I'm a Malaysian and currently on a tourist visa, which is going to expire next month on the 10th of July after being granted a 30-day extention of stay. I know there is no need for a Malaysian tourist to obtain a tourist visa (we are normally given visa exemption upon arrival), but because I would like to stay in Thailand for a longer period, I had therefore applied for a visa prior to entering Thailand.

Now that my 90 days in Thailand are almost up, and there is still the northern region of Thailand which I have yet to visit and I just love this country so much. So my question is, can I travel out of Thailand by 10th of July, say, to Laos, then re-enter Thailand using visa exemption? I suppose an extra 30 days would be sufficient for me this time around.

I know that as a genuine tourist I shouldn't be worried but I read that the immigration has been very strict as of late. I just want to know if there is any possibility that I may be denied re-entry into Thailand? Is the Laos-Thailand immigration checkpoint lenient in granting a visa exemption re-entry after my tourist visa is used up? I'm thinking of using overland border crossings as I'm on a long travel and would like to save some money. Can anyone advise?

Edited June 26, 201511 yr by kenspear

You can get a visa exempt entry after having a tourist visa but it will be for only be for 15 days. You only get a 30 day entry at a crossing to Malaysia.

You can though extend that 15 day entry for 30 days at an immigration office.