Report today on Tripadvisor that the border was open to foreigners anyone local confirm either way please.

 

There's a tour guide I follow who goes by Zawmin Tun on Facebook. He does (did) cross border overland car/motorbike tours. He says the border crossing at Mai Sai / Tachileik is now open to foreign tourists. He's currently doing a trip with an FIT from Luxembourg. Apparently the guy rode a motorcycle over the border today.

 

You can follow along here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16HaMQXNDn/

https://www.facebook.com/share/17Hx5W16d4/

I'd be willing to bet this is someone with an actual tourist visa to Myanmar.  Mae Sai still isn't open to border bouncers as far as I know, and likely will not be any time soon.

It's been closed to foreigners for 7+years (vast majority need visas) and according to the tourist office I use in Rangoon it's still closed except for Thais & Burmese plus all land border points out to India are closed so mightily surprised to read this report. Would be elated to hear border is open to all but certainly needs verifying. 

2 hours ago, Mahseer said:

It's been closed to foreigners for 7+years (vast majority need visas) and according to the tourist office I use in Rangoon it's still closed except for Thais & Burmese plus all land border points out to India are closed so mightily surprised to read this report. Would be elated to hear border is open to all but certainly needs verifying. 

Untrue, it has been opened several times in between but it never lasted to be permanent. I did it 2-3 years ago. It's a shame it is closed to begin with as all people would do is a bit of shopping, if at all, to then return right after. It's a fun trip to do from Chiang Mai as well. Early 2023 was that i guess, it closed again from july or august that year.

 

Only one I know for sure being open is the one at Ranong.

Received from Rangoon travel agent:

 

We have checked with the MOHT, and according to their reply, the Mai Sai and Tachileik borders are currently open. While the situation at the Mai Sai border remains stable than the Tachileik, the Tachileik border may open or close depending on the circumstances.

1 hour ago, Mahseer said:

Received from Rangoon travel agent:

 

We have checked with the MOHT, and according to their reply, the Mai Sai and Tachileik borders are currently open. While the situation at the Mai Sai border remains stable than the Tachileik, the Tachileik border may open or close depending on the circumstances.

 

The border has been open.  But not open to foreigners, only open to Thai and Myanmar.  This statement does not indicate that situation has changed?

On 10/16/2025 at 12:51 PM, BrandonJT said:

 

The border has been open.  But not open to foreigners, only open to Thai and Myanmar.  This statement does not indicate that situation has changed?

 Travel agent in Rangoon I have been dealing with has always responded swiftly but yesterday I asked her to confirm if foreigners could enter at Tachilek and proceed to Kengtung and for the first time no reply. 

We live not far from the border and have attempted to cross into Tachileik regularly.  Unable to do so since prior to Covid.  Why, we have asked?  Answer has always been the same.  "It is not safe".  The asked the officer why Thai and Burmese are able to cross back and forth but foreigners are not able to do so.  It there less safety required for Thai and Burmese?   Shrugs.  About 2 years ago we actually got to the second control point at the Thai Customs and Immigration Border Crossing using only ID cards (Pink and Blue).  But stopped there and asked what we thought we were doing!  And sent back.

 

Now..  a number of claims have been made by tourists and ex-pats in the past 5 or 6 years of making day crossings to Tachiliek market.  Please take all of those claims with a pound of salt (or saltpetre, if you wish).  No such thing.

 

The border officers seem to know us well by now and every time we approach them, a smile and a shake of their heads.

 

My wife goes across by herself without a problem ............ just using the form supplied by the Amphur Office and a copy of her ID card.  Tried that many times.  Have always been refused even the form.