Does A Thai Citizen Need A Passport To Visit Cambodia, Lao, Malaysia?

[JR Texas]

JR Texas: Does a Thai citizen need a passport to visit (less than 10 days) Cambodia? Lao? Malaysia?

[samran]

yes.

They'll be granted 30 days on arrival in Malaysia and Laos. And will be eligible for a visa on arrival for Cambodia (the same one you blokes have to get when doing your visa run).

But a passport, definetly yes.

[Thaddeus]

A Passport makes life easier, but it is not mandatory for Cambodia and Lao, they will issue temporary border passes. Not sure about Malaysia.... never been.

//edit/spelling

Edited March 9, 2007 by Thaddeus

[kratindaeng]

Thai citizens can enter Laos for a period no longer than 3 days on a temporary border pass (available in Nong Khai for 50b (need 1x passport sized photo)) Thai citizens do not require a passport for 3 days period to visit Laos. This temporary border pass can be extended at the Laos immigration dept on Vientiane for 150b.

KD

[samran]

A Passport makes life easier, but it is not mandatory for Cambodia and Loa, they will issue temporary border passes. Not sure about Malaysia.... never been.

That is only good for border run like trips where you are just crossing the border. The Thai Ampur in the border province (eg Nong Khai) will issue a border pass good for three days visit to Vientiene province. I'm sure the equivalent is possible at Aranyaprathet or Hat Yai.

Problem is, they aren't any good for extended tourism, and not valid if you are flying in.

[Thaddeus]

A Passport makes life easier, but it is not mandatory for Cambodia and Loa, they will issue temporary border passes. Not sure about Malaysia.... never been.

That is only good for border run like trips where you are just crossing the border. The Thai Ampur in the border province (eg Nong Khai) will issue a border pass good for three days visit to Vientiene province. I'm sure the equivalent is possible at Aranyaprathet or Hat Yai.

Problem is, they aren't any good for extended tourism, and not valid if you are flying in.

Absolutely correct, I thought they lasted longer than that.

Apologies to JR for the prior misinformation.

[samran]

At the end of the day, a Thai PP is 1000 odd baht, lasts five years, and is very handy for travel around SE Asia. In many cases, more useful than a Western passport in terms of visa's etc.

[Fred Sanford]

forget about Malaysis without a passport

[JR Texas]

forget about Malaysis without a passport

JR Texas: Thanks for all of the information on this issue. If I understood the responses, a Thai citizen can cross the border into Cambodia and Lao with only a border pass (no passport needed) and stay for a short duration. BUT, if arriving by plane, a valid Thai passport is needed (border passes are not accepted). I was surprised that a Thai passport can be obtained for as little as 1000 baht.

Basically, I am primarily interested in Cambodia. I want to see Angkor Wat with a Thai "friend" who has never been there. She does not have a passport. We want to do this during Songkran (a few weeks away), so there really is no time for her to get a passport.

[lopburi3]

If she has her documentation it should only take a couple of days to obtain a passport. Not sure of time; but it is not long at all.

As for border pass they used to only be issued to those having ID cards from province along the borders - but have heard others say this is not, or not strictly, a requirement anymore.

[Krub]

forget about Malaysis without a passport

JR Texas: Thanks for all of the information on this issue. If I understood the responses, a Thai citizen can cross the border into Cambodia and Lao with only a border pass (no passport needed) and stay for a short duration. BUT, if arriving by plane, a valid Thai passport is needed (border passes are not accepted). I was surprised that a Thai passport can be obtained for as little as 1000 baht.

Basically, I am primarily interested in Cambodia. I want to see Angkor Wat with a Thai "friend" who has never been there. She does not have a passport. We want to do this during Songkran (a few weeks away), so there really is no time for her to get a passport.

Recent experience in Bangkok got a Thai passport in less than a week

Edited March 10, 2007 by Krub

[abdulrahman]

forget about Malaysis without a passport

Border Pass (for Thais) obtainable for Malaysia too!

Same rules as for Laos and Cambodgia.

[SoiSong]

If she has her documentation it should only take a couple of days to obtain a passport. Not sure of time; but it is not long at all.

As for border pass they used to only be issued to those having ID cards from province along the borders - but have heard others say this is not, or not strictly, a requirement anymore.

How old is the person and where do they live. Remeber that Passports are a Bangkok exclusive event....Under 20 must have Mon amd Dad or good letters, if only one parent is living then proof of death...Now, since LOS is also the land of disappearing fathers my personal experience with getting a passport for a 19 year old was that Mom came to the office up by Laksi and signed some papers.....Seems after the long drive from Surin Mom left with the impression that some documents would have done. However...we arrived at about 10am...drove in after Mom delivered her green onions and garlic to the market at about 3am. After about about 1.5 hours my Darling said, give to me 1,000 baht to pay man so we can come back today....... Into town, country Mom and Girl didn't understand why I wanted to park in Mo Chit and go skly train, first time for Mom, but we did so. Back at 3pm to pick up the passport and them back to the village by 9pm.... Why, you say......under 20 must have a passport cause then they know that the parent/s have approved them leaving Thailand. Now all we wanted to do was go to Vientiane to see her sister...Well, at Nong Khai anybody and everybody who had an Thai ID card and 300 Baht ( 1000 if you were with Farang) was getting a pass...

I guess that covers a non hypothetical review of the action...Passport are suppose to be ready next day, but TIT.....

[samran]

forget about Malaysis without a passport

JR Texas: Thanks for all of the information on this issue. If I understood the responses, a Thai citizen can cross the border into Cambodia and Lao with only a border pass (no passport needed) and stay for a short duration. BUT, if arriving by plane, a valid Thai passport is needed (border passes are not accepted). I was surprised that a Thai passport can be obtained for as little as 1000 baht.

Basically, I am primarily interested in Cambodia. I want to see Angkor Wat with a Thai "friend" who has never been there. She does not have a passport. We want to do this during Songkran (a few weeks away), so there really is no time for her to get a passport.

The border pass is designed so you can cross into the bordering province of the other country, but not go any futher. Plus, if you are going to Angkor overland, you'll need more than 3 days. So what you are proposing won't work. You also have to take into consideration that the offices you may need to issue your 'friend' a border pass may also be closed or on minimal staff over the Songkran period.

Passport takes three days if applied for in Bangkok. The application and process proceedure is painless, high tech, and simple. You can choose to pick it up, or pay for a courier to deliver it to you register post. Plenty of time for Songkran.