Hi,

Me and my partner are going to thailand at the end of april for 5 weeks. I understand that when you get to thailand we will get a 30 visa. we are going to be in thailand for 38 days.

we are planning to go to laos for 10days (travelling by train) will this be taken of the days spent in thailand?

Thanks,

Elodie

what you get when you enter Thailand by air is an visa exemption, not a visa.

Then it depends on the time you want to visit Laos. because when you come back from Laos and enter Thailand by land border you will get only a visa exemption which is valid for 15 days.

What you can do now is to get a double tourist visa at a consulate which allow you to enter Thailand twice for 60 days each entry. in this case you'd be independent.

If you plan to stay in Thailand for at least 13 days before you proceed to Laos, then stay 10 days in Laos, you don't have a problem with another 15 days visa exemption which you get when you come back to Thailand.

Edited March 10, 201115 yr by zappalot

Without a Visa you may not be allowed on the flight.

You need a Visa if you do not have an onward flight ticket within 30 days of arrival.

As a UK-national you will get 30 days when arriving by air, when you leave for Laos and return you will get 15 days if you return by land and 30 days again if you return by air.

So plan your trip to Laos with that in mind.

In your case a tourist visa is advisable, as you need proof of onward travel within 30 days if you don't have a visa. Since your flight back to the UK is 38 days later, the airline might refuse you boarding.

With a tourist visa you don't need proof of onward travel.

A double entry tourist visa is also possible.

Tourist visas are free at the moment, till the end of the month. The consulate might charge a small administrative fee.

If i flew to laos would i then get another 30day exemption when i flew back to thailand?

cheers

yes

Yes, and if you fly to Laos instead of by train and book the ticket now no visa would be required.

But you can also take the train to Laos and return by air to Thailand for another 30 days. In that case the airline in the UK will probably still want to see ticket out of Thailand within 30 days or a tourist visa. So you would still need a tourist visa. You can apply by mail at the consulate in Hull and have the passport back in 3 work days. Details on their website.

Thanks for your replies, i think i will apply for a tourist visa. Unfortunately i am in new zealand at the moment so won't be able to apply to hull.

Does anyone know if there is an alternative to the consulate in new zealand?

for new zealand i only found this:

http://www.thaivisa.com/437.0.html

New Zealand , Royal Thai Embassy

2 Cook Street, P.O. Box 17-226, Karori, Wellington

Tel: +04 476 8618, 476 8619

Fax: +04 476 3677

Thanks for all the advise. Great forum

the choices are -

enter by air, with a plane ticket out within 30days and you will get a 30day visa exempt entry, leave Thailand for Laos, and reenter by land 15 days and air 30 days visa exempt entry, you will have to re-enter Thailand within 15/30 days or less of your flight home. if all these apply then no visa will be required.

If any of the above do not apply than a visa will be required,as already stated a double entry visa will be free before the end of the month, other than postage costs from a Thai consulate, Hull is good with a quick turn around, other consulates may be able to help.

hull here - http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/

bristol - 7 Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, CF10 5EE (029) 2046 5777