Visa necessary? Aranyaprathet (Poi Pet, Cambodia)

[jackoholly]

Hi all

I have recently travelled to and from Cambodia via Aranyaprathet (Poi Pet on the Cambodian side).

On arrival I got a visa and got it stamped but never actually travelled outside that area where there are several casinos.

My plan is to go back and just go to the casinos in the area. I'm not sure whether I am officially 'in' Cambodia and whether obtaining a visa on arrival is necessary. Will probably stay in one of the hotels in that area overnight and jump back into Thailand the next day.

Has anyone had any experience with this before?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[ratcatcher]

" I'm not sure whether I am officially 'in' Cambodia..."

Once you cross the border into Poipet, you are indeed in Cambodia, officially, physically and factually.

[overherebc]

" I'm not sure whether I am officially 'in' Cambodia..."

Once you cross the border into Poipet, you are indeed in Cambodia, officially, physically and factually.

If you don't get an entry into Cambodia stamp and an exit stamp from Cambodia and you need to buy the visa to get those then you won't get back into Thailand. They will check for the visa and stamps and send you back to get them before allowing back into Thailand.

[LivinLOS]

" I'm not sure whether I am officially 'in' Cambodia..."

Once you cross the border into Poipet, you are indeed in Cambodia, officially, physically and factually.

But the casino is in the no mans land in between the 2 immigration points..

So if you have no passed the cambodian immigration have you ever really left.. Its the same as going out on a day trip on a yacht.. thats not a visa run, but the poipet one is a bit of a grey area as they actually stamp you out and back without checking for a Cambodian entry and exit.

Curious on this myself. Never tested it.

[LivinLOS]

" I'm not sure whether I am officially 'in' Cambodia..."

Once you cross the border into Poipet, you are indeed in Cambodia, officially, physically and factually.

If you don't get an entry into Cambodia stamp and an exit stamp from Cambodia and you need to buy the visa to get those then you won't get back into Thailand. They will check for the visa and stamps and send you back to get them before allowing back into Thailand.

Lots of people go to the casino without doing any immigration from the cambodian side.. I think the Thai side is tighter from memory..

[overherebc]

" I'm not sure whether I am officially 'in' Cambodia..."

Once you cross the border into Poipet, you are indeed in Cambodia, officially, physically and factually.

But the casino is in the no mans land in between the 2 immigration points..

So if you have no passed the cambodian immigration have you ever really left.. Its the same as going out on a day trip on a yacht.. thats not a visa run, but the poipet one is a bit of a grey area as they actually stamp you out and back without checking for a Cambodian entry and exit.

Curious on this myself. Never tested

They check, believe me. I've seen a couple of people sent back especially when it's a hot day with a long queue and people have decided not to bother going in and out of Cambodia. Ends up as a longer day for them

[jackoholly]

How unfair. All I want to do is gamble at the casino. I suppose it's Cambodia's way of making a couple of extra bucks. Just a pain really.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[ubonjoe]

It is because you get stamped out of Thailand and in order to re-enter you need the the Cambodian entry/departure stamps.

[LivinLOS]

" I'm not sure whether I am officially 'in' Cambodia..."

Once you cross the border into Poipet, you are indeed in Cambodia, officially, physically and factually.

But the casino is in the no mans land in between the 2 immigration points..

So if you have no passed the cambodian immigration have you ever really left.. Its the same as going out on a day trip on a yacht.. thats not a visa run, but the poipet one is a bit of a grey area as they actually stamp you out and back without checking for a Cambodian entry and exit.

Curious on this myself. Never tested

They check, believe me. I've seen a couple of people sent back especially when it's a hot day with a long queue and people have decided not to bother going in and out of Cambodia. Ends up as a longer day for them

OK my experience is I have always been 100% legit on the Thai side.. The cambo side I have had to run the gauntlet of smuggling vehicles through and its all a mess.. Easy just walk in or out without doing any damn thing.

In actual fact, without the car or bike, I am 90% sure I could walk to the casino without stamping out also.. However in the case of once stamped out, I can see how its easy to check if you have done the out and in on the cambo side.

[Kitmakmak]

I did this by mistake once. Exited Thai immigration, stayed at casinos a few days, but never entered through Cambodian immigration. When I tried to re-enter Thai immigration, they made me go back through Cambodian entry/exit and get passport stamped. Then when I went back to Thai immigration they made me pay overstay fees for the days I was in no man's land. BTW, if the queue is long at Cambodian side, there are touts that will fill all the paperwork and take you to head of the line when ready.