Border Run Report Cambodia to Thailand and Back

[Yagoda]

Border run, this weekend for a friend with SA passport, for Visa change in Cambodia. Ill only do the Thailand in and out.

 

In Aranyaphrathet Saturday at 1pm took 3 minutes from the time we hit the top of the stairs to the exit. She was on a Tourist Visa expiring that day in Cambodia, I have a retirement..

 

Out DMK Sunday night.

 

Please note, very important: The touts are swarming like locusts on both sides of the Poipet/Aranyaphrathet border. Ignore them, if you dont know where you are going and have not been directed, ask here. Remember when entering Cambodia all the transport and services are 100-150 meters away, right down the road there to the circle. When entering Thailand, the market is on the right, the transport area about 100 meters in on the left.

 

We did the train in. Long but tons of fun and no worse really than a bus. $1.50 Border to Makkasan.

 

 

 

[Captain Flack]

A flame post has been removed. Emojis are part of the forum and not for posters to attack others when a poster receives one.

 

@Yagoda stop then using the report button to attack others. If you are so paranoid you are being stalked, then best not to post if you don’t want replies.

 

But if you use the report to make unsubstantiated claims again, you will be getting a long time out.

 

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[DrJack54]

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Border run, this weekend for a friend with SA passport, for Visa change in Cambodia. Ill only do the Thailand in and out.

What's that mean "visa change" 

"Only do the Thailand in and out"? 

At a guess your SA, friend did a border bounce to obtain a visa exempt stamp. 

That is not a " Visa change" 

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Out DMK Sunday night

Where does DMK airport come into it. 

[Yagoda]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

What's that mean "visa change" 

"Only do the Thailand in and out"? 

At a guess your SA, friend did a border bounce to obtain a visa exempt stamp. 

That is not a " Visa change" 

Where does DMK airport come into it. 

Well its a Thai Board so I left the Cambodian stuff out.

She was in Cambodia on a Non Extendable Tourist Visa. She got a job so is eligible for a 1 year Multiple entry extension of an Ordinary Visa, which one can only obtain at entry into Cambodia

Trying to get an Ordinary Visa in Poipet is a reported nightmare, especially because it gets so busy and all is 20th century paper.

Therefore, the reverse visa run:

1. Apply for an Ordinary Visa via their excellent E-Entry program (only usable by air)

2. Leave Cambodia via Poipet

3. Party Like a rockstar in Bangkok..

4. Go to DMK, leave on the Air Asia evening flight (FD 618)

5. Enter Cambodia, get your Ordinary Visa sticker when you show them the E-Visa paperwork yourPRINTED OUT as they instruct.

6. Then go to the Visa Agent within a few days with your paperwork from your employer, pay the $400 for work permit and Visa Extension.

 

I wanted to leave the Cambodian stuff out so as not to confuse people. Mostly I wanted to reassure folks that it was easy to enter Thailand, watch for the touts (who have increased since my last trip in) and give an on the grounder.

 

I should also note that if you are taking Air Asia out of DMK and you cant kiosk check in because of baggage, get to the airport early. Lines were enormous.

[Harrisfan]

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/timetables/eastern-line/

 

Info here

 

[Yagoda]

4 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/timetables/eastern-line/

 

Info here

 

Old ladies sell Home made little coconut cakes on the train for 10 baht.

[thai006]

still don't understand  anything about this topic lol 

[Yagoda]

Just now, thai006 said:

still don't know anything about this topic lol 

Its just a border report, want me to do one in O'smach/Chom Chong. Thats a close one for you in Isaan, right down through Buriram.

[Captain Flack]

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[Caldera]

19 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Its just a border report, want me to do one in O'smach/Chom Chong. Thats a close one for you in Isaan, right down through Buriram.

 

How's this a "border run" if you enter Thailand at a land border (Aranyaprathet) and then fly out from an airport (DMK)?

 

Generally speaking, what people call a border run is going out and back in at the same border crossing, usually within minutes  

[Yagoda]

10 minutes ago, Caldera said:

 

How's this a "border run" if you enter Thailand at a land border (Aranyaprathet) and then fly out from an airport (DMK)?

 

Generally speaking, what people call a border run is going out and back in at the same border crossing, usually within minutes  

Oh so if folks with a Thai entry fly to Phnom Pen in the morning flight, check out the sights and take the evening flight back, its not a border run?

 

I thought same day runs were not allowed at certain crossings.

 

Maybe you can ask the Mods to Change the Title then.

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

Old ladies sell Home made little coconut cakes on the train for 10 baht.

I like that stuff. Train rides are so cool.

[Yagoda]

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

I like that stuff. Train rides are so cool.

The hole in the floor for a toilet is a key addition. Same fare for the past 30 years IIRC

[Briggsy]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

What's that mean "visa change" 

"Only do the Thailand in and out"? 

At a guess your SA, friend did a border bounce to obtain a visa exempt stamp. 

That is not a " Visa change" 

Where does DMK airport come into it. 

He is talking about a visa run from Cambodia back into Cambodia.

 

You are talking a border bounce from Thailand back into Thailand.

 

You are talking about different things.

[DrJack54]

24 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

He is talking about a visa run from Cambodia back into Cambodia.

 

You are talking a border bounce from Thailand back into Thailand.

 

You are talking about different things.

You have the benefit of 2 subsequent posts from OP. 

His title could have been better and even moseso what his friend actually did. 

I'm still not sure what the SA friend actually obtained. 

However.... From point 6.

"Then go to the Visa Agent within a few days with your paperwork from your employer, pay the $400 for work permit and Visa Extension."

 

Perhaps the friend obtained a Non B e-Visa from Cambodia. 

Then entered Thailand via DMK to activate it. 

Don't know. Don't care. 

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

You have the benefit of 2 subsequent posts from OP. 

His title could have been better and even moseso what his friend actually did. 

I'm still not sure what the SA friend actually obtained. 

However.... From point 6.

"Then go to the Visa Agent within a few days with your paperwork from your employer, pay the $400 for work permit and Visa Extension."

 

Perhaps the friend obtained a Non B e-Visa from Cambodia. 

Then entered Thailand via DMK to activate it. 

Don't know. Don't care. 

Cambodian Visas are obtained at the Border or a via E-app. There are two types. Tourist, extendable once, tourism only. Ordinary, extendable for 6 months or a year. Ordinary visas a are for employees, business people and retirees. If you enter on a Tourist Visa and get a job, you need to leave the country and reenter with an ordinary Visa. You cant get a retirement extension on a Tourist Visa

 

ATTN THAI RETIREES: if you are tired of the system in Thailand and are worrying about taxes and are thinking of getting a Cambodian Retirement extension and are checking things out, then you should buy an Ordinary Visa ($35) upon arrival so you can extend it without having to leave and come back.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

 

ATTN THAI RETIREES: if you are tired of the system in Thailand and are worrying about taxes and are thinking of getting a Cambodian Retirement extension........

Will move this to appropriate forum.

 

[Homburg]

On 3/24/2025 at 8:58 AM, Yagoda said:

Well its a Thai Board so I left the Cambodian stuff out.

She was in Cambodia on a Non Extendable Tourist Visa. She got a job so is eligible for a 1 year Multiple entry extension of an Ordinary Visa, which one can only obtain at entry into Cambodia

Trying to get an Ordinary Visa in Poipet is a reported nightmare, especially because it gets so busy and all is 20th century paper.

Therefore, the reverse visa run:

1. Apply for an Ordinary Visa via their excellent E-Entry program (only usable by air)

2. Leave Cambodia via Poipet

3. Party Like a rockstar in Bangkok..

4. Go to DMK, leave on the Air Asia evening flight (FD 618)

5. Enter Cambodia, get your Ordinary Visa sticker when you show them the E-Visa paperwork yourPRINTED OUT as they instruct.

6. Then go to the Visa Agent within a few days with your paperwork from your employer, pay the $400 for work permit and Visa Extension.

 

I wanted to leave the Cambodian stuff out so as not to confuse people. Mostly I wanted to reassure folks that it was easy to enter Thailand, watch for the touts (who have increased since my last trip in) and give an on the grounder.

 

I should also note that if you are taking Air Asia out of DMK and you cant kiosk check in because of baggage, get to the airport early. Lines were enormous.

AFAICS from the e-Visa website, Poipet now appears to be ok for e-Visa entry, so there is no need to apply on paper in Poipet?  Am I missing something?  BTW, I have just spotted that, WEF 1/1/25 the e-Visa prices have REDUCED to $30 for Tourist and $35 for Ordinary, so these are now the same cost as the Visa On Arrival, although in the past I always thought the extra was well worth it just to avoid the visa melee at my usual port of entry, PNH. 

I am aware that Thailand-Cambodia-Thailand is now blocked for a same day bounce at Poipet (BTW that block is reportedly avoidable with a purple hued portrait of Vajiralongkorn in one's passport), but had not previously heard that Cambodia-Thailand-Cambodia is similarly blocked. I'd be tempted to try a portrait of Hamilton.  Has anyone had success with that?

 

[Scouse123]

Why anybody uses the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border is simply beyond me when there are so many pleasant and easy borders to choose from.

 

The place stinks and is rampant with corruption and lousy, uncaring, mean officials.

[Scouse123]

I am in and out of Cambodia six times a year at least.

 

I will never, after using the Poipet border twice, will do it ever again.

 

Furthermore, I would sooner eat my feet than use that border.

 

Better to fly in than use that border, however, in my location I can use the Chong Chom / O Smach border crossing with decent, humane, helpful officials on both sides of the border.

[Yagoda]

20 minutes ago, Homburg said:

AFAICS from the e-Visa website, Poipet now appears to be ok for e-Visa entry, so there is no need to apply on paper in Poipet?  Am I missing something?  BTW, I have just spotted that, WEF 1/1/25 the e-Visa prices have REDUCED to $30 for Tourist and $35 for Ordinary, so these are now the same cost as the Visa On Arrival, although in the past I always thought the extra was well worth it just to avoid the visa melee at my usual port of entry, PNH. 

I am aware that Thailand-Cambodia-Thailand is now blocked for a same day bounce at Poipet (BTW that block is reportedly avoidable with a purple hued portrait of Vajiralongkorn in one's passport), but had not previously heard that Cambodia-Thailand-Cambodia is similarly blocked. I'd be tempted to try a portrait of Hamilton.  Has anyone had success with that?

 

I have not entered by land at Cambo this year so havent seen that the Paper applications are now dead. The plan was to do the airports first, then the land. If Poipet is now using E-Vas, fabulous, hopefully some of the truly clueless people I have been  seeing will figure it out.

 

The Bottom Line: $30 for Cambodia Tourist Entry, $35 for Ordinary entry that allows you to extend for retirement or biz.

 

If you are paying at the Border...ALWAYS HAVE THE EXACT AMOUNT. Dont hand them $100.

 

I know nothing about bribes at borders and would not pay one under any circumstances whatsoever.

[Yagoda]

14 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

Why anybody uses the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border is simply beyond me when there are so many pleasant and easy borders to choose from.

 

The place stinks and is rampant with corruption and lousy, uncaring, mean officials.

 

11 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I am in and out of Cambodia six times a year at least.

 

I will never, after using the Poipet border twice, will do it ever again.

 

Furthermore, I would sooner eat my feet than use that border.

 

Better to fly in than use that border, however, in my location I can use the Chong Chom / O Smach border crossing with decent, humane, helpful officials on both sides of the border.

I have never had a problem with Poipet in my numerous crossings last year. I have a long term visa and know how to act and dress when crossing a border so I essentially am a walk through.

 

Several of my Cambodian expat friends use OSmach because they dont feel like going to Bangkok yet still need some city life so they go to Buriram. I have never heard any problem reports there, but again, these are all folks with Long stay Visas in either Cambodia, Vietnam or Thailand.

[sandyf]

29 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I will never, after using the Poipet border twice, will do it ever again.

I did it once in the early days back in 2008 and as you say, never again.

Used Ban Pakard or Ban Laem, a lot less stressful.

[sandyf]

23 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I have never had a problem with Poipet in my numerous crossings last year. I have a long term visa and know how to act and dress when crossing a border so I essentially am a walk through.

You responded to someone that visits the border regularly and trying to impy they don't have a long term visa. A bit arrogant don't you think.

I spent my first 6 years in Thailand on a 12 month ME visa visiting the border on a regular basis, not many visa options longer than 12 months.

[Yagoda]

4 minutes ago, sandyf said:

You responded to someone that visits the border regularly and trying to impy they don't have a long term visa. A bit arrogant don't you think.

I spent my first 6 years in Thailand on a 12 month ME visa visiting the border on a regular basis, not many visa options longer than 12 months.

You misread my post so resort to flames? A bit childish dont you think.

 

How many hassles in Poipet did you have entering and leaving on your Visa? When was the last time.

 

Here is a firm assertion: 99% of retirement visa holders in Cambodia can come and go to Thailand as they please, no hassle. Same for Thai retirement Visa the other way.

 

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

 

I have never had a problem with Poipet in my numerous crossings last year. I have a long term visa and know how to act and dress when crossing a border so I essentially am a walk through.

 

Several of my Cambodian expat friends use OSmach because they dont feel like going to Bangkok yet still need some city life so they go to Buriram. I have never heard any problem reports there, but again, these are all folks with Long stay Visas in either Cambodia, Vietnam or Thailand.

 I have long stay in both Thailand and Cambodia.

 

I don't go for visa issues or anything .

 

I go through choice because I like the break and I like Siem Reap.

 

I much prefer Chong Chom, I park my car in the military car park and my Cambodian regular driver picks me up in a large private van for $80 eaxh way

Even if I am on my own I do this.

 

I don't share transport, i like alone or with Thai family.

 

I also certainly know how to act, dress and converse with Immigration police

[Yagoda]

23 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I much prefer Chong Chom, I park my car in the military car park and my Cambodian regular driver picks me up in a large private van for $80 eaxh way

Ouch. But you dont have to pay to go from Chom to Buriram except your gas, etc. so that helps.

[Scouse123]

29 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Ouch. But you dont have to pay to go from Chom to Buriram except your gas, etc. so that helps.

I carry on straight to Kalasin

[Yagoda]

8 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I carry on straight to Kalasin

Well yeah but I dont drive and have no reason to go to Kalasin, its either Surin or Buriram, especially if I want to go somewhere else.