Border run to Vientiane possible?

[james.d]

Hi all, 

 

Hopefully someone can tell me if this is possible.

I arrived in Bangkok Thailand May 11 permitted until 9 July (British Passport) and am now near Sawang Deandin in the North East.

We were planning to apply for a 60 day extension based upon marriage in Sakhon Nakhon but I forgot my original Wedding Certificate in Bangkok - stupid mistake.

Question: Can l just leave via Nong Khai to Vientiane side and come back on the same day or do l need to stay 1 night?

 

Many thanks.

 

 

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, james.d said:

Can l just leave via Nong Khai to Vientiane side and come back on the same day or do l need to stay 1 night?

Maybe even 2 nights. 

[james.d]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Maybe even 2 nights. 

Thank you DrJack, 2 nights is the minimum or the wiser choice?

Thank you again.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, james.d said:

Thank you DrJack, 2 nights is the minimum or the wiser choice?

The issue is also possibility of being asked for flight out of Thailand and perhaps accommodation. 

Hopefully @Tod Daniels can advise. He generally has recent first hand reports. 

[thai006]

2 night out is the minimum 

[Tod Daniels]

@james.d
Nong Khai stopped being the "most friendly border crossing in all of thailand" a while back 

Since the rule change back on July 15th, 2024 when they went from 30 day free entry (visa exempt) for 51 countries to 60 day free entry for 90+ countries that border has gradually tightened up. 

It's to the point that they tell some people, "you can get out but you can't come back in by land", they tell other people, "if spend xxx number of days in Lao you can come back in here", and some people, "show proof that you're going back to where you come from by air in 60 days", etc

There just is no way to predict what the guard at the border is gonna tell you when you go to stamp out. For sure, they'll know you're only wanting to bounce out/back to milk a new 60 day free entry stamp, so you're not fooling them with the "we go to Lao for the day" story 😛 They'll let you know at the border how long you have to be out and if you can come right back in or not

If you don't have a crazy entry/stay history (as in you haven't been living here on free stamp entries) you should be able to get out/back without much fanfare. It's totally your previous entry/stay history that controls how they treat you when you wanna bounce out and back.   

[james.d]

47 minutes ago, Tod Daniels said:

@james.d
Nong Khai stopped being the "most friendly border crossing in all of thailand" a while back 

Since the rule change back on July 15th, 2024 when they went from 30 day free entry (visa exempt) for 51 countries to 60 day free entry for 90+ countries that border has gradually tightened up. 

It's to the point that they tell some people, "you can get out but you can't come back in by land", they tell other people, "if spend xxx number of days in Lao you can come back in here", and some people, "show proof that you're going back to where you come from by air in 60 days", etc

There just is no way to predict what the guard at the border is gonna tell you when you go to stamp out. For sure, they'll know you're only wanting to bounce out/back to milk a new 60 day free entry stamp, so you're not fooling them with the "we go to Lao for the day" story 😛 They'll let you know at the border how long you have to be out and if you can come right back in or not

If you don't have a crazy entry/stay history (as in you haven't been living here on free stamp entries) you should be able to get out/back without much fanfare. It's totally your previous entry/stay history that controls how they treat you when you wanna bounce out and back.   

Thank you Tod for your feedback.

I had retirement visas from marriage in the past.

From May 2023 I was working overseas until May 2025. During the 2 years I returned every 6 months for about 3 weeks each time.

It's the unpredictability when leaving that is my worry now on what the officer informs.

Thank you again.

 

[Quentin Zen]

stayed three nights there and was on my second stamp in a calendar year.  Had to talk to the big boss.  Thai, of course.   Super easy, got the stamp and then sorted a long-term visa a few months later in country.

 

Border run?  I mean, if you must, you must.  I'd try Nakhom Phanom first.  Nobody there, but my gut says a higher percentage without issues.   Stayed two nights there.  maybe three.  

 

things have changed.

 

of course you should have no issues, but.........odds of an issue is higher there.  As always, it does depend on the person, history, passport, etc.......   

[james.d]

1 hour ago, Quentin Zen said:

stayed three nights there and was on my second stamp in a calendar year.  Had to talk to the big boss.  Thai, of course.   Super easy, got the stamp and then sorted a long-term visa a few months later in country.

 

Border run?  I mean, if you must, you must.  I'd try Nakhom Phanom first.  Nobody there, but my gut says a higher percentage without issues.   Stayed two nights there.  maybe three.  

 

things have changed.

 

of course you should have no issues, but.........odds of an issue is higher there.  As always, it does depend on the person, history, passport, etc.......   

Thank you, l had not considered Nakhon Phantom, it's not too much further in KM than Nong Khai.