Visa Run Laos

[issanpaul]

Hi all,

Have searched the forum but cant find a step by step guide in laymans terms to do a visa run Laos,

Here is my situation,

Am currently on a 30 day on arrival (uk passport) which expires in 2 days so will be travelling 2night to Nong Khai from Udon Thani. i did a visa run many years ago to laos 1 time and cant remember how it worked, when i lived here before here i had marraige visa when i lived in Buriram but that has now expired as my then wife died some years ago and all my 90 days was done at Cambodian border which was closer,anyway that is not an option now as on 30 day tourist currently,

I origionaly only wanted to come here this time for 1 month but decided to stay on for a while so changed my ticket home,there was no seats available in all of august and the earliest was changed to 6 weeks time which means i defintley cant just do a border run,well i could but that would mean doing 2 border runs,so easier to get tourist visa once?or do 2 border runs from Udon ,which would be my better options?

assuming its the tourist visa............

what time does border close 2night,will be (driving from Udon Thani about 5.30 pm 2night.

Do i download from internet (and where) application forms for Loas border crossing and Thai Embassy in advance?

Will leave Car in Nong Khai and get taxi over bridge?

what are all the fees concerned at crossing and embassy?

How to get to Vietianne from crossing?

Reccomendations on good hotel near Embassy please,budget about 1500 bht

When arrive Embassy what visa am i applying for? bearing in mind i return UK in 6 weeks time

Any decent Indian restaurants there? my god am in need of a good curry lol.

Many Many thanks in advance (a real step by step idiots guide please)

Paul.

[issanpaul]

Hi, over 20 views and no replys? come on guys and going 2night 5.30,many thanks

[sjaak327]

Look http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Vientiane-La...te-t158561.html for a very informative thread about this particular visa run.

To answer some of your questions directly:

"what time does border close 2night,will be (driving from Udon Thani about 5.30 pm 2night."

10 PM.

"Do i download from internet (and where) application forms for Loas border crossing and Thai Embassy in advance?"

I believe the Thai embassy website in Laos has a downloadable form, google for it, for the Lao visa, just get your form at the relevant immigration desk at the border.

"Will leave Car in Nong Khai and get taxi over bridge?"

Up to you, you can take your car into Laos, 200 baht if I'm not mistaken, and some paperwork.

"what are all the fees concerned at crossing and embassy?"

Depends on nationality, UK citizens pay 35 USD or 1500 baht. You also need one photo.

"How to get to Vietianne from crossing?"

Either your own car, or take a taxi, nonshared should be around 250 baht, 20-30 minutes.

"Reccomendations on good hotel near Embassy please,budget about 1500 bht'

I suggest you look at travelfish.org, they have many places listed.

"When arrive Embassy what visa am i applying for? bearing in mind i return UK in 6 weeks time"

A single entry tourist visa would be okay. 1000 baht.

"Any decent Indian restaurants there? my god am in need of a good curry lol."

Sorry, while in Vientiane, I only eat Lao food

[Macclad]

OK Paul,I dont know all the answers for sure but here is the best I can do...

1.Leaving Udon at 5.30pm,no problem.Its only 45 minutes to Nong Khai Friendship Bridge.Exit Thai Immigration and get a bus to take you over the bridge to the Laos side.

2.Application forms for Visa on Arrival at the Laos Immigration window on the left.Hand in your application,pay the fee and collect from the right hand window when they call your name.

3.There is a secure compound for cars at the bridge(Thai side)....doesnt cost much.

4.Visa on Arrival will cost you 1500 baht....not sure about the cost of a Tourist Visa from the Thai Embassy in Laos,though.

5.Plenty of people waiting to take you into Vientiane from the Laos side....saamlaws,minibus,cars etc.....negotiate the price beforehand.

6.Dont know of any Hotels near the Embassy but plenty on the dual carriageway area near the large Day Market on the road to the Vientiane "Arc de Triomphe".Some decent ones from 600 baht upwards....for a bit of luxury you could try the Laos Plaza Hotel but over 1500 baht,I'm sure.

7.You can either apply for a 60 day Tourist Visa at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane or you could do two 30 day border runs from Udon.

Note if you do the 2 border runs from Udon there is no need to go to Vientiane.Just exit Thailand,enter Laos and come straight back again over the bridge.This border run can take about one and a half hours on average.

8.Plenty of restaurants in Vientiane and I have had a nice veggie curry at a large farang place near the river.If you ask a saamlaw driver they will know where to take you.

Hope this helps....other posters will probably have more detailed info.

Good Luck.

[issanpaul]

Many Many thanks Sjaak and Macclad for your replys,

So let me get this right,when i go 2night if i dont go Vietiane and embassy tomorow and just do a border run i will get 30 days on arrival laos? and bear in mind i only 45 minutes from border i might as well just do 2 x border runs ? so if i just do a border run 2night i can return just b4 my 30 days expire and wont have to pay again at border? This would save time and money in Laos,then when i do return UK i will get organised for next trip here and get visa there.Thanks in advance again.

[sjaak327]

You do save on the Thai tourist visa (1000 baht), you do save on accomodation costs and travel cost in Laos, but of course you will pay for the Lao visa on arrival, as you need to enter Laos and return back to Thailand. So if you are doing two border runs, the cost would be 2x1500 baht + fuel for the trip to nong Khai.

So I guess it might turn out to be cheaper doing 2 border runs, but I don't think it will be massive (considering the accomodation costs in Laos). I would get the Tourist visa and enjoy Vientiane, it's a very nice city.

[issanpaul]

You do save on the Thai tourist visa (1000 baht), you do save on accomodation costs and travel cost in Laos, but of course you will pay for the Lao visa on arrival, as you need to enter Laos and return back to Thailand. So if you are doing two border runs, the cost would be 2x1500 baht + fuel for the trip to nong Khai.

So I guess it might turn out to be cheaper doing 2 border runs, but I don't think it will be massive (considering the accomodation costs in Laos). I would get the Tourist visa and enjoy Vientiane, it's a very nice city.

Many thanks again,but if i do a border run there will give me 30 day Loas stamp in passport? so next border run (under 30 days) i can renter Laos without another 1500 baht cost? am all confused sorry.

[sjaak327]

" Many thanks again,but if i do a border run there will give me 30 day Loas stamp in passport?"

Sorry, let me explain. When you do a border run, you typically leave Thailand and have to enter a neighboring country. In this case Laos, to get into Laos you need a visa on arrival, which is valid for 30 days, so indeed you get 30 days. This will cost you 1500 baht (or 35 USD). Now, of course you are only going there to either get a visa, or when doing a border run, you turn back, get stamped out of Laos (thus invalidating your VOA) and return for Thailand, where you would be getting 30 days visa exempt. (providing you have not exceeded the 90 days limit of these, which judging from your post you haven't, as you only stayed for 30 days thus far). After your 30 days are once again passed, you would go back to Laos and do the whole procedure again (including paying 1500 baht for the Lao Visa on arrival).

To explain further, by getting that 1000 baht Thai tourist visa in Vientiane, you would not have to leave Thailand anymore until you want to go home. This saves you the travel costs to Nong Khai and at least one Lao Visa on arrival. Therefore I think it might be only a little bit more expensive to get that tourist visa in Vientiane, and spend a day there.

[issanpaul]

" Many thanks again,but if i do a border run there will give me 30 day Loas stamp in passport?"

Sorry, let me explain. When you do a border run, you typically leave Thailand and have to enter a neighboring country. In this case Laos, to get into Laos you need a visa on arrival, which is valid for 30 days, so indeed you get 30 days. This will cost you 1500 baht (or 35 USD). Now, of course you are only going there to either get a visa, or when doing a border run, you turn back, get stamped out of Laos (thus invalidating your VOA) and return for Thailand, where you would be getting 30 days visa exempt. (providing you have not exceeded the 90 days limit of these, which judging from your post you haven't, as you only stayed for 30 days thus far). After your 30 days are once again passed, you would go back to Laos and do the whole procedure again (including paying 1500 baht for the Lao Visa on arrival).

To explain further, by getting that 1000 baht Thai tourist visa in Vientiane, you would not have to leave Thailand anymore until you want to go home. This saves you the travel costs to Nong Khai and at least one Lao Visa on arrival. Therefore I think it might be only a little bit more expensive to get that tourist visa in Vientiane, and spend a day there.

Many thanks again Sjaak,well thats settled that then,i travel and get visa from embassy Vientiane, again many thanks ,Paul.

[issanpaul]

Sorry to be a nuisence again,forgot to mention Wife is also traveling with me (Thai National) she does have a Thai Passport,any problems with entry for her? (she has never been there before)

[sjaak327]

No problem

Your wife is visa free for Laos, so she doens't have to pay for the visa on arrival, she might have to pay a small fee (like 20 or 40 baht) but that's it.

[issanpaul]

No problem

Your wife is visa free for Laos, so she doens't have to pay for the visa on arrival, she might have to pay a small fee (like 20 or 40 baht) but that's it.

Thanks again,Sjaak, I leave everything until the last minute always have always will thats just me not being organised nothing will ever change me lol i nominate Sjaak a Mod position on Forum )