Live in Laos - how many 'shopping' flights to BKK allowed?

[simon43]

I'm still considering all country options for my planned relocation (probably early next year).

 

If I live in Laos, but want to visit Bangkok for the weekend, (shopping trips, dentist etc), how many times am I allowed to fly into BKK each year if I opt to simply get a visa-on-arrival?  (I'm British).

 

I think 2 entries by land borders is allowed per year, but I'm not sure if that rule also applies to fly-ins.  Is there any 'history' of Don Muang immigration denying entry for similar travellers?

[jacko45k]

There is no posted limit to entries at the airport on Visa Exempt (Not Visa on arrival)

If your stays are short duration I would not expect any issues. 

[brewsterbudgen]

We have a house in Laos and although we're not currently living there, we may do one day.  I understood that there was talk about expats based in Laos qualifying for a Thai visa that would allow "unlimited" border hops.  Whether this was just speculation I have no idea.  Seeing as it's pretty much essential to have easy access to Thailand for some shopping and for healthcare I would hope something must be in place.

[jacko45k]

12 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

We have a house in Laos and although we're not currently living there, we may do one day.  I understood that there was talk about expats based in Laos qualifying for a Thai visa that would allow "unlimited" border hops.  Whether this was just speculation I have no idea.  Seeing as it's pretty much essential to have easy access to Thailand for some shopping and for healthcare I would hope something must be in place.

Perhaps a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, but that is only valid 6 months. 

[RoadWarrior371]

I have flown into Thailand 6 times in the last 6 months (between 5 to 28 day stays).  No issues.  I am from USA.

[ThaiBunny]

1 minute ago, RoadWarrior371 said:

into Thailand

Into Don Muang? That was the specific question since Immigration at DM is reputedly more "difficult" than elsewhere

[brewsterbudgen]

6 minutes ago, RoadWarrior371 said:

I have flown into Thailand 6 times in the last 6 months (between 5 to 28 day stays).  No issues.  I am from USA.

From Laos?

[Lemonltr]

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

We have a house in Laos and although we're not currently living there, we may do one day.  I understood that there was talk about expats based in Laos qualifying for a Thai visa that would allow "unlimited" border hops.  Whether this was just speculation I have no idea.  Seeing as it's pretty much essential to have easy access to Thailand for some shopping and for healthcare I would hope something must be in place.

I believe that a foreigner with Laos visa must do a border run every 90 days but not sure. There of course is the Vietnam border option. Do you have any information about having a Thai registered car in Laos for the medium term, say a year or two? I have driven my car to Laos but only on short trips. I am prepared to fully insure in both countries. 

[mtls2005]

Suspect they may be trying to track both entries and aggregate days (for Visa Exempt folks) over some fixed or rolling period? Then present the IO with a green, yellow or red warning pop-up based on one's current tally. No clue what the figures might be? Something like four visits and/or 60 days aggregate is green, 5-8 visits and/or 60-75 days is yellow, and 9+ visits and/or 76+ plus days is red. Green is stamped, Yellow passed to a desk with a higher ranking officer to adjudicate, red, back to Laos.

 

This is just my guess(es) based on news articles announcing increased use of IT and AI, and discussions with a company which received a couple of briefings from Imm in the past few weeks. There are a fair amount of regional sales/marketing/support folks based in other SE countries, and even from HQ, who make frequent trips here. There is a lot of different behavior Imm are looking to both modify and control, apparently.

 

For the OP my guess would be a balance based on the duration, so maybe 6 - 7 visits, with a max duration of 7 days might not raise a flag? Enough for shopping, a couple of dental appointments and a couple of general medical appointments. Again this is my GUESS, and if you void your warranty obviously don't blame me. It's what I've been using for a Plan B relo to HCMC.

 

 

[BritTim]

There are official announcements that indicate business people visiting occasionally for meetings or trade shows are considered "genuine tourists" and have no problem using visa exempt entries. On the other hand, those wanting to spend half the year relaxing near a beach in Thailand are staying too long to be "genuine tourists", and might be denied entry. I am unsure whether frequent visits for shopping and healthcare would be deemed legitimate tourism as immigration at some entry points seem to define it. My guess is that many visits of less than a week would likely be tolerated.

[phuketrichard]

i'd image same as living in Cambodia and holding a 1 year extension,

use up your 2 free visa exempt land crossings and than fly in,
Cant see immigration giving anyone a hassle even if they show 10 + visa exempt entries all less than a few days and holding a year extension for a neighboring country/

Ur NOT even coming close to trying to away with anything.

[Johnny396]

Im also living in Laos. 

Traveling frequently to BKK for short trips and also transit thruu BKK with diffrent airlines so immigration and luggage pickup needed. 

Never had any issue there never any question at all. 

But i have all papers ready hotel booking return flight/onwards flight. Also always  USD in cash equal to min 20K baht 

 

Ive only experianced issue one time with landborder and that was with the old rules..

 

If intention is to go shopping in BKK and all papers in order i dont see any issue. But off course always up to IO..

 

DMK i avoid. Never had any issues there either but just loathe the place 

 

John 

[Proboscis]

On 6/9/2019 at 2:21 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

We have a house in Laos and although we're not currently living there, we may do one day.  I understood that there was talk about expats based in Laos qualifying for a Thai visa that would allow "unlimited" border hops.  Whether this was just speculation I have no idea.  Seeing as it's pretty much essential to have easy access to Thailand for some shopping and for healthcare I would hope something must be in place.

The only possibility for crossing the border regularly is a multiple-entry visa - 6 months max. You can only get this if you can show a Laos visa and Laos work permit and a letter from your employer. You acquire this from the Thai consulate in Vientiane for which you must make an appointment in advance online.

 

If you travel by plane, you will not have a problem as long as you are only going for short trips. Clearly if you spend most of your time in Thailand, you will have a problem eventually.

[brewsterbudgen]

The only possibility for crossing the border regularly is a multiple-entry visa - 6 months max. You can only get this if you can show a Laos visa and Laos work permit and a letter from your employer. You acquire this from the Thai consulate in Vientiane for which you must make an appointment in advance online.
 
If you travel by plane, you will not have a problem as long as you are only going for short trips. Clearly if you spend most of your time in Thailand, you will have a problem eventually.

Thanks. So (hypothetically) if I had already used up my 2x land border entries (Chong Mek) but then needed to get to Ubon urgently for emergency medical treatment, would they let me into Thailand?

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[stevenl]

55 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Thanks. So (hypothetically) if I had already used up my 2x land border entries (Chong Mek) but then needed to get to Ubon urgently for emergency medical treatment, would they let me into Thailand?

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You'd have to fly in.

[Guest Jerry787]

get a 6 months METV e you have no issue either by land or by air

indeed no limitations on entering by airport