Hi, I'm due to go travelling on Monday, I'm spending 5 nights in Thailand then heading to Cambodia only for 3 nights before going back to Thailand for about a month.

I contacted the consulate and I have done some research and I understand that you have 30 days free when entering Thailand. My Cambodia trip is booked and then when I enter Thailand for the second time I was planning on either only staying the 30 days before I move into Malaysia or getting to a border crossing to renew the 30 days. Is this possible? I've not yet booked a flight into Malaysia and I'm concerned that without this confirmation that I'm leaving Thailand within the 30 days I will have trouble. Am I correct? Can you also renew the 30 days at any border crossings? Is this still free? Can you enter Thailand for 30 days without confirmation of onward travel with the intention of making it to a border crossing to get another 30 days?

I've left it all a bit late but thank you for your help.

Hi, I'm due to go travelling on Monday, I'm spending 5 nights in Thailand then heading to Cambodia only for 3 nights before going back to Thailand for about a month.

I contacted the consulate and I have done some research and I understand that you have 30 days free when entering Thailand. My Cambodia trip is booked and then when I enter Thailand for the second time I was planning on either only staying the 30 days before I move into Malaysia or getting to a border crossing to renew the 30 days. Is this possible? I've not yet booked a flight into Malaysia and I'm concerned that without this confirmation that I'm leaving Thailand within the 30 days I will have trouble. Am I correct? Can you also renew the 30 days at any border crossings? Is this still free? Can you enter Thailand for 30 days without confirmation of onward travel with the intention of making it to a border crossing to get another 30 days?

I've left it all a bit late but thank you for your help.

You are allowed to stay a total of 90days in a sixmonthperiod on visaexempt stamps,each entry not exceeding 30days.

If you arrive at the airport they normally will not ask for proof of onward travel,so far only the the cambodian border request a confirmed travelitinery, can be e-ticket.

1. Yes, you are likely to have a problem at the Cambodian border without onward ticket.

2. There is no charge for 30 day visa exempt stamp but you must enter/exit other country so there may be a visa and other processing fees involved.

3. No; your word that you plan to leave does not exempt you from the onward ticket requirement if they are checking for that.

Thank you very much for the advice.

I hope to be ok in cambodia as I know you have to pay the visa fee on arrival and I have a return flight booked straight back to Thailand after 3 days.

Is it easy to nip accross the borders in Thailand to renew the 30 days? Do you have to stay out of Thailand for a certain number of hours before returning?

There is no problem for the Cambodia trip but on return to Thailand you are expected to have a ticket out of Thailand within the 30 days allowed by a visa exempt entry. That is what may cause you a problem as you do not appear to have that. But if you are coming back by plane it may not be checked. Land travel is almost always checked on that border now.

There is no requirement to be out of Thailand any set time - but some borders, expecially Cambodia, may impose phantom fees for doing so.

There is no problem for the Cambodia trip but on return to Thailand you are expected to have a ticket out of Thailand within the 30 days allowed by a visa exempt entry. That is what may cause you a problem as you do not appear to have that. But if you are coming back by plane it may not be checked. Land travel is almost always checked on that border now.

There is no requirement to be out of Thailand any set time - but some borders, expecially Cambodia, may impose phantom fees for doing so.

I did a 30 day run just 2 weeks ago. No onward ticket was asked for on the Thai side (border crossing south of Surin), however on the Cambodian side, the officer pointed at a poster saying minimum time in Cambodia was 24 hours...and I was only given the exit stamp from cambodia after paying a fee of 300 baht.

The thing about onward ticket. This may only be true for that crossing popular among Pattayans and Bangkokians...as I can imagine that crossing see a lot more farang than this sleepy outpost does...

...but on the other hand...it may be I was not asked for one becouse the dude in the booth was busy eating his som tam for lunch...he did not een leaf trough my pass port....just found and empty space, stamped it, said 30 days and waved me on...

Your best bet when crossing from Cambodia back to Thailand is buy a bus ticket returning to Cambo in 30 days. They seem to have these non-existent travel companies at the major crossings, who will sell you a 'ticket' for 200 baht.