Mae Sai Border Bounce

[Dazzler]

Hi,

 

I am looking to do a border bounce later this month. I have dual UK/Irish nationality and am currently here visa exempt. I would like to know:

 

1. Can I just cross the border into Myanmar, come back into Thailand on the same day, and receive my 45 day visa exempt entry as I would elsewhere?

 

2. Are there any fees/costs involved at the borders?

 

3. Can I leave either country on one passport and enter the other country on my other passport should I desire? There is no problem doing this elsewhere in the world e.g I left Germany on EU passport and entered UK on UK passport, but this is Asia...????

 

Would be great to hear from someone who has done a bounce in the last couple of weeks ????.

 

Thanks!

[ChaiyaTH]

2. I heard from the most recent that they charged 1500, unlike it being totally normal and easy before covid.

So following to know.

[ChaiyaTH]

Anyway yeah it's 45 days and you leave and return with the passport you have your stamp on now. Or you would likely need to show both passports as of knowing you have the Exit stamp on myanmar side, before re-entering. Easier to just use the same if you ask me.

[BritTim]

1) Most land crossings into Myanmar are closed According to latest reports, you cannot do a border bounce at Mae Sai. Apparently, it is possible at Maesot. It may be possible at the crossing from Ranong to the Grand Andaman resort.

 

2) Every crossing is different. At Maesot, I think you still only need to pay US$10 for a Myanmar border pass. To Laos, you need to pay US$40 for a Lao visa on arrival., and there will likely be no other required payments. To Cambodia, you must pay US$30 for a Cambodian visa-on-arrival, and it is likely that additional bribes will be necessary. At the Malaysian border crossings, there appear to be constant changes, but a bribe will probably be necessary for same day return.

 

3) You cannot change passports at a land crossing. This is a firm rule that probably cannot even be overcome by the use of bribes. There is no problem in principle changing passports when traveling by air. However, be warned, it has been reported that Thai airport immigration has been upset in the past when it detects foreigners using different passports (same or different nationalities) to enter Thailand.

Edited March 4, 2023 by BritTim

[kuzie57]

The Mae Sai-Tachileik border checkpoint has reopened after closing for three years due to the pandemic. Travellers from Thailand entering Myanmar are required to show a vaccine certificate or Covid-19 rapid test.Feb 21, 2566

 

[adv008]

1 hour ago, kuzie57 said:

The Mae Sai-Tachileik border checkpoint has reopened after closing for three years due to the pandemic. Travellers from Thailand entering Myanmar are required to show a vaccine certificate or Covid-19 rapid test.Feb 21, 2566

 

Not to Foreign passport holders. 

[jimn]

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS (especially you people up in the North West)

Mae Sai - Tachileik Border w/Burma

 

Just so we're 100% clear on this; even though they announced the Mae Sai / Tachileik border crossing with Burma is open, in reality, (for all practical purposes) it is NOT open for foreigners to bounce in and out at ????

 

By that I mean, it's not open like it was pre covid (Mar 2020). You cannot just show up pay for the day pass, bounce out-n-back with Burma and stamp back into Thailand. 

 

You have to BUY a visa for Burma before you show up at that border. You also need a negative covid test & proof you were vaccinated. So that means before you decide to bounce there, you get a real visa to get in, either at a Burma consulate here or via the Burma eVisa website. 

 

That makes bouncing out-n-back at that border not that attractive for the "budget conscious" travelers ????

 

The ONLY border with thailand and burma that is open like it was before is the Mae Sot / Myawaddy border in Tak province. 

You can bounce out and back there for 500 baht. no visa or anything required to get stamped in and out of burma.  

 

For all other border bouncing you people up in the Northwest need to do it in Chiang Rai province with Lao. 

Use either Chiang Saen (where you cross in-n-out of Lao by boat) or Chiang Khong / Huay Xai (where the friendship bridge is).

 

From Todd Danials on Thai Visa advice

Edited March 6, 2023 by jimn

[les1]

I was in Maesai on Saturday not to cross the border but I was told that I could...so who knows.

[Dazzler]

Wow, some conflicting information here....think I might just go to Laos to be on the safe side...

[edwardandtubs]

14 minutes ago, Dazzler said:

Wow, some conflicting information here....think I might just go to Laos to be on the safe side...

Not only that but do you really want to give money to the corrupt and murderous Myanmar military that is currently at war with its own people? Why not go to Laos, have a nice Lao sandwich at the border and not feel like your money is being used to buy bullets to kill innocent civilians?

[ChaiyaTH]

Funny, I already said the border is open, and then we get 5 nonsense comments following.

 

The point is just about wether Mae Sai now also take additional 'fees' aka corruption, just like most southern borders do. Last report as I said, they asked that person 1500.

Edited March 9, 2023 by ChaiyaTH

[Tod Daniels]

On 3/6/2023 at 2:34 PM, jimn said:

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS (especially you people up in the North West)

Mae Sai - Tachileik Border w/Burma

 

From Tod Daniels on Thai Visa advice

I AM Tod Daniels
and here's the update on how Mae Sai / Tachileik is right now
 

UPDATE ON MAE SAI / TACHILEIK BORDER CROSSING

 

Okay "at this time" this is what it appears is going on at that border crossing.

 

IF you have proof of vax (on paper)

- You stamp out of Mae Sai

- Buy the 500 baht 2 week border pass; looks like a little passport & lets you stay in the border area.

- You stamp in&out of Burma,

- Turn around & stamp right back in to thailand.

 

You must "buy" the 500 baht border pass, there's no way to get in and out free.

 

For people who didn't have vax history on paper you need to go to a hospital/clinic (which there are some nearby) and get a negative covid test <- the 7/11 tests are NOT accepted

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, Tod Daniels said:

I AM Tod Daniels
and here's the update on how Mae Sai / Tachileik is right now
 

UPDATE ON MAE SAI / TACHILEIK BORDER CROSSING

 

Okay "at this time" this is what it appears is going on at that border crossing.

 

IF you have proof of vax (on paper)

- You stamp out of Mae Sai

- Buy the 500 baht 2 week border pass; looks like a little passport & lets you stay in the border area.

- You stamp in&out of Burma,

- Turn around & stamp right back in to thailand.

 

You must "buy" the 500 baht border pass, there's no way to get in and out free.

 

For people who didn't have vax history on paper you need to go to a hospital/clinic (which there are some nearby) and get a negative covid test <- the 7/11 tests are NOT accepted

Thank you for outlining the current status. Just to confirm: when returning to Thailand, you can get a visa exempt entry if desired, right? I ask because when crossing from Ranong to the Grand Andaman resort became possible, this was only for those with multiple entry visas or re-entry permits.

[jimn]

4 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

I AM Tod Daniels
and here's the update on how Mae Sai / Tachileik is right now
 

UPDATE ON MAE SAI / TACHILEIK BORDER CROSSING

 

Okay "at this time" this is what it appears is going on at that border crossing.

 

IF you have proof of vax (on paper)

- You stamp out of Mae Sai

- Buy the 500 baht 2 week border pass; looks like a little passport & lets you stay in the border area.

- You stamp in&out of Burma,

- Turn around & stamp right back in to thailand.

 

You must "buy" the 500 baht border pass, there's no way to get in and out free.

 

For people who didn't have vax history on paper you need to go to a hospital/clinic (which there are some nearby) and get a negative covid test <- the 7/11 tests are NOT accepted

Thanks Tod. I hope you didnt mind me using your information. I did credit you at the bottom of the post, I was not trying to take credit for it. Lol

[Tod Daniels]

22 hours ago, BritTim said:

Just to confirm: when returning to Thailand, you can get a visa exempt entry if desired, right?

Yep, 45 day visa exempt entry stamp (ผ.30/45) is being given out with question

This was one from last week

[kelboy]

1 hour ago, Tod Daniels said:

Yep, 45 day visa exempt entry stamp (ผ.30/45) is being given out with question

This was one from last week

Just like mae sot all the negative poster with the dome and glum.open is open. 

[Tod Daniels]

3 hours ago, kelboy said:

Just like mae sot all the negative poster with the dome and glum.open is open. 

Easy there.... I was the negative poster telling people when Mae Sai / Tachileik first opened it wasn't like Mae Sot/ Myawaddy.

 

They appear to have gotten with the program there though, and don't seem to care in the least about a person's previous entry/stay history.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Would you happen to know how long the 45 days exts are going on for?  aka when they will go back to 30 day ext  tnx in advance

If they do not extend (and they most likely will not) the last day with 45 days on a visa exempt entry is March 31st.