Do you have to take a 5 day break from Thailand after a 2nd consecutive border run (i.e at 360 days)? As I understood it's up to 360 days per year? Thanks

Hi if you apply for a dtv for cooking and get approved, I am assuming this means you take different cooking courses for 5 years? Or is taking 1- 6 month or 1 year class all that is required even if staying for 5 years?

Has anyone done a border run to Laos from Pattaya for a new DTV stamp? Also open to trusted agencies in Bangkok.

Had a wild ride on my last flight out and want to try a border run. Any suggestions for fair agencies, that don’t overcharge for DTV, would be appreciated. Fine with sightseeing in Laos for a couple days.

Please, no miserable commenters. You’re in Thailand. Cheer up!

This is what Savannakhet, Laos looks like now. Two years ago it was busy and touristy at 5 a.m. there were plenty of people around the Royal Thai Consulate. But now, it feels like a ghost town… so quiet.

#Savannakhet #LaosTravel #QuietTown #RoyalThaiConsulate #TravelChanges #GhostTownVibes #TravelLife #WanderAsia #diynonbvisa #visathailand

DTV Extension in Chiang Mai – my experience 🫤

I recently tried to extend my Destination Thailand Visa in Chiang Mai instead of doing a border run – and here’s what happened:

🕰️ 6 weeks before my end of stay – gathering information



Immigration told me:

* There is exactly one officer responsible for the DTV.

* He checks documents at 3 pm daily and, if all is fine, gives you an appointment for the actual extension.

* Nobody else can process DTVs.

🕰️ 3 weeks before – first attempt

I showed up at 3 pm with all documents. The officer asked for passport, 90-day report, rental contract, company docs, CV, savings of 500,000 THB at a traditional bank (not a Fintech) … I had everything! Then he came up with something new: an official bank letter confirming:

1. The account is in my name.

2. The 500,000 THB have been there for at least 1 month.

My bank statements for the past 3 months were not accepted.

I was told to come back with this letter.

🕰️ 2 weeks before – second attempt

Monday, 3 pm: I returned with the bank letter. The officer didn’t show up. Staff told me he was “too busy” and asked me to come back again on Thursday.

🕰️ 1.5 weeks before – third attempt

Thursday, 3 pm: Same story. After waiting an hour, I was told I could leave my documents, but there was no guarantee they would ever be checked – or that I’d get an extension.

👉 At that point, I gave up and planned a border run instead.

💡 Takeaway:

* In Chiang Mai, extending the DTV seems almost impossible.

* Even with full documents, it's a hit and miss.

* My advice: If you live here, plan for a border run to save time and nerves.

Btw, if you’re German-speaking and want more detailed insights in German, feel free to check out my page.

My 180 days on my tourist visa are up at the end of the month.

I have done the 60 on entry and then the 30 and then a border run for another 60 days and now I have completed the 30 days again at immigration.

What is the likelihood of being able to do another border run or should I stay away for a few days?

Hi all.

Ideally, I'd like to stay in Thailand for 90days. Travel to a different country via air (Japan) or potentially land (Vietnam/Laos), back to Thailand, and repeat. How many times is this actually allowed in a 12-month period?

I'm a UK citizen and will be travelling to Thailand on Monday, 8th Sept with my 13y/o son. We have a house in Hua Hin yet never stayed for longer than 90 days in any 12-month period. The visa thing always boggles my mind and I've been to Thailand a fair few times now so apologies if this has already been asked. I did try the search funtion but I'm possibly not using the correct key words :/

Hello. I have a question about applying for a Thailand non-o visa in Vietnam. I have a limited time in Vietnam on their visa. If my non-o e-visa for thailand takes too long, can I enter thailand and then do a border run to Vietnam when the e-visa comes through and come back on the non-o? Anyone have experience with that?

Nearing my 6 months. Wanting to stay longer. Any reliable and cheaper visa/border run agency services from Pattaya?

Hey, everyone! I’m a solo female cyclist from the Philippines who’s currently cycling across Thailand.🚴🏽‍♀️❤️

I’m almost at the end of my visa in Thailand. I got a 60-day visa exemption + 30 day visa extension from the immigration office.

I kinda expected to be done with my route for Thailand, finishing at Ubon Ratchathani to cross into Pakse and do the Boloven Plateau by bicycle, but since I’m cycling during rainy season, the weather’s quite unpredictable and sometimes heavy rainfall and storms take away precious cycling time. ⛈️

I’ve also realized my body’s tired from this nearly 5-month cycling trip and I need to slow down a bit on the bike.

I was thinking of going into Laos for a border run to get another 60-day visa exemption. Ideally, I would like to cross from Nong Khai because of the train services there that can take my bicycle. For other borders, I need to cycle and I have until August 28 to leave Thailand, but I’ve also heard so many notorious things about Nong Khai visa runs. 🚲

This will be my first border bounce. I’m not opposed to staying in Laos for a day or even a week / few weeks then head back to Thailand to complete my ride.

However, I’ve entered Thailand by land twice this year already.

First, during March just before Songkran via Nong Khai land border. Second, during May via Ban Phakkad just before they closed the Cambodian border.

For my first entry, I stayed 60 days in Thailand. My boyfriend came to visit so we traveled together, then I used the remaining 2 weeks to cycle to Cambodia.

I spent 3 weeks cycling in Cambodia before coming back to Thailand again (second land border entry) to recover because I was hit by a drunk driver, so it wasn’t really a border run but a cycling loop. (Thailand - Cambodia - Thailand)

My question is:

1️⃣ Will I be allowed reentry to Thailand given the circumstances and situation?

2️⃣ Will I get a higher chance of getting back to Thailand if I take my bicycle with me and show it to the border / IO? (proof I’m really traveling in Thailand)

Or will it be better to leave the bike with a friend who lives close to the border?

3️⃣ Will I get a better chance of getting back to Thailand if I go with a visa run agency or if I take a flight and come back to the country? This means I have to leave the bike, regardless.

4️⃣ What’s the best course of action? Should I take the chance for the border bounce or just move forward to the next country and abandon the loop?

If it helps, I understand my Philippine passport is weak, I have extensive travel history (7+ years of full-time travel, 35+ countries), so my passport has plenty of proof I’ve traveled to different places.

When the immigration officer asked for my return flight for the visa extension, I told them I was cycling and came to the immigration office with my bicycle. They were very friendly and even went to check out my bike at the parking lot. They thought the trip was actually cool. ☺️ They were even worried I was doing it solo as a woman.

This helped me dodge the return flight requirement, since I wasn’t really planning on staying in Thailand, and since I really came here to cycle. I still had to book a hotel, but that can be done if the officers inquire at the border. Bank statements won’t be an issue, but since I’m traveling by bike and solo, also camping outdoors and in national parks, I prefer not to carry the 20,000 THB they might ask to show at the border.

My experience with Thai immigration, police, and other officials while cycling has been lovely, and all of them have understood what I’m trying to accomplish with the trip. 🙏🏽

It’s my first time doing a “border bounce”, so I would appreciate any guidance towards the less riskiest option. ☺️

Thank you for your help and safe travels! ❤️

[ I originally didn’t want to post a photo of me with the bike due to privacy reasons and not drawing attention.., but apparently some people think this fake?? 🤣 Like seriously??

So yes, here you go, here’s the bike, she’s actually a cute, strong, unassuming little trike, and yes, I’m a real person, an actual tourist cycling in Ayutthaya ]