Guide: Getting A Thai Visa In Laos, Vientiane.

[iLL]

Doing a Laos visa run is quite easy and just takes a few days with no reservations needed. I've done this countless times so I decided to create a guide for those interested.
The preferred method is by Train, which seems to be the easiest and most hassle free route.

1. Goto the Hau Lamphong Train Station and buy a ticket to Nong Kai.
   You cant take the train across the border, you will need to get off at Nong Kai, Thailand, and then take a TukTuk to the Laos border.
   • 1st class sleeper is around 1300-1500 baht per person. Each sleeper holds two people, so if your traveling with another person be sure to get the same room.
   • If 1st class is full or sold-out, you can optionally goto the Information booth and say youll pay 500 baht extra (per ticket) to obtain a 1st class sleeper car. (This is not standard practice, under-the-table prices may fluctuate)
2. Once in Nong Kai, take a TukTuk straight to the Thai Border.
   • You can optionally take a train to the Thai Border, however the distance is so close, the fastest route is by Tuktuk which will get you ahead of the crowd.
   • ​​Once at the Thai border, you will need to show your passport and departure card here.
3. Afterwords, take a bus or Taxi to the Laos Border.
   • Pay about 20 baht (bus) to cross the river to the Laos Border checkpoint. The bus tickets are sold right outside the checkpoint.
   • You can pay a taxi for a much bigger price to goto the same place.
4. ​At the Laos Border, obtain your Laos visa.
   • Your application from Window #1.
   • 1 passport photo.
   • 2,000 Baht fee.
     
   • About 10 minutes later, your Laos visa will be ready at Window #3.
5. Enter Laos and find a Hotel / Guesthouse.
   Once you enter Laos, you will be swarmed by TukTuk's and Taxis ready to take you to your destination.
   • You can head straight to the Thai Embassy and begin your thai visa application. (BEFORE 11PM)
   • If it is after 11pm, you will need to book a hotel and wait until the next business day.
     • KHAMKHOUN HOTEL (700 baht / Night)
       Lane-Xang Vientiane, Laos
       856-21223475 walk-ins are accepted
6. Head to the Royal Thai Consulate for Thai Visa. (Day 1)
   You should try to get there early around 9:30am or 10am to avoid long lines.
   • You will need two passport photos.
   • Two photocopies of your passport.
   • 2,000 baht fee for non immigrant or 1,000 baht for tourist.
     
   • If you already have more than 4 Thai Visa's [Route B]
     • Apply for a visa OUTSIDE the Consulate to ensure higher rate of approval.
     • There will be a tent located outside the Consulate where a local business can complete your application and obtain a visa for you. Total fees including application fee is 5,000 baht.
   • If you have less than 4 thai visa's already, you can apply by yourself to save some money.
   • If you have more than 4, you have a higher risk of being denied a visa and I recommend [route B].
7. Pickup your Thai Visa (Day 2)
   • The following day you can head back to the Consulate and pickup your visa after 1PM.
   • If you selected Route B, someone will drop off your passport and visa directly to you at your hotel before 2PM.
8. Buy your ticket back to Bangkok.
   You can purchase a ticket back to bangkok directly from your hotel or many places nearby that rent motorbikes.
   • A bus will arrive at your guesthouse / hotel around 3PM to pick you up and take you to the train station.
   • The driver will have your train tickets. He will give you two train tickets.
9. At the 1st Train Station
   At the small train station you will show your passport and Laos departure card.
   • The small train will take you to Nong Kai Station.
10. Nong Kai Train Station.
    Here you will board your 1st class sleeper once again, back to Bangkok!
    
    
    

• Traveling tips.
  • There is no bag screening or searches when crossing the boarder which makes border crossing very fast and hassle free.
  • Everything in Laos will appear to be more expensive than Thailand.
  • There is The Pizza Company and Swensens in Vientiane as a foreign place to eat.
  • The Night Market begins around 5 or 6pm and is located at the river.
  • There is not much to do in Laos.. entertainment options are very minimal.

Hope this helps anyone who is looking to do a Laos visa run from Thailand.
I tried to be as accurate as possible!

Regards,
iLL

Edited April 2, 2013 by lopburi3
Correct few errors per OP request

[DennyEagle]

Also if You pay by US money $35 You will save money, I am from the US the amount varies by country, I am talking about the Lao Visa charge

[PREM-R]

There is a train that just runs the cross border section leaving after arrival of the morning express train I believe so is an alternative to the bridge bus run.

I think that the 'international train' runs at about 9.15am and at 3.15pm (or there abouts). The train across the bridge is a small 'diesel car' and you have to go through the immigration point they have set up on Nong Khai station before boarding.

Edited April 2, 2013 by PREM-R

[AaronIsaan]

Hi iLL,

Sorry about my english and Thanks for your post. I'm a spanish male living now in Isaan. I have three doubts. If you or someone other can help i will be very grateful.

1-I have read before in several forums or chats that having several thai visas is no good in order to get a new one, but i can't find information about this in no one official site. Do you really know if there is an official limit of visas? And if so, that limit for how much time is? I mean, if anybody have tree or four visas issued ten years ago, is this a problem? I have five thay visas, but two of 2011, and three of 2012.

2-I have just make a new passport. In my last visa and departure card is the number of the old one, which now is cancelled. Should i make a new departure card with the new passport number? They told me in my embassy to go to the border with both passports and should no have problem.

3-My visas are placed in my old passport, And this is my most important question. In the thai embassy in Vientiane, they only look passport or they will have in computers the visas i have had before?

Thank you very much for your attention

Edited April 2, 2013 by alejandroarino

[iLL]

Hi iLL,

Sorry about my english and Thanks for your post. I'm a spanish male living now in Isaan. I have three doubts. If you or someone other can help i will be very grateful.

1-I have read before in several forums or chats that having several thai visas is no good in order to get a new one, but i can't find information about this in no one official site. Do you really know if there is an official limit of visas? And if so, that limit for how much time is? I mean, if anybody have tree or four visas issued ten years ago, is this a problem? I have five thay visas, but two of 2011, and three of 2012.

2-I have just make a new passport. In my last visa and departure card is the number of the old one, which now is cancelled. Should i make a new departure card with the new passport number? They told me in my embassy to go to the border with both passports and should no have problem.

3-My visas are placed in my old passport, And this is my most important question. In the thai embassy in Vientiane, they only look passport or they will have in computers the visas i have had before?

Thank you very much for your attention

I believe If you have multiple Thai visa's (4+) you can still get a Thai visa (from Vientiane) but it becomes more difficult and *may* require more documentation such as an invitation letter and/or reason for visiting, etc.. (There is always a chance to be denied.)

If you go the [step 6, Route B] (4 or more visas) I would recommend using the agency outside the Consulate (in Vientiane) who will provide all the necessary documents needed to obtain a visa. (Success rate is high) But this service costs 5,000 baht. They will complete your application and do everything for you, in addition they will provide an invitation letter and/or additional documents if needed. If you can not get your thai visa, they have a 100% money back guarantee, including the application fee!

To answer your other question..

From what I have heard, If you get a new passport, everything will be fine.. They only go by how many visas you have in your current passport.

I would not worry about your departure card.. If you have two passports, I would bring both to the border until you you get a new departure / arrival stamp..

Then your old passport is no longer needed.

Edited April 2, 2013 by iLL

[Mario2008]

1. there is no official limit. Regarding tourist visas some consulates do set their own limit after which thy don't issue anymore. Visas from years ago are no problem, 3 tourist visas or more in a row without time outside of Thailand can be, depending on consulate. But most will issue and tell you not to come for another visa there.

2. Do as your embassy told you and go with both passports to the border.

3. Most likely is they will only look at your passport.

[mooris7]

I suggest everyone to use a credible visa run service. They take care of everything, transportation to the border, minivan from border to Thai consulate, hotel, 2 meals, visa paper work. The best part is there is no waiting in line, no questions about refusal. A guy like Claudio knows all the rules because his company does the visa runs to Laos twice a week. The money you might save going on your own is minimal to none but believe me your aggravation and worry will be next to none.

Edited April 2, 2013 by mooris7

[rubberduck]

Pizza Company and Swensens, why mentioning this junkfood ? They are an insult for Laos ! Along the boulevard there are some of the best international restaurants of Asia ! (Nazim-Indian, Chockdee-Belgium, Qbar-Aussie and many more)

I miss here the Nok Air option, buy a ticket 'Don Muang to Vientiane' starting at 1,350b. This includes a flight to Udon, an aircon coach that brings you to the Thai border, a second coach from the Lao border to Vientiane.

Cheers!

[BanTamo]

The Thai Consulate General in Savannakhet is rarely used and very courteous, in my experience. We went to the "trouble" (it was actually very entertaining, and we were in KK anyway) of obtaining a visas from the Lao PDR Consulate in Khon Kaen, even for the Thais travelling with us, which seemed to impress both the Lao immigration officers and the Thai Consulate staff, so perhaps that is also worth remembering. At the time I had dozens of Thai entry visas in my passport, both non-B and tourist (single and multiple re-entry issued primarily in Hong Kong), and hundreds of entry/departure stamps, having lived in the Kingdom for over a decade. That didn't phase them. Savannakhet is also a very pleasant place for a few day's respite. Getting there is a bit more complicated but those who have lived upcountry for any length of time should have no problem. The boat from Mukdahan is really cool (or has the promised bridge finally materialized...)

just a thought ...

[Plastic Brontosaurus]

Have done the Vientiane way a few times, coming from Chiang Mai you can fly Nok Mini direct to Udon Thani, and take the minivan to the border right from the airport for 200 baht (downstairs at the "Limousine" desk). They drop you at Thai border control, you "check out" then take the bus across the bridge to the Lao border control.

Lao voa cost depends on country, my passport is NZ and last time (early January) I paid USD 30. Taxi to Vientiane costs 300 baht, they approach you at Lao immigration and help with suitcases etc. There's also a bus apparently but never took it. At the Thai Embassy in Vientiane you can show up real early and be ahead of the crowd but have to wait in the queue for an hour or two. However then there's usually a bunch of Burmese/Cambodians etc. they arrive later but run to the counter when the gate opens so unless you want to run too you're probably still gonna be number 20 or so.

Next time will try Savannakhet, the casino there does a decent deal and gets the visa done for you (you give them your passport and the paperwork and they stand in the queue for you etc.). There's at least one long thread on TV about this process.

[visarunner]

The Thai Consulate General in Savannakhet is rarely used and very courteous, in my experience. We went to the "trouble" (it was actually very entertaining, and we were in KK anyway) of obtaining a visas from the Lao PDR Consulate in Khon Kaen, even for the Thais travelling with us, which seemed to impress both the Lao immigration officers and the Thai Consulate staff, so perhaps that is also worth remembering. At the time I had dozens of Thai entry visas in my passport, both non-B and tourist (single and multiple re-entry issued primarily in Hong Kong), and hundreds of entry/departure stamps, having lived in the Kingdom for over a decade. That didn't phase them. Savannakhet is also a very pleasant place for a few day's respite. Getting there is a bit more complicated but those who have lived upcountry for any length of time should have no problem. The boat from Mukdahan is really cool (or has the promised bridge finally materialized...)

just a thought ...

The bridge is open since , at least, 3 years, so no more boat crossing if you are a International traveller.

I fully agree that the Staff at the Royal Thai Consulate in Savannakhet is very helpfull and will, in most cases, approve your application, even you had many previous Tourist Visas in your passport.

[hgma]

Good idea this overview!

very nice written as well.

Thanks for sharing...ILL

[jcnbkk]

All great info. I took this trip by over night train a couple of years ago with a Lao speaking gf to make it an easier and more enjoyable trip (and gave me a chance to join the rail equivalent of the mile high club). But didn't get into Vientiane in time to make it to the consulate the following morning. Had to wait till the next day, then another day to pick up passport. Three days total, minimum. They also wouldn't give me a multi entry visa there. Wasn't aware of the Nok Air option which I'd consider if I go again, price is almost the same, quicker. And might be able to get a flight that gets me to Vientiane in time to make it to consulate the first day? Did enjoy the (quiet) ambiance of Vientiane, the French/Lao cafes and the Lao street and shop foods. Especially their version of Vietnamese ban mi sandwiches sold at the market.

[lopburi3]

One flame post removed.

[Plastic Brontosaurus]

<snip> And might be able to get a flight that gets me to Vientiane in time to make it to consulate the first day? <snip>

One problem with flying direct to VTE rather than UTH is that the flights usually cost triple or more the cost of flying to UTH (on Nok, Nok Mini, Air Asia or any other)... Another problem is that as far as I know, there's no flights at all that arrive VTE before around 11:00am... Flights to UTH arrive about two hours earlier there, but even then it will take around two hours all up from UTH to the Thai Embassy in VTE.

[axact]

Pizza Company and Swensens, why mentioning this junkfood ? They are an insult for Laos ! Along the boulevard there are some of the best international restaurants of Asia ! (Nazim-Indian, Chockdee-Belgium, Qbar-Aussie and many more)

I miss here the Nok Air option, buy a ticket 'Don Muang to Vientiane' starting at 1,350b. This includes a flight to Udon, an aircon coach that brings you to the Thai border, a second coach from the Lao border to Vientiane.

for this service you need a visa for Laos in your hand

Cheers!

For this service you need a visa for Laos in your hand in I remember correctly.

I went via Nok Air the other week and picked up a promo flight for 880 Baht !

[lookingeast]

"There is not much to do in Laos.. entertainment options are very minimal." I spent many a happy hour in the town museum where they have a terrific collection of Vietnam War memorabilia including some stunning black & white photos. Joking aside (but i did go there) any statement that claims there is not much to do in an entire country is absurd.

[attrayant]

This is second-hand info so take it with a grain of salt.

A few weeks ago I was chatting with a guy who claims to have been here for a decade on tourist visas. On his last trip to Laos, he got the ominous red stamp indicating that this would be his last visa issued from that office. He panicked and the nice lady behind the counter chuckled at his naïveté and explained to him that all he needed to do was go to another consulate for his next visa. Then after that one expired, he could come back to Laos and they would start issuing to him again.

So apparently all that's needed is to stop getting your tourist visa from the same consulate every few years, and you'll be golden.

[HerbalEd]

Hi iLL,

Sorry about my english and Thanks for your post. I'm a spanish male living now in Isaan. I have three doubts. If you or someone other can help i will be very grateful.

1-I have read before in several forums or chats that having several thai visas is no good in order to get a new one, but i can't find information about this in no one official site. Do you really know if there is an official limit of visas? And if so, that limit for how much time is? I mean, if anybody have tree or four visas issued ten years ago, is this a problem? I have five thay visas, but two of 2011, and three of 2012.

2-I have just make a new passport. In my last visa and departure card is the number of the old one, which now is cancelled. Should i make a new departure card with the new passport number? They told me in my embassy to go to the border with both passports and should no have problem.

3-My visas are placed in my old passport, And this is my most important question. In the thai embassy in Vientiane, they only look passport or they will have in computers the visas i have had before?

Thank you very much for your attention

I have about eight years of many Thai visas in my passport and I've never had a problem with getting double entry tourist visas for Thailand in Vientiane.

.