Visa Exempt, third friendship bridge

[Eibot]

Hi all,

 

Quick question. I'm between visas at the moment. My situation;

 

I live in Phuket, have been on a marriage visa from 2019 until October last year. Working on getting my Non B through my own company. Meanwhile I have been doing VOA at Ranong - Myanmar without any problems. For Songkran I'm in Nakon Phanom at the moment for Songran, and want to do a Visa run. Looking up some information and I read Laos required a night sleep, and new rules (2025) say you can only do twice of the runs in a year (I hope a calender year).

 

Is this true?

 

Can I bypass this with an agent?

 

My agent in Ranong says he can fix me up, but I drove all the way here, and would like to do it here.

 

Any help appreciated!!

[BrandonJT]

Yes, many of the Laos borders now require either 1 or 2 nights in Laos.

 

No, there is no new rule that says 2 times per year.  2 times per year was an old rule that went away in July 2024.

 

If you've been in Thailand since October on border bounces, then you'll want to use a border bounce agency. They will ensure you can get out and back without any issues, and that you can bypass any overnight requirements.

[Lite Beer]

I don't think you ate asking about VOA.

Probably a Visa exempt entry. Two different things.

[DrJack54]

OP, short recent thread here.....

https://aseannow.com/topic/1353200-nong-khai-visa-run/

 

 

In the thread @Tod Daniels gives good overview. 

Not sure of any agents in Udon Thani that do border bounces to NK.

Plan re money/clothes a possible 1-2 night stay. 

 

Edit: changed thread title..

 

 

[Rob Browder]

I haven't seen any recent reports about the Nakon Phanom / Laos crossing.  I also doubt any border-run agents do that route.  It is possible that due to not many foreigners using that crossing, they have not instituted a multi-night stay rule - but no way to know without a recent report.

 

You would be looking at a fairly long trip to get to where agent-assisted same-day runs would be guaranteed - Cambodia probably the closest.

 

Unless a 2-night stay in Laos be a deal-breaker, it might be the easiest way to go.  You can ask on your way out of Thailand if it is OK to return that evening - see what they say.