Visa run to Laos, always fine? No problem with TDAC

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Could be an idea but agents use a minibus/van? 

So if I understand correctly.

You ask about flight however no intention of using that option stating ......."I asked by curiosity but didn't really think to do it"

 

You ask about border run however rule out agent minivan company....

 

So you are left with one option.

Do the border run alone and be prepared to spend couple nights outside of Thailand.

 

Anything else? 

[Cameroni]

9 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Could be an idea but agents use a minibus/van? 

 

You can use an agent for safe-entry if you fly. Costs 4500 to 5000.

[Briggsy]

5 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Seems really pessimist. In 2025 I stayed only 3 months in Thailand with a visa + 30 jours extension.

It is only 7th May!

 

But up to you.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KALhynXxKp0

[Cameroni]

4 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Seems really pessimist. In 2025 I stayed only 3 months in Thailand with a visa + 30 jours extension.

My plan is to stay 9 months in Thailand so the next time I'll use airport safe service. 

 

No, it's not pessimist, it's realist. Tourist visa is often useless if you stayed a long time in Thailand prior to its issuance. 7 months is a long time.

 

Safe entry with an agent is the only safe option.

 

Not using a mini-van is stotal nonsense, but up to you.

[anotherfarangishere]

8 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

You can use an agent for safe-entry if you fly. Costs 4500 to 5000.

For Ranong? There is an airport but it's in Thailand so I should pass the border Thailand/Myanmar by land, not in Bangkok airport.

BTW, is Friendly Thai Visa Services the only safe-entry service (or the only serious one)?

[BrandonJT]

14 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

BTW, is Friendly Thai Visa Services the only safe-entry service (or the only serious one)?

No, Thai Visa Centre also offers the safe-entry service.

https://asq.in.th/thailand-fasttrack

That is a link they've shared before to get a quote from them.

 

[anotherfarangishere]

4 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

No, Thai Visa Centre also offers the safe-entry service.

https://asq.in.th/thailand-fasttrack

That is a link they've shared before to get a quote from them.

 

Thank you. Did you use them? The link is a little bit "strange", it doesn't open a full web page to present their service and quickly ask you to upload your Passport Information Page.

This service belongs to asq.th or ask.th belongs to Thai Visa Centre?

[DrJack54]

Post from @thai006

 

"I've use this service last week to enter Thailand  with many visa exemption and they let me in  about 20 second" 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FizuBRMxL/ 

 

OP, if you plan to enter Thailand visa exempt via air best deal directly with agent such as this link posted. 

[Cameroni]

1 hour ago, anotherfarangishere said:

For Ranong? There is an airport but it's in Thailand so I should pass the border Thailand/Myanmar by land, not in Bangkok airport.

BTW, is Friendly Thai Visa Services the only safe-entry service (or the only serious one)?

 

For entry into Bangkok.

 

DM me if you want the best safe entry service in Thailand I'll put you in touch.

[Rob Browder]

11 hours ago, Briggsy said:

You would be better to use an agency to facilitate your re-entry. It looks like you are based in Bangkok. There are options but they do include mini buses, which you stated you do not like. You could possibly meet them at the border travelling by yourself. This is usually negotiable.

Do This, if you don't want the nauseating 5AM Van ride (I don't blame you).  Just call them and make arrangements.  

Then, go the day before, using your chosen transport, and stay at a hotel near the border.  The next morning, you get up at a normal time, meet the van near the border - pre-arranged with them - likely a nearby restaurant, where you can wait with your coffee.  Do the crossing and return, then make your way back via your own chosen-transport.  Win-Win outcome.

[anotherfarangishere]

True, it could be a possibility. From Bangkok, all agencies use Ranong these days ? Or are some using Aranyaprathet ? Or... ? 

[Caldera]

9 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Thank you. Did you use them? The link is a little bit "strange", it doesn't open a full web page to present their service and quickly ask you to upload your Passport Information Page.

This service belongs to asq.th or ask.th belongs to Thai Visa Centre?

 

That website definitely belongs to Thai Visa Centre and works just as you'd expect from them.

 

Let's give them @ThaiVisaCentre a chance to confirm it themselves. 

[KhaoHom]

What's preventing you from spending a few nts in Lao ??????? Even Vientiane could kill two days. I never understood the need to rush back here. Probably a gf can trust farther than can toss her. Lao only has Laotian food 🤣 No Sunday carvery 555

[BrandonJT]

10 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Thank you. Did you use them? The link is a little bit "strange", it doesn't open a full web page to present their service and quickly ask you to upload your Passport Information Page.

This service belongs to asq.th or ask.th belongs to Thai Visa Centre?

They basically have to have your passport information in order to quote you the price, since they have to check with their contacts at the airport with your information to see if you have any red flags associated that would change the pricing.

[ChaiyaTH]

23 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Could be an idea but agents use a minibus/van? 

Yeah no issue with agents but you would still be restricted to 2 border runs per year, ideally you just only want to use 1 and have 1 left for emergencies. Guess safe entry arrivals by airport are a thing lately yet I know friends who now did visa runs for years and so far never got stopped, while I with a child and paperwork get hassled. It's just random, soon they will beg for tourists again and they not care again too.

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Yeah no issue with agents but you would still be restricted to 2 border runs per year, ideally you just only want to use 1 and have 1 left for emergencies.

There is no longer a limit of two visa exempt entries via land per calendar year. 

[BrandonJT]

14 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Yeah no issue with agents but you would still be restricted to 2 border runs per year, ideally you just only want to use 1 and have 1 left for emergencies. Guess safe entry arrivals by airport are a thing lately yet I know friends who now did visa runs for years and so far never got stopped, while I with a child and paperwork get hassled. It's just random, soon they will beg for tourists again and they not care again too.

That limit was removed in July 2024 when the 60-day visa exempt regulation came online.  The previous limit of 2 visa exempt land border entries per year was attached to the 30-day visa exempt program and was pre-empted by the new visa exempt regulations.

[Magictoad]

With the new digital visa that has to be completed 3 days before entry or on the day of entry- this new one requires all kind of information that many people will find difficult to provide truthfully.

[Magictoad]

 

[BrandonJT]

5 hours ago, Magictoad said:

With the new digital visa that has to be completed 3 days before entry or on the day of entry- this new one requires all kind of information that many people will find difficult to provide truthfully.

There is no new digital visa.  There is a new digital arrival card, that replaces the paper form you used to get on the airplane.  It does not ask a single difficult question.  If you cannot provide answers to the handful of questions they ask, you probably shouldn't be traveling outside of your home country.

[Caldera]

8 hours ago, Magictoad said:

With the new digital visa that has to be completed 3 days before entry or on the day of entry- this new one requires all kind of information that many people will find difficult to provide truthfully.

 

Can you give us an example of such a piece of information they ask for that is difficult to provide truthfully for many people?

[anotherfarangishere]

On 5/7/2025 at 9:31 AM, Cameroni said:

 

No, it's not pessimist, it's realist. Tourist visa is often useless if you stayed a long time in Thailand prior to its issuance. 7 months is a long time.

I've carefully checked: in 2024 I stayed less than 6 months in Thailand (175 days). I made 1 border run in Nong Khai and stayed 10 days in Hong Kong. The border run was the first in many years. And in 2025 I came in February 18 with a tourist visa. So, if they refuse me at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, nobody is going to be accepted.

[ChaiyaTH]

On 5/8/2025 at 9:21 AM, DrJack54 said:

There is no longer a limit of two visa exempt entries via land per calendar year. 

Try telling that at various borders, they clearly state we not want to see you more than twice. They even make it hard on purpose without agents in general already on any time you go let alone repeated.

 

Laws and rules mean nothing if they are just disregarded or applied at random at various airports, borders and IO's.

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Try telling that at various borders, they clearly state we not want to see you more than twice.

Use various borders. Use an agent minivan border run company. 

 

There is no stated limit on visa exempt via land per calendar year. 

Previously there was a limit of 2. 

[Nick Carter icp]

21 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Try telling that at various borders, they clearly state we not want to see you more than twice. They even make it hard on purpose without agents in general already on any time you go let alone repeated.

 

Laws and rules mean nothing if they are just disregarded or applied at random at various airports, borders and IO's.

 

   Although there is no official limit , that doesn't mean they will allow you to enter Thailand .

   Even at Chiang Kong using a guaranteed entry agency , they only allow two consecutive land border entries, then you have to fly in next time 

[ThaiVisaCentre]

On 5/7/2025 at 7:27 PM, Caldera said:

 

That website definitely belongs to Thai Visa Centre and works just as you'd expect from them.

 

Let's give them @ThaiVisaCentre a chance to confirm it themselves. 

You can now just order this service directly, with your TDAC in one shot.
https://tdac.agents.co.th

 

All services are optional, and the TDAC request is free as long as you are within 72 hours of your arrival date, otherwise there may be a $8 charge to order this service ahead of time.

Additionally if you are regularly going in and out of the country you have the ability to copy a previous TDAC, and use it as a base to make the process even easier.

[Briggsy]

1 hour ago, anotherfarangishere said:

I've carefully checked: in 2024 I stayed less than 6 months in Thailand (175 days). I made 1 border run in Nong Khai and stayed 10 days in Hong Kong. The border run was the first in many years. And in 2025 I came in February 18 with a tourist visa. So, if they refuse me at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, nobody is going to be accepted.

How long have you spent in the last 12 months, i.e. a rolling year, in Thailand? Did you enter Thailand after 9 May 2024?

 

If so, it is 175 + 81 (up to today) = 256 days. 256 days out of the last (rolling) year on tourist options has a good chance of catching the attention of the Immigration Officer on re-entry.

 

Despite the fact that several well-meaning and knowledgeable people are telling you this, you vehemently deny that there is any chance of you being denied entry. This is a perfect example of seeing what you want to believe rather than seeing the reality, a wilful denial, if you will.

[anotherfarangishere]

2 hours ago, Briggsy said:

If so, it is 175 + 81 (up to today) = 256 days. 256 days out of the last (rolling) year on tourist options has a good chance of catching the attention of the Immigration Officer on re-entry.

Did you already have mathematic problems at school ?

[anotherfarangishere]

2 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Despite the fact that several well-meaning and knowledgeable people are telling you this, you vehemently deny that there is any chance of you being denied entry. This is a perfect example of seeing what you want to believe rather than seeing the reality, a wilful denial, if you will.

??? It seems you're the only well-meaning and knowledgeable people using "rolling" year in this post... ?

[Briggsy]

2 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

??? It seems you're the only well-meaning and knowledgeable people using "rolling" year in this post... ?

Are you of the belief that on 1 Jan every year, Immigration wipe the slate clean and only view your tourist record from the current year? If only it were that easy.

 

I wish you good fortune on your border bounce.

 

p.s. Not me who gave you the thumbs down responses.