Getting a 30-day tourist Visa from Vientiane (entry by train)?!

[Baudelaire]

Hi,

My question is about getting a normal 30-day tourist visa from the Thai Consulate in Vientiane...

I already have a train booked arriving up next Tuesday morning, returning Wednesday evening. (I was planning to get a single or doubel-entry but now need to go home towards the end of September; so now I only need a 30 day normal tourist visa, but of course as I'm travelling overland to Vientiane, I would - if I'm not mistaken - only get 15 days.

So, my questions are 1. Can I apply for a 30 day free visa in the consulate (leave docs in on the Tues morning, have returned on the Wednesday afternoon)?

2. To get this, would I need to show a flight leaving Thailand before the 30 days are up? (I have a flight booked for home for next April, which I'm planning to change but would prefer to do so a bit later, rather than right now.)

Visa history: Over the last year and a half, I have a double and a triple-entry tourist visas used up.

Any advice or suggested options very much appreciated. Thanks!

[jrtmedic]

No -

What you are talking about are visa exempt entries. These are issued at Thai borders 15 days if arriving overland or 30 days if arriving by air. These entries are not available from a consulate and the best you can obtain without a visa is 15 days which can be "extended" for 7 days at an immigration office at a cost of 1900bht. (You my be required to show a ticket proving your departure during that 7 days.

[TerryLH]

1. Can I apply for a 30 day free visa in the consulate

No. There is currently no free visa. No 30 day visas either.

I think you are confusing a visa with the 30 day visa exempt entry some nationalities get when they enter the country by air.

It appears you want a single entry tourist visa. It will be good for 60 days, and can be extended at an immigration office for 30 days.

Submit application in the morning, pick up the visa the following afternoon.

[baco]

As far as I know a 30 day tourist visa doesn't exist you get 60 days which you can extend with 30 for 1900 baht.

You must apply in vientiene before 12 o clock and you can pick up the visa the next day.

If you just fly back you get 30 days without having to apply for a visa.

[ubonjoe]

Your only choice is to pay 1000 baht for a single entry tourist visa unless you fly back in to get a 30 day entry.

[Maestro]

The OP, Baudelaire, did not state his nationality. The nationals of some countries receive permission to stay for only 30 days when arriving in Thailand with a tourist visa.

[SunsetT]

Someone told me that 'foreigners' cannot cross the border into Thailand from Vientianne by train. I dont know if this is true.

[SunsetT]

Someone told me that 'foreigners' cannot cross the border into Thailand from Vientianne by train. I dont know if this is true.

............Just googled it and this is wrong. You can but the Laos railway station is way out of Vientiane.

[Baudelaire]

Ok, so it appears that I must apply for a single entry visa costing 1,000 (leave in in morning and collect the next afternoon). So the only outstanding issue is:

Do I need to have flight booked out of Thailand within 60 days in order to get the single entry visa??

Btw, I've already paid for the return train tickets - hence, it makes no sense to ditch that in order to fly. I'm Irish in case it's relevant.

Thanks to all once again - greatly appreciated!!!

[ubonjoe]

No need to show ticket. Just copies of passport photo page and Lao visa/entry stamps.

[wayned]

You will also have to buy a Lao visa when entering. Cost depends on Nationality, American is $35..

[Maestro]

...I'm Irish in case it's relevant...

It is relevant. The tourist visa you get will be valid for travel to Thailand within 90 days from its date of issue and on arrival in Thailand you, being an Irish national, will receive permission to stay for 60 days, hence it will not be a "30-day tourist Visa"

[ava15]

You have to photocopy the laos visa entry stamps for the thai tourist visa application?

[jrtmedic]

Read Ubonjoe's post number 10

[phuketrichard]

Someone told me that 'foreigners' cannot cross the border into Thailand from Vientianne by train. I dont know if this is true.

when did they build the train to Vientiane?

[jrtmedic]

Opened in March 2009