How To Get A 60 Day Tourist Visa From Hat Yai? Do I Have To Go To A Thai Embassy Or As Far As Kl?

[Mic Samui]

I need to get another tourist visa. I have had 3 already in last year and a half(seperated by 4 months back in my home country). This one will be my second consecutive tourist visa. I will be traveling from Phichit in north Thailand which is around 300km south of Chiang Mai. And flights to kula lumpur are quite expensive for when i need to go. So i was hoping to be able to get a tourist visa by crossing the boarder from hat yai into malaysia, is this possible? where is the best place to do this? I don't want to go to Cambodia again because last time i had to pay for visa for cambodia and wait a week in phenom pehn for tourist visa. So am hoping if i make the long trip to hat yai i can do the whole thing in one day or 2 days maximum once i reach hat yai. Any Advice would be much appreciated

[Lite Beer]

For a Tourist Visa you need to apply at a Thai Consulate in another Country.

From Had Yai Malaysia would be nearest.

Penang. Kota Baru. KL.

If you just cross the border and return you will get 15 days.

Vientienne or Savanakhet in Laos would probably issue a double entry Tourist Visa.

[Mic Samui]

For a Tourist Visa you need to apply at a Thai Consulate in another Country.

From Had Yai Malaysia would be nearest.

Penang. Kota Baru. KL.

If you just cross the border and return you will get 15 days.

Vientienne or Savanakhet in Laos would probably issue a double entry Tourist Visa.

So i can not get a 60 day tourist visa in Penang/Kota Baru, Can only get a 60 day tourist visa from KL? What is a double entry tourist visa, is this a 60 day tourist visa with option of 30 day extension?

[lopburi3]

You can likely obtain a single visa in Penang or Kota Baru. But in Laos you could likely obtain a two entry visa allowing normal 60 days plus about 28-29 and then a new entry for a new 60 days and 30 days extension (visa only valid for use for 90 days from date of issue). So if you need longer stay that would seem logical choice.

[Mic Samui]

thanks for the good advice. Yes Laos seems like a much better option than going to Malaysia. The only other time i crossed a land border was when going to Cambodia and i was forced to buy a visa for cambodia for around 2000thb (rightly or wrongly) going into laos is entry free or visa exemption available. Also will have a thai girlfriend traveling with me. Does anybody know if thai people can enter laos with no problem and no visa. Also does anyone know how much a double entry tourist visa cost in the thai embassy in laos.

[alexander69]

thanks for the good advice. Yes Laos seems like a much better option than going to Malaysia. The only other time i crossed a land border was when going to Cambodia and i was forced to buy a visa for cambodia for around 2000thb (rightly or wrongly) going into laos is entry free or visa exemption available. Also will have a thai girlfriend traveling with me. Does anybody know if thai people can enter laos with no problem and no visa. Also does anyone know how much a double entry tourist visa cost in the thai embassy in laos.

Lao visa 1500 baht or 35 us dollar, thai visa double entry is 2000 baht.Good luck on your travels

[rct99q]

A Laos Visa costs between $15 - $42 USD per person subject to your Nationality ($30-$35 for US/UK citizens). Thai's can travel across into Laos however they will need to either obtain a border pass (if using their Thai ID card) or if she has one use her passport (which is easier). Thai Nationals pay a small fee (40 baht) when entering Laos. There is also a small fee for the bus service of 15-20 baht depending on the time of day you cross.

Relatively easy process and Vientiane is an interesting city to visit as well as is Nong Khai on the Thai side.

It is always better to pay the Laos Visa in USD as it will save you approximately 400-500 baht versus paying the Laos fee in Baht. You will need your passport (obviously), two recent passport photos (although they usually only ask for one), application form (which you pick up at the arrivals and the fee. They also charge an overtime fee if travelling before 8:00am after 4:00pm or on a Saturday, Sunday of National Holiday (it is an extra $1 USD).

[keeniau96]

Malaysia entry is free and no full-page sticker in your passport, just a stamp.

[lopburi3]

It is also three times the distance and only a single entry visa available.

[Mic Samui]

I know Malaysia is 3 times as Far. The reason i initially considered making the long trip was because of previous experience in Cambodia where i had to wait 1 week for my visa (phenom pehn). For some reason i thought it might be simlar in Laos but is great to hear that Laos is a good place to get a visa.

Thank you rct99q for very clear and detail description of getting visa in laos...

Does anybody think i may incounter any problem for having so many tourist visa's in the last 18 months (although was back home for a few months) making this only my second consecutive tourist visa?

[rct99q]

I know Malaysia is 3 times as Far. The reason i initially considered making the long trip was because of previous experience in Cambodia where i had to wait 1 week for my visa (phenom pehn). For some reason i thought it might be simlar in Laos but is great to hear that Laos is a good place to get a visa.

Thank you rct99q for very clear and detail description of getting visa in laos...

Does anybody think i may incounter any problem for having so many tourist visa's in the last 18 months (although was back home for a few months) making this only my second consecutive tourist visa?

Should have no problem in Vientiane. Also just as an FYI, it normally only takes 1 working day to get your Passport with visa returned. Keep in mind it is working days so if you apply on a Monday you get back on a Tuesday, if you apply on a Friday you get it back on a Monday!!

Apply between 8:30am and 11:30am (consulate closes at 12n for lunch) and pick up passport between 1;00pm and 3;00pm the following day as above.

[Mic Samui]

I know Malaysia is 3 times as Far. The reason i initially considered making the long trip was because of previous experience in Cambodia where i had to wait 1 week for my visa (phenom pehn). For some reason i thought it might be simlar in Laos but is great to hear that Laos is a good place to get a visa.

Thank you rct99q for very clear and detail description of getting visa in laos...

Does anybody think i may incounter any problem for having so many tourist visa's in the last 18 months (although was back home for a few months) making this only my second consecutive tourist visa?

Should have no problem in Vientiane. Also just as an FYI, it normally only takes 1 working day to get your Passport with visa returned. Keep in mind it is working days so if you apply on a Monday you get back on a Tuesday, if you apply on a Friday you get it back on a Monday!!

Apply between 8:30am and 11:30am (consulate closes at 12n for lunch) and pick up passport between 1;00pm and 3;00pm the following day as above.

Great thanks!! Any first knowledge about best way to go across the border and prices. Are the tuk tuk 's ok?

[rct99q]

I know Malaysia is 3 times as Far. The reason i initially considered making the long trip was because of previous experience in Cambodia where i had to wait 1 week for my visa (phenom pehn). For some reason i thought it might be simlar in Laos but is great to hear that Laos is a good place to get a visa.

Thank you rct99q for very clear and detail description of getting visa in laos...

Does anybody think i may incounter any problem for having so many tourist visa's in the last 18 months (although was back home for a few months) making this only my second consecutive tourist visa?

Should have no problem in Vientiane. Also just as an FYI, it normally only takes 1 working day to get your Passport with visa returned. Keep in mind it is working days so if you apply on a Monday you get back on a Tuesday, if you apply on a Friday you get it back on a Monday!!

Apply between 8:30am and 11:30am (consulate closes at 12n for lunch) and pick up passport between 1;00pm and 3;00pm the following day as above.

Great thanks!! Any first knowledge about best way to go across the border and prices. Are the tuk tuk 's ok?

Fortunately you are not allowed to take a Tuk Tuk across the bridge!! From most spots in the western end of Nong Khai it will cost you 50 baht per person to take you to the friendship bridge. Ie - guest house, train station, bus station (maybe 70 baht) etc.

You then take one of the frequent bridge buses from the Thai side to the Laos immigration side of the bridge (15-20 baht per person).

After receiving your Visa for Laos proceed through all the throngs of people until you come to an electronic turnstile kind of gate. An agent there will assist you in clearing through. Do not pay the 40 baht that the locals pay when going through just proceed on through (with a smile of course). At the far end of the walkway will be the ;last checkpoint where a Laos official will have a quick glance at your passport and you will be passed through.

All during this time frame you will have taxi, tuk tuk and what ever asking you if you have transportation. It is up to you how you want to get to the Consulate in Vientiane. Nearly all of the touts know it as there are several hundred people doing this every day.

A shard tuk tuk is about 100 baht each, the local bus into the main station is about 40 baht per person (not recommended unless it is the last 40 baht you got), a shared minivan for about 150baht per person or a private car / taxi which I can usually get for 300 baht or less for the trip.

If you ask the taxi or private car to wait for you they should and then take you to a guest house if you have one booked. Once at the consulate proceed to the front area to get your ticket or number (sort of like the bank where you push a button and it spits out a number). If it is busy you may have a bit of a wait.

When looking at the front of the building you will see a set of stairs on the left hand side. At the top on the left is a guy that does photo copies and he will photo copy everything you need and staple it into the correct order for about 3,000 kip (worth it). He sees hundreds of applications and if something is amiss he usually will point it out.

Go back downstairs and wait for your number to called. It can get abit chaotic if it is busy as everybody lines up pushing and jostling but be patient. The system works.

hand in your passport with the application (that has been neatly stapled together from the guy upstairs) and the immigration will do a visual inspection of your passport. If there are any concerns this is where it will happen. Most refusals happen here. But should not be a problem as you had a break outside of the country.

Once they have taken your passport they will give a receipt (which is usually your queue number) and you proceed to the building on the far left to pay. They give you a receipt for your payment (this is the same building you pick up your passport the next day). And you are then free to enjoy Vientiane till 1:00pm (or so) the next day.

[Mic Samui]

Thanks again for the great info exactly what i was looing for. Very much appreciated

[phuketrichard]

thanks for the good advice. Yes Laos seems like a much better option than going to Malaysia. The only other time i crossed a land border was when going to Cambodia and i was forced to buy a visa for cambodia for around 2000thb (rightly or wrongly) going into laos is entry free or visa exemption available. Also will have a thai girlfriend traveling with me. Does anybody know if thai people can enter laos with no problem and no visa. Also does anyone know how much a double entry tourist visa cost in the thai embassy in laos.

laos is much closer to u than Malaysia;

u pay for visa on arrival, for Americans it is $35 ( and $1 more if its on the weekend)

Thais get a free 30 day stay on arrival

If u do wish to visit Penang ( i like Penang) use an agent and you can get a single entry tourist visa