Malaysia Visa Run by Airplane

[nocturnalK]

Hi,

I'm doing a Malaysia visa run by airplane. I'm hoping to get a 30-day visa extension on my US passport.

My flight from Thailand arrives in Malaysia around 1 PM. There is a flight from Malaysia back to Thailand at 2:50 PM that same day.

When you arrive at the airport, how long does it take to get checked into the country? How long does it take to get checked out?

I'm curious if I can do both and board a plane within 1 hour and 15 minutes, provided that the plane is not late. I can stay in Malaysia for a day, but it won't do me much good.

Any advice?

[ubonjoe]

You will be getting a new 30 day visa exempt entry not an extension.

As long as your flight is not late you should not have a problem doing it. It would help save some time if you can print out the boarding pass for your return flight.

[soihok]

Assuming you are going to KL.

Are you arriving at the KLIA or LCCT?

KLIA= If you can confirm your check in for your flight out of Malaysia to BKK and obtain your boarding pass in Bangkok, you do not need to go through immigration into Malaysia. The arrival and departure area use the same area (after immigration and at the plane boarding gates). This means you don't need to go through Malaysian immigration but you obviously need your boarding pass to get on the plane back.

LCCT = not so sure about the above, you will probably have to pass through immigration there.

Regarding stamps in the passport for returning into BKK. I am working / living in Malaysia and don't get a stamp in the passport when leaving the country (same was when I lived in Singapore), the Thai immigration never question it.

1 hours 15 minutes, I think you are leaving your self with an extremely tight schedule. The queue at immigration is quite long (unless you are going business class). Try to get your boarding pass for the return leg arranged in BKK, if you can sort that out you should be ok (via KLIA that is).

[ubonjoe]

It looks more like 1 hour and 50 minutes to me than 1 hour and 15 minutes.

I don't suggest the OP just go from one flight to another without entering Malaysia and then departing. It would only take an observant Thai immigration officer to notice you did not have entry and departure stamps for another country to create a big problem.

[stuurman]

Assuming you are going to KL.

Are you arriving at the KLIA or LCCT?

AirAsia is moving it's operations from LCCT to the new low cost terminal KLIA2 as of 9 May:

http://www.airasia.com/my/en/press-releases/airasia-group-will-move-to-klia2.page

If OP arrives with AirAsia he will have to go trough immigration and obtain a boarding pass or have his documents checked at the AirAsia check in counter.

In that case 1 hour and 50 minutes seems tight schedule to me.

[soihok]

Sorry, I failed maths at school, 1hour 50 minutes it is.

I do agree, it could be a risk. When working in Singapore there was no "employment pass" fixed into the passport and no stamp given on passing through immigration on the way out.

Did have an ID card though.

For a traveller holding no ID card for Malaysia it could be an issue and probably not worth risking being pulled over in BKK. Must point out that I have made about 25 trips into Thailand without an exit stamp from Malaysia (and Singapore) over the last 6 years, never had a problem or questioned about it.

Stuuram, yes I agree - too tight if going via LCCT but without knowing the layout of KLIA2 I wouldn't know.

I wouldn't risk it personally and would either spend a night near the airport or KL (70 MYR return on the express train into KL Sentral - loads of cheap places to stay, if arriving at KLIA or take a bus if arriving at LCCT to KL Sentral, also cheap bus ticket). Hotel near the airport- go to Concorde Hotel - cheapish and best or the Tune hotel (LCCT) which can be reached on foot.

Off topic, but KLIA2 is also a massive airport when viewed on the way to KLIA (presume it will be called KLIA1 now). Best thing is all the airport traffic will no longer pass by the Sepang International Racing Circuit - making trips to watch World Superbikes and Moto GP - Airport Traffic Free

[soihok]

http://sepang.concordehotelsresorts.com/index.php

Stayed here twice, very close to both KLIA and LCCT but need to take a taxi there. This place is very close to Sepang Circuit and is adorned with motor racing pictures / posters.

Cheaper, but about an hour away is KL Sentral where you will find your self looking for a basic but cheap room in Little India.

[nocturnalK]

Thanks for the replies people.

I used 1hr 15 min to account for boarding time and possible late arrival.

Looks like I'll be spending the night.

[ubonjoe]

I don't know what airline you are flying on but you should be able to work out a better flight schedule. Air Asia has many flights into Kl. The last time I looked there were several options that gave plenty of time between flights. Three hours would be the best.

[soihok]

Cheers.

Have a good trip!

[nocturnalK]

Actually, let's dig a little deeper. I'm willing to gamble a little -- just a little.

I'll be heading out on May 7. KLIA is the airport I will arrive and depart from (code KUL).

My understanding at this point is that the following would need to happen:

1. Go to KUL immigration checkpoint where I would receive an entry stamp.

2. Go back through security and head to my gate

3. There will be no exit stamp.

4. Arrive in Chiang Mai.

5. Go to Immigration.

6. They'll see that I was in Malaysia but do not have an exit stamp.

7. Pray that this is OK.

Am I missing anything? Any time estimates?

[theoldgit]

Post in unbelievably bad taste removed, and a couple of responses.

[soihok]

Actually, let's dig a little deeper. I'm willing to gamble a little -- just a little.

I'll be heading out on May 7. KLIA is the airport I will arrive and depart from (code KUL).

My understanding at this point is that the following would need to happen:

1. Go to KUL immigration checkpoint where I would receive an entry stamp.

2. Go back through security and head to my gate

3. There will be no exit stamp.

4. Arrive in Chiang Mai.

5. Go to Immigration.

6. They'll see that I was in Malaysia but do not have an exit stamp.

7. Pray that this is OK.

Am I missing anything? Any time estimates?

3. There will an exit stamp on the way out if you enter the country, assuming you are not a Malaysian, PR or ID card holder.

7. Everyday

Thinking about it, last time we left Malaysia (about 3 weeks ago) the Malaysian immigration officer did ask if we needed an exit stamp, same on arrival. So I suppose it could be an issue in some countries that require to see the last country of exit stamp.

So to the OP - yes, go through immigration and get your Malaysian entry stamp.

[soihok]

If you pass through immigration at KUL you have entered the country and will need to pass back through immigration to get out.

KUL, the arrival and departure areas are more or less one, not segregated. You could, if you wanted, get off the plane and go straight back through the gate to board your plane out (assuming you have your boarding pass).

Never been questioned at BKK about it. But if you have no residents status in Malaysia to show BKK, I guess it could be a problem. My family and I have never been asked about this though.

[soihok]

Post in unbelievably bad taste removed, and a couple of responses.

Thanks.

Can't believe some peoples comments sometimes.

[nocturnalK]

Thanks a lot. I think I'll just have to enjoy a day in KL. Too risky on time for going through immigration.

I'll look into the accommodations recommended here. Quick quesiton: What is the #1 best thing to do in KL?

[soihok]

I wouldn't "risk" it either thinking about it logically now. Although its possible.

If you are spending a night in KL, best things to do are shop, eat and sleep. I have lived here for almost 2 years only, although most of my time is at work.

If I was coming for a day from KLIA:-

• Express Train return ticket into KL Sentral. If you are on Air Asia, it will be a bus ride.
• Taxi up to Changat Bukit Bintang, loads of bars, places to eat and shopping.
• https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=changkat+bukit+bintang&rlz=1W4CHBA_enMY575&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=aKxhU6-xGM-1uASBn4HACg&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=651
• Loads and loads of places to stay to suit all budgets in the area.
• Photo or two under the PETRONAS Towers (if that's your thing).
• Taxi back to KL Sentral.
• Train back to KLIA

Maybe you are after something else, but that's what I would do.

Cheers

[Upnotover]

Thanks a lot. I think I'll just have to enjoy a day in KL. Too risky on time for going through immigration.

I'll look into the accommodations recommended here. Quick quesiton: What is the #1 best thing to do in KL?

Daytime - go up the KL Tower (not the twin Petronas towers) from where you can take some great pix looking down on the city.

Nightime - Beach Club

[soihok]

Just be aware that the Menara Tower is a tourist trap.

The Beach Club has moved (about 200 metres up the road from where it used to be) and is a man trap .

[stuurman]

If this trip is only meant to get a new 30 day visa stamp why don't you go to the nearest border from Chiang Mai?

AFAIK as a US passport holder you will get 30 days at any entry point into Thailand either land or airport.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[soihok]

How about visiting the national Mosque for a bit of culture?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Mosque_of_Malaysia

[kratiam]

If this trip is only meant to get a new 30 day visa stamp why don't you go to the nearest border from Chiang Mai?

AFAIK as a US passport holder you will get 30 days at any entry point into Thailand either land or airport.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

100%correct!

[nocturnalK]

I discussed the feasibility or cost-effectiveness of doing a nearby border run on a separate thread. This trip comes out to be time and cost-efficient. Thanks for the thoughtful replies and helpful suggestions everyone.

[nocturnalK]

Trip Update: I was in and out of Malaysia in a couple of hours. It was very easy to get through the immigration points, although it was stressful due to seeing a VERY LONG line. Despite the length, it was actually very fast.

I just wanted to give an update in case someone wants to do this visa run by air to KUL from Chiang Mai. If they changed the airport that AirAsia operates out of, then it might be a different story.

[Tomtomtom69]

It looks more like 1 hour and 50 minutes to me than 1 hour and 15 minutes.

I don't suggest the OP just go from one flight to another without entering Malaysia and then departing. It would only take an observant Thai immigration officer to notice you did not have entry and departure stamps for another country to create a big problem.

Correct but I thought they're not needed when arriving by air? That's because many countries don't stamp passports anymore, or only stamp passports of citizens of certain nations.

Case in point: Australia does not stamp passports of it's citizens. It may also have stopped stamping New Zealand citizen's passports as they are entitled to stay in the country indefinitely and can use the automated entry gates too.

Most other foreigners are stamped in/out but Thai immigration couldn't care less as you arriving by air and don't know the nuances of what different countries do when it comes to stamping passports.

Hong Kong doesn't stamp anyone's passport anymore. This is a recent change.

EU and Schengen room citizens don't have their passports stamped when arriving in or departing Europe.

[Tomtomtom69]

Trip Update: I was in and out of Malaysia in a couple of hours. It was very easy to get through the immigration points, although it was stressful due to seeing a VERY LONG line. Despite the length, it was actually very fast.

I just wanted to give an update in case someone wants to do this visa run by air to KUL from Chiang Mai. If they changed the airport that AirAsia operates out of, then it might be a different story.

Geez sitting on a plane for almost 8 hours (both ways) just to spend an hour in a foreign country and doing something that Thai immigration is determined to crack down on (in-out border run) is not what I would ever consider doing. The least one could do is spend a couple of days in the country they are going to. The alternative is to head over a land border for a new 30-day stay if you're just doing one border run. From Chiang Mai to either Mae Sai or Mae Sot is just a few hours and costs way less than flying. After accounting for the time needed to be at the airport before departure, customs and immigration clearance on both sides it might even be faster too, especially if you drive.

[nocturnalK]

I had a visa to Burma that would've been wasted at Mae Sot. Also, the drive to Laos is more than 8 hours just going one-way to the border.

Cost of airfare to KUL at the time was very cheap, so this ended up being the best choice as far as saving time-cost efficiency. However, I agree. I could've taken the time to play at KUL, but I had better things to do in Chiang Mai at the time. Since KUL is such a huge hub, I know I'll be back there anyway.