singtho

Hey everyone, First off, I want to sincerely thank you all for the support and for being such an amazing community—I really appreciate it! My friend recently did something similar in Pattaya. He stayed there for a month, got a TM30 from his hotel, and immigration issued him a residence certificate. With that, he was able to renew his driver’s license for 2 years. I’m considering doing the same. I also reached out to a shop I found on the forums, and they offered to renew both my bike and car licenses in just one day for 2 years at 8,500 THB (I’ll share the link as well somewhere on the post). I’ll keep researching and will update you all soon. Thanks again!

Hi everyone, The transportation office wouldn’t let me renew my driving license without a residence certificate. Unfortunately, the TM-30 isn’t enough, and immigration told me that I can’t get a residence certificate with a tourist visa. If anyone has any suggestions or knows of a solution, please let me know! I don’t mind traveling to other provinces if needed, but if it’s too much of a hassle, I’ll just get a long-term visa and put an end to this saga. I just want to make sure I’m covered in case of an accident. Thanks so much for all your help!

Thanks, mate! I really appreciate the valuable information. I’m currently staying in Mukdahan, right across the border, with my girlfriend. I wouldn’t mind spending a few days or even weeks in Laos—I’ve got friends there and a bike to get around. I’ll try renewing my driving license with the tourist visa, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll just pay for the one-year option. That’s life, I guess! Thanks again for all your help; this website is an absolute gem—way better than Facebook. Cheers! 🙏

Correct status in Thailand: Tourist. Entered on December 12th via the Savanakhet Friendship Bridge.

At 38 years old, offered an ED visa

Hey everyone! My 5-year Thai driver’s license for both car and bike is expiring in 2 months. Does anyone know if it’s possible to renew it while on a tourist visa? I’m not planning to stay in Thailand long-term, and the only visa option I’ve found is a 1-year one that costs 55k THB. If there were a cheaper 3-month option, I’d consider it just to renew my license. Any tips or ideas? Would love to hear your thoughts. 🙏

Hey mates! Everything went smoothly — no questions asked! Got a 60-day visa on arrival. Huge thanks for all your support!

Sounds good! I’m planning to do the Thakhek Loop and the Pakse Loop before entering the country. The girl visits on weekends, so we're good for now. I’ll update you in about three weeks on how everything went. I’ll probably make a couple more trips in 2025 and keep you updated along the way.

Thanks, mates! You’re absolutely right—I’m overthinking it. I’ll just go with the flow, and if any issues come up, I’ll head back to Laos. I really appreciate your great advice and support!

I just want to be on the safe side. There’s no reason I should be refused entry, but I’d like to ensure there are no issues. I’ve never had problems before, but I’d prefer to work with an agent who can make the process easier for me. I’ll likely be crossing the border frequently in 2025 to visit my girlfriend, and I’m happy to pay $50–100 per entry for peace of mind. I love Laos and Vietnam, but my girlfriend has a business in Mukdahan and can’t travel much, so it’s more practical for me to visit her. From 2021 to 2023, I lived in Hua Hin on a Non-B visa. Over that time and the past year, I’ve always entered Thailand through Bangkok or Chiang Mai flights without any trouble. I’ve contacted a few visa run agencies in Bangkok to see if they could arrange for someone to meet me at the bridge. While they initially agreed, I haven’t heard back from them. This could be due to the high season, or perhaps I just need to wait a bit longer. I don’t want to be too pushy. Thank you again for your reply and your willingness to assist.

Hello everyone, I've been in Thailand for six months in 2024. So far, I've entered the country three times: twice by air and once via the Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet-Mukdahan). I’m currently in Laos and would like to enter Thailand again soon through Savannakhet to Mukdahan to meet my girlfriend, who lives in Mukdahan. Does anyone know of an agency or service that can assist with crossing the bridge and making the process smooth, preferably at a reasonable price? For context, I hold an EU passport, age under 50. Thank you in advance for your help!