Thai Tourist Visa - Thai To Cambodia

[massagehound]

Hi,

I had a search of the forums and couldn't find what I needed... so apologies if it is there already!

Myself and my partner (British passports) are going to Thailand in October, so will apply for a tourist visa soon.

I was in Thailand last October also, so my visa is still in my passport from that trip.

Is there any problems with flying into Cambodia during our trip, and then flying back into Thailand? It is simply a sightseeing trip, not a visa run or anything like that.

Our flights are booked around 30 days apart, so will apply for 60 day tourist visa to be sure.

My last trip I was in Thailand for around 38 days, and didn't leave Thailand for the duration, so I just need to be certain that I don't need a different visa this time.

Many thanks in advance

[Lite Beer]

You will need a Visa to enter Cambodia.

When you fly back to Thailand from Cambodia you will get a 30 day permision to stay.

[massagehound]

  On 8/30/2012 at 12:46 PM, Lite Beer said:

You will need a Visa to enter Cambodia.

When you fly back to Thailand from Cambodia you will get a 30 day permision to stay.

Do I need to apply for a Cambodian visa before arrival, or is it standard to do that at the airport? Only planning on staying 3 days.

Many thanks

edit**

I see you can apply for an e-visa for Cambodia. I'll probably go that route as it should make things a little easier

[Sateev]

Easy as pie to get the visa at the airport, $20, about 10 minutes or less, need one picture, and it takes up a whole page in your passport.. E-Visa is $25, but doesn't take a whole page in your passport (only a stamp). Print TWO copies (one for entry and one for exit). Be sure to use the official Cambodian Embassy site, there are look-alike sites that fool you into a service charge.

As noted above, your Thai tourist visa will become void when you leave Thailand and enter Cambodia, but if you return to Thailand by air, you will get a 30-day visa-exempt entry. Only 15 days by land.

[overherebc]

  On 8/30/2012 at 1:54 PM, Sateev said:

Easy as pie to get the visa at the airport, $20, about 10 minutes or less, need one picture, and it takes up a whole page in your passport.. E-Visa is $25, but doesn't take a whole page in your passport (only a stamp). Print TWO copies (one for entry and one for exit). Be sure to use the official Cambodian Embassy site, there are look-alike sites that fool you into a service charge.

As noted above, your Thai tourist visa will become void when you leave Thailand and enter Cambodia, but if you return to Thailand by air, you will get a 30-day visa-exempt entry. Only 15 days by land.

Just out of interest, if someone on a Multi "0" is doing border runs ( 90 days ) could they use the E-visa to avoid the complete page sticker required when you cross the border. I know cost is an issue but an answer disregarding the cost is what I'm looking for.

[Mario2008]

Yes, you can use the E-visa. The cambodian visa is independend from the Thai visa.

Edit: do note that only some bordercrossings allow the E-visa.

[overherebc]

Thanks,

Is there a anywhere I can find that info.

Thanks again

[SimonD]

If the OP is not going to be in Thailand for more than 30 days before the trip to Cambodia, then surely he doesn't require a tourist visa at all - just evidence of an onward flight(s) out of the country?

[massagehound]

  On 8/30/2012 at 2:38 PM, SimonD said:

If the OP is not going to be in Thailand for more than 30 days before the trip to Cambodia, then surely he doesn't require a tourist visa at all - just evidence of an onward flight(s) out of the country?

This is true, my arrival in Thailand and departure are around 28 days, so maybe only about 10 or so days in Thailand before crossing into Cambodia. My flights into Thailand and out again are already booked, so I have that evidence.

Is visa application on arrival in Bangkok not a pain compared to doing it before hand?

Thank you all

[overherebc]

  On 8/30/2012 at 2:48 PM, massagehound said:

  On 8/30/2012 at 2:38 PM, SimonD said:

If the OP is not going to be in Thailand for more than 30 days before the trip to Cambodia, then surely he doesn't require a tourist visa at all - just evidence of an onward flight(s) out of the country?

This is true, my arrival in Thailand and departure are around 28 days, so maybe only about 10 or so days in Thailand before crossing into Cambodia. My flights into Thailand and out again are already booked, so I have that evidence.

Is visa application on arrival in Bangkok not a pain compared to doing it before hand?

Thank you all

Stamp in your passport at the airport, just have to go thru the Immigration counter. Some times short waiting time sometimes longer. just shuffle forward with the rest and then collect your suitcase. Make sure you keep the white card in your passport for when you leave, ( arrival card ) they will give you that on the plane before you land.

[moe666]

No you just go thru imigration and you will get 30 days stamped into your passport. This is not a visa but a permission to stay on arrival 30days when you arrive by air and 15 by a land border crossing. If you have a tourist visa and make the trip during the 60 days to keep the visa active when you return to Thailand you would get a re-entry permit before leaveing at the airport or a immigration office 1000baht single 3,800 for multiply. The re-entry permit is good until the visa expires.

[massagehound]

  On 8/30/2012 at 2:56 PM, moe666 said:

No you just go thru imigration and you will get 30 days stamped into your passport. This is not a visa but a permission to stay on arrival 30days when you arrive by air and 15 by a land border crossing. If you have a tourist visa and make the trip during the 60 days to keep the visa active when you return to Thailand you would get a re-entry permit before leaveing at the airport or a immigration office 1000baht single 3,800 for multiply. The re-entry permit is good until the visa expires.

Thanks Moe, so if I was to do it that way, I would have a tourist visa before I go, and before flying to Cambodia I would get a re-entry permit?

Hmmm, I'm not sure which is more sensible now

Cheers!

[SimonD]

@ massagehound,

You don't need a visa of any kind - you're not in Thailand long enough to warrant one. A visa-exempt stamp (which is not a visa at all, that's what the 'exempt' bit refers to) is all that you require. moe666 means well but is getting muddled with other visa requirements applicable only to expats on long term visas, not tourists.

When you arrive at BKK from UK, you will get a visa-exempt stamp in your passport, from immigration, at no charge (except queueing). That is good for a maximum of 30 days.

When you return, by air, from Cambo to BKK, you will get another 30 days - enough to last you until the flight back to UK. Just keep your onward flight itineraries readily to hand. Get an e-visa for Cambo when in Thailand. A quick search for that on these forums will tell you the right way to go about it.

Trust me, you don't need a visa for Thailand!

There, you've just saved £28 (or whatever) towards the cost of your trip.

If you haven't been to Cambo before, make sure you pack a good stack of pristine dollar bills, no torn or worn notes. One's, five and tens are the most useful.

Have fun.

[BuckBee]

  On 8/30/2012 at 2:17 PM, overherebc said:

Thanks,

Is there a anywhere I can find that info.

Thanks again

http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/Default.aspx?lang=en

Been using the eVisa & going on my own to Poipet crossing by train & 10/15 minute walk for 50Bt for well over a year.

Saves around 600Bt on visa run company fees & you don't get to sit next to gobby drunk boiler room cocks which is an added bonus ...

[massagehound]

  On 8/30/2012 at 4:58 PM, SimonD said:

@ massagehound,

You don't need a visa of any kind - you're not in Thailand long enough to warrant one. A visa-exempt stamp (which is not a visa at all, that's what the 'exempt' bit refers to) is all that you require. moe666 means well but is getting muddled with other visa requirements applicable only to expats on long term visas, not tourists.

When you arrive at BKK from UK, you will get a visa-exempt stamp in your passport, from immigration, at no charge (except queueing). That is good for a maximum of 30 days.

When you return, by air, from Cambo to BKK, you will get another 30 days - enough to last you until the flight back to UK. Just keep your onward flight itineraries readily to hand. Get an e-visa for Cambo when in Thailand. A quick search for that on these forums will tell you the right way to go about it.

Trust me, you don't need a visa for Thailand!

There, you've just saved £28 (or whatever) towards the cost of your trip.

If you haven't been to Cambo before, make sure you pack a good stack of pristine dollar bills, no torn or worn notes. One's, five and tens are the most useful.

Have fun.

Thanks again. That made it super-clear for me

No need for a visa! Excellent stuff!!

Cheers everyone

[Tomtomtom69]

Although it's a good idea to keep your flight itinerary with you, nobody will likely ask you, whether at immigration in Bangkok nor at the check-in counter for your flight from Cambodia (Phnom Penh or Siem Reap) back to Bangkok about your onward ticket out of Thailand.

In the unlikely event someone asks you, just tell that person you already have a confirmed flight out and that should suffice. Otherwise, they may ask you to show a credit card, which can be used to purchase a ticket, but I highly doubt a westerner would be asked for anything like that. Generally only check-in staff in western or other rich countries might ask such a question. In your case, if you get asked at check-in in England, you just show your itinerary with all your flights and you'll be fine.

[dude007]

  On 8/30/2012 at 2:17 PM, overherebc said:

Thanks,

Is there a anywhere I can find that info.

Thanks again

Be careful with websites that issue Khmer visa (usually based in Vietnam) and that charge you another 10 US$ service charge on top of the 25 US$ that the e-visa cost. Use ONLY the Cambodian Government website for your e-visa. Very efficient, correct and fast. Only 25 US$. www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/

Another thing is that if you leave Thailand, your tourist visa from England is expired... Unless you ask (prior to leaving Thailand) for a re-entry and therefore you have to go to the Immigration, NOT at the border... If you go to Cambodia in the early days of your stay in Thailand it's worth to get a re-entry permit (900 THB?) because then your visa for Thailand will still apply when you re-enter. If you go at the end of your stay (E.G. AFTER 50 DAYS) then your re-entry will be on a simple tourist entry (no visa required) which will give you another 30 days permission to stay in Thailand.

[tombkk]

  On 8/30/2012 at 2:48 PM, massagehound said:

  On 8/30/2012 at 2:38 PM, SimonD said:

If the OP is not going to be in Thailand for more than 30 days before the trip to Cambodia, then surely he doesn't require a tourist visa at all - just evidence of an onward flight(s) out of the country?

This is true, my arrival in Thailand and departure are around 28 days, so maybe only about 10 or so days in Thailand before crossing into Cambodia. My flights into Thailand and out again are already booked, so I have that evidence.

Is visa application on arrival in Bangkok not a pain compared to doing it before hand?

Thank you all

It entirely depends on the country that issued your passport. Many people have advised that you don't need a visa at all, just arrive in Thailand and get a visa-exempt stamp for 30 days. This is true for many Western countries (for example EU, US, AU) but certainly not for all countries. If you hold a passport from Taiwan (to just give one example), you do need a visa, and it is probably better to get it in advance rather than on arrival. Other countries' passport holders always need to apply for a visa in advance (Nigeria used to fall into this category; not sure whether this is still the case).

If you hold a passport which allows you to enter with visa-exemption, you do need a ticket that shows your departure within 30 days of arrival. In most cases, the immigration officer will not ask - but the airline is likely to, because they have to transport you back out of the country if they bring you in without visa. Therefore, the airline may refuse to let you board the aircraft if you have neither a visa nor a ticket out.

Of course, some airlines don't check.

And this has nothing to do with credit cards, as one poster suggested. I was once allowed entry to the US without onward ticket because I had a credit card, but Thailand is not the US.