land border run, get another 30 days and extend that for another 30. Thanks for any help.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking clarification on visa exempt stays upon re-entering Thailand from Cambodia. They arrived in Thailand with a 30-day visa exempt stay, which they plan to extend by another 30 days. They want to know if they will receive another 30-day visa exempt stay when returning by land and if they can extend that. According to community responses, you will indeed receive 30 days on re-entry from Cambodia and can extend it by 30 days at an immigration office, but there are restrictions like a maximum of two land border entries per calendar year. It's also advised to avoid the Poi Pet border for smoother re-entry.
Gavin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I would likely be doing a land border run at Hat Lek. Is that a relatively hassle free option?
Gavin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks a lot for the replies everyone.
@Mee *****
I'm too young for a retirement visa haha
Mee ******
Just apply for retirement visa
Bonnie *******
The poi pet border was easy. No problems at all
Bonnie *******
Some lines but they went fast. The people were very helpful. Nobody tried to con us for money just told us what line we needed to be in and what we needed
Graham ******
@Bonnie ******
No queues?
Stuart *********
@Bonnie ******
Glad it worked for you. Sadly it doesn’t for many.
Mma *******
Most Visa companies out of BKK or Pattaya use Ban Laem crossing. Best to use a visa agent company. But yes you can do what you want you want to do. Avoid Poi Pet crossing.
Stuart *********
So many horror stories of people using Poi Pet as a border crossing. Probably best to avoid at all costs.

Use a border run company. They know who and what to do to “grease the wheels” to ensure a smooth bounce.
Stuart *********
There’s a few websites that still show 15 days only via a land border. That stopped in December 2016. It changed to being 30 days on entry but limited to two exempt entries per calendar year.

Any entry on a visa exempt is eligible for one extension for 30 days at a local immigration office.
Terry ********
You would get 30 days and you can extend any visa exempt entry for another 30. That being said, entry is always at the discretion of the immigration officer. It would look better if you stayed at least a few days in Cambodia. Also, there is a limit of 2 land border crossings per year.
John **********
Best to use a border run company for hassle free reentry
Bob **********
The Poi Pet border should be avoided better doing a bounce in Laos and yes it can be extended remember only to land entries per calendar year doing 3 back to back exempt stamps will probably get you pulled aside and questioned
Nigel *********
you get 30 days extendable. Some Cambodian Borders are Problematic.
Richard *********
@Nigel ********
not realy< some might charge you 300-500 baht for same day return to thailand BUT Just to be sure dont use Poi Pet 🙂
Chris *******
Nothing conflicting.

You will receive 30 days visa exempt on entry and can extend 30 days once each entry.

Maximum 2 land entries per calendar year.

No official rule on air entries until they stop you.
Steve *******
You'll get 30 days visa exempt, and you can apply for a 30 days extention, you can do that twice per calander year entering by a land border
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