Traveling to Thailand from USA for 2 weeks in December. Besides passport do I need anything else? Went 2 years ago and it was super complicated because of covid

Mae Sot-Myawaddy border crossing: Confirmed that non-Thai foreign nationals can't cross at present. Was told by one of the Burmese nationals who works for Thai immigration that the Burmese side stopped allowing us across roughly on or shortly after April 7, when major skirmishes close to Myawaddy caused thousands of locals to briefly flee across to the Thai side.

Strangely, the two Thai customs officials i initally spoke with didn't know this and directed me first to the office where Thai immigration works on the outbound side but because both officials were busy stamping border passes, they finally led me to the inbound side where i was able to receive confirmation from said Burmese immigration helper.

Was also told that contrary to what I had previously thought- foreigners were in fact allowed to spend the day in Myawaddy township just like Thais, as long as they returned back to the bridge to pick up their passports before 6pm Myanmar time. So it wasn't true that you were forced to turn around immediately and couldn't enter town.

This confirms what my Burmese colleague told me when he contacted an official there, who said foreigers are welcome to travel around Myawaddy, just can't leave town and must return to Thailand the same day. Obviously said official wasn't made aware that Myanmar immigration quietly decided to ban us altogether a few weeks ago.

Otherwise, why wouldn't Burmese immigration allow that system now? They could make money off of us by charging for the stamp and send us straight back. So clearly right now they feel it's too dangerous to allow us across even just to their side of the bridge.

Strangely, they don't believe it's too dangerous for Thais to come across for the day. On the other hand, obviously Thais have a need to load/offload goods and conduct trade related activities, which doesn't apply to third country nationals.

Hoping that the bridge will reopen to us foreigners soon, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Any new info on Mae Sai/Myanmar border??

The last info I read had it that it is a more complicated process than it used to be..in that one also has to collect and pay for transit permissions on Thai side even before exit , then as used to be..enter briefly , pay for Myanmar visa then cross back to thai side..

BTW...this is for an already initiated multi entrance visa..and will go to Chiang Khong/Huaixai as I had before if there are complications on Mai Sai route.

So, it is established as common advise that crossing into Thailand on land borders from Laos is the safest bet for travelers with a history of frequently visiting (or COVID extensions). But getting to Laos by air from Europe is a bit cumbersome.

Thus, I am wondering what the latest reports on the southern land borders with Malaysia are - particularly Padang Besar. Flying into Kuala Lumpur and then taking the modern, electrified train to that border crossing sounds tempting.

Then again, there are some (albeit a bit dated) reports of people suggesting that border crossing is particularly rude on the Thai side.

It is also a bit confusing crossing there, as there are two ways to cross: 1) from the Malaysian train into a Thai train (that only runs two times a day) - in which case stamping out and stamping in happens both and conveniently so in the train station on the Malaysian side in between separate tracks. Or 2) from the Malaysian train onwards over land (in which case the convenient immigrations booths inside the train station cannot be used, but the actual land border booths have to be used - and while there is a pedestrian crossing from the train station over the tracks to the actual land borders, it has been shut down by the government, forcing people to take a local taxi, instead of just walking across).

Who can share some recent experiences of this border crossing?

Also, could anybody advise on how to get from that border directly to Hat Yai Airport instead of Hat Yai downtown?

Cheers.

In a typical last minute turn of event just hours before government regulations are due to go in efect, they're changed again. Unvaccinated travels can still travel to Thailand without any restrictions but may be subject to testing upon arrival.

[members only]

Is it just a rumour that we will soon need to show vaccine passports to enter the kingdom yet again?, many thanks

Is the border open from Nong Khai to Vientiane, Laos? I read posts from December 10th that it was closed?

Anybody know if tachilek , myanmar border is open for visa runs?

Bee over 3 yrs since I’ve been outside Thailand. Flying out in a couple weeks, returning mid January.

I have my Covid shots records, have medical insurance here, currently on marriage visa, and will have reentry permit.

What are current entry requirements besides listed above?

Hi everyone! 👋

Just wanted to double-check that I can apply for another 60-day Tourist Visa. I previously had one and left Thailand for almost 2 months and want to come back and wanted to make sure before I submitted my application.