Malaysia Border Run

[ShugNorris]

Hi,I need to do a border run to Malaysia, only for an extra week but I want it to be as quick as possible, I have a car but it's new so there are no plates on it yet and so cannot take it across the border.

What is the best place to cross?

As I said, I'd like to just walk through and immediately back, if someone can drop me there is there a car park or something? I've never had to do it before, I will be driving down from Trang.

I hold a UK passport and have no visa, simply the 30 days allowed stay.

Thanks.

Shug

[Mario2008]

What kind of visa/permision to stay do you have?

On a visa exempt entry it is possible to get an extra 7 days to leave the country, if you can show a ticket out of the country within 7 days. (not always required, but most times is).

Cost is 1,900 baht and passphoto.

[lopburi3]

Sadao is the normal crossing point by car but have not been there in many years. You used to have to visit an immigration vehicle checkpoint a few KM before the border and from there could drive to the entry checkpoint and wait there. It is a covered walk (about a KM or so) with a large duty free store in between. A fair size town has also been built on the Thai side in the last decade. The other crossing is Padang Besar which is the rail crossing. Never crossed there by car/foot so not sure of procedure.

[ShugNorris]

Hi,

I entered Thailand almost a month ago now and have little choice now but to make the border run, I just have the standard 30 days allowable on a British passport holder visiting Thailand. If I had known beforehand I would have paid the extra upon arrival but unfortunately I was unaware of this.

Lopburi, Thanks for the info, I checked Sadao and it should be ok, surely there is a bus or something I could utilise, I'll take a drive down to Sadao tomorrow and play it by ear!

Thanks,

Shug

[Semper]

OP. As Mario said go to Immigration and pay 1900 Baht to get 7 days. No need to do a border run.

[phuket Mike]

A lot would depend on where you are, your profile says Trang, if that's that case there is a nice friendly immigration office in Kantang that will give you seven days for 1900 baht (don't forget two photos).

If you want to get 15 days then do the border run to Padang Besar, there is a car park and I would advise you get one of the many motorbike taxi's there, it makes it very easy, cost about 60 baht you miss all the queues and will be across and back in about 10 minutes.

I have done both Kantang immigration and Padang Besar many times without any problems (I now live in Trang).

[ShugNorris]

Could I go to Krabi airport for example and do that?

I have been here for 27/28 days already, so I only have to go to my nearest airport to immigration?

[lopburi3]

You must use the immigration office for the area you are located (not an airport) for extensions of stay. You may also have to show ticket out within that time period.

[ShugNorris]

Oh right, thanks, but is there an immigration office in every province?

I checked the immigration website, the nearest check point to me is Krabi or Nakhorn but they are both airports.. so I guess it's not possible once I'm already in the country?

Edit 2: OK I understand now, there is an immigration office in Krabi apparently, I will call them and see if I can possibly get the one week extension, I will update! Many thanks.

Lastly, I arrived on the 10th June, does it go by 30 days or 30 nights in the country?

I leave on the 15th of July which is a Friday, so when is the last possible day I could get my extension? Being it seven days or seven nights.

Although, technically it is at 0130 on the Friday and therefore I could pass through immigration on Thursday at 2330 or something along those lines, right?

Sorry for the many questions, just want to get it right, thanks.

Shug

[phuket Mike]

Where are you now?

[ShugNorris]

Where are you now?

Trang

I called the immigration and apparently there is one nearby. Kantang?

[lopburi3]

You need to get the 7 days on Friday the 8th. On an air departure you would not be charged for 1st day of overstay in any case. Count starts at 1 (not zero). So if you arrived at 2359 on Monday that Monday would be day 1 of count.

[phuket Mike]

I guess you missed my first post, Kantang is the port are of Trang and has an immigration office, I have been there a couple of times, very quiet and friendly. As you come in Kantang go past the Tesco Lotus on your left, the road then bends to the right and the immigration is on the the left, you will see the Thai flags.

Take your 2 photos and I would also make copies of your passport detail page and your TM card, if you don't there is a photocopy place across the road.

[ShugNorris]

I guess you missed my first post, Kantang is the port are of Trang and has an immigration office, I have been there a couple of times, very quiet and friendly. As you come in Kantang go past the Tesco Lotus on your left, the road then bends to the right and the immigration is on the the left, you will see the Thai flags.

Take your 2 photos and I would also make copies of your passport detail page and your TM card, if you don't there is a photocopy place across the road.

Mike, I did indeed miss your first post! We posted at the same time and mine came below so didn't notice - apologies!

That's great, I will pop down there on Friday in that case and get my week.

Thanks for the help all, especially mike and lopburi, saved me six hour return drive and replaced it with an hour and a half - excellent.

Kind Regards,

Shug