I am a British citizen who has just applied for a triple entry visa. I plan to stay for 9 months (i.e. stay 6 months with 3x 30 day extensions for 1900 baht). Now, when I do the border run to Laos I want to know whether I can do this within one day. In other words do I just need an exit stamp, and then re-enter Thailand a short time (i.e. less than a day) later? Or do I have to leave Thailand, do the visa stuff, then go back to the visa place the next day around 1-2ish to get my passport and visa and then enter Thailand again?

Thanks in advance.

I think I am right in saying that if you get a triple entry, that gives you 3 x 60 days. Each 60 days can be extended by 30 days by going to local immigration office for 1900 baht each extension hence giving you almost 9 months.

If after 9 months you are talking about staying longer by going to Laos, I went to Savannakhet earlier this year and obtained a 60 day stamp but you apply 1 day before 11am and collect the next day so an overnight stay would be required. The cost was 2000baht in Savannakhet

I think I am right in saying that if you get a triple entry, that gives you 3 x 60 days. Each 60 days can be extended by 30 days by going to local immigration office for 1900 baht each extension hence giving you almost 9 months.

If after 9 months you are talking about staying longer by going to Laos, I went to Savannakhet earlier this year and obtained a 60 day stamp but you apply 1 day before 11am and collect the next day so an overnight stay would be required. The cost was 2000baht in Savannakhet

Hi Walter,

Thank you so much for the (very) quick response.

As a gentle reminder, I'll highlight the main question I want answering which only relates to the visa run after the 30 day extension has (nearly) ran out:

"...Now, when I do the border run to Laos I want to know whether I can do this within one day. In other words do I just need an exit stamp, and then re-enter Thailand a short time (i.e. less than a day) later?"

Many thanks once again Walter, your advice may come in handy as my visa nears the end

Edited August 18, 201510 yr by futurebhikkhu

Yes to your question

and get your 30 day extension in the last weeks of your permission to stay stamp, dont forget you lose a day when doing the visa run, you have the same day twice,

I think I am right in saying that if you get a triple entry, that gives you 3 x 60 days. Each 60 days can be extended by 30 days by going to local immigration office for 1900 baht each extension hence giving you almost 9 months.

If after 9 months you are talking about staying longer by going to Laos, I went to Savannakhet earlier this year and obtained a 60 day stamp but you apply 1 day before 11am and collect the next day so an overnight stay would be required. The cost was 2000baht in Savannakhet

Hi Walter,

Thank you so much for the (very) quick response.

As a gentle reminder, I'll highlight the main question I want answering which only relates to the visa run after the 30 day extension has (nearly) ran out:

"...Now, when I do the border run to Laos I want to know whether I can do this within one day. In other words do I just need an exit stamp, and then re-enter Thailand a short time (i.e. less than a day) later?"

Many thanks once again Walter, your advice may come in handy as my visa nears the end

In Savannaket it is an overnight stay. Apply on say a Tuesday and collect day later, not sure about Vientiane but I believe through reading previous posts on here that Savannakhet is less strict than Vientiane in the way that Savannakhet will give you a new 60 day stamp where Vientiane may only offer a 30 day. Ubonjoe amonst others will be able to enlighten you further as to which is your best option but I did the Savannkhet route a few months ago and it was an overnight stay. I am back in UK now so still up where most of thailand will be sleeping now

To activate the second and third entries of your visa you simply have to exit Thailand, enter the second country, exit the second country and re-enter Thailand (you can't turn around in no-mans-land).

You can spend as long (or short) as you like in the second country, no requirement for a minimum time, turn around and come straight back.

Do note, that all entries on your visa must be made before the "Enter Before" date so, dependant upon how early you apply for your visa, you will probably have to activate the last entry before the extension of your second entry expires.

As said, enter Laos and come straight back if you wish.

I stayed in Laos for 2 minutes once at Tha Li that was enough.

If you've ever been to Nam Heuang on the Laos side you will understand.

During 1972 and 1973, I would take the train from Korat to Nong Khai and take a small boat across the Mekong into Laos and I would just sign in and then sign out and take the boat back to Nong Khai and the train to Korat. The crossing point is still there but now they have a market in Thailand selling Laos goods. Big difference. I know this does not help but this IS what I did.

When are you planing to go to Thailand

The 6 month validity starts when the visa is stamped in your passport

From Bangkok, if you have a double or triple entry visa, you can take a van to Cambodia and return the same day to activate your second or your third entry.

From Bangkok to the Cambodian border and return it is about a 12 hour van trip...... and you will need about a hour at the Cambodian border to exit Thailand and return to activate your 2nd or 3rd entry

Make sure you get a exit stamp in your passport from Thailand when you leave, cross the border and return getting a Cambodian stamp as you enter and a Cambodian exit stamp as you leave Cambodia.

Then get your next re-entry stamp from Thailand.

There are services that will supply the van trip,, the exit and entry stamps, and it can be all done in a day trip for a fee.

Just be sure that your visa is still valid.

On a 3 entry visa there will be a "must enter before" date stamped on it when you get the visa.

You MUST complete all 3 exits an re- entries before that date expires.....if you do not any unused re-entries will be voided.

A lot of people are caught by that requirement.

To activate the second and third entries of your visa you simply have to exit Thailand, enter the second country, exit the second country and re-enter Thailand (you can't turn around in no-mans-land).

You can spend as long (or short) as you like in the second country, no requirement for a minimum time, turn around and come straight back.

Do note, that all entries on your visa must be made before the "Enter Before" date so, dependant upon how early you apply for your visa, you will probably have to activate the last entry before the extension of your second entry expires.

Thank you so much for explaining this.

On my visa application it said when am I planning on arriving in Thailand and I put 16th September 2015. After googling an example of triple entry visas you have the issue date and the enter before date. They are more or less 4 months apart from each other.

So assuming that my visa would say something like issued 21st August 2015; enter before 20th December, would the following be true (if I arrive in Thailand on 16th September):

• I will be able to stay for 60 days (taking me to 15th November), since I'll be in Udon Thani I'll apply for an extension of 30 days (taking me to 15th December)
• Do the visa run from Udon Thani to Laos on the 15th December
• Re-enter Thailand and spend another 90 days (i.e. 60 days plus 30 day extension) in Thailand taking me to 14th March 2016, does the last visa run to Laos I'll do on the 14th March become null and void because I have gone beyond the enter before date of 20th December? In other words, would I have to apply for a another type of visa whilst in Laos?

I hope this makes sense and I appreciate everyone's help and advice

Thank you to each and everyone who has replied to this topic. I am very grateful!

A triple entry from the UK will be valid for 6 months

Same day turn-around will cost you an additional 300 baht, payable to the Khmer authorities. For some reason, known only to them, it is necessary to make the exit stamp move to the passport. It's magical.

I do not know if things have changed now.Can not imagine why but I used to go toNong Khai on chopperin the morning(about 8ish),cross over the bridge and pay my 1900bt Walk to other side of bridge ,do the checks with Lao office and walk back to"my side" have re-entry checked and on my way back home for my late morning coffee.Please do not tell me that was in the good old days--------Dougal

Same day turn-around will cost you an additional 300 baht, payable to the Khmer authorities. For some reason, known only to them, it is necessary to make the exit stamp move to the passport. It's magical.

The OP is asking about Laos, not Cambodia.

The 300B you are talking about is extortion by the Khmer immigration officers. Their is a Cambodian law stating you are suppose to stay 24hrs in Cambodia, so immigration officers use

this as an excuse to extort you. Next time refuse to pay. I have never paid them. You tell them "no, I never pay" they will wait a few minutes, question you a little like you must pay, just smile and keep saying what, no way I never paid before and they will give in and stamp you out of Cambodia. I have never had a problem.

As a back up I also have a phone number for a top immigration officer in Cambodia that told me if I ever have an issue with an officer asking for money to call him, so far I have never had to call him.

OP as stated above if you dont need to get a new visa and just a visa run then you just stamp out of Thailand, take the bus across the bridge stamp into Laos and then turn around and stamp out of Laos cross the bridge and stamp back into Thailand, that simple. I believe the bus across the bridge is 10 baht or 20 baht cant recall, but it was cheap. Will you be going alone? I have seen allot of guys take their girlfriends where if she dont have a passport she can get a day pass, then go shopping in Laos.

As for what Walter T was referring to that he went to Savannakhet I'm sure he applied for a new visa as he said he had to spend the night. A visa run is just a in and out, but a new visa (which OP you dont need) then they would need to spend the night. They would go to Thai embassy/consultant before noon to submit an application and passport. Return the next day after 1pm and pick up your visa.

"...does the last visa run to Laos I'll do on the 14th March become null and void because I have gone beyond the enter before date of 20th December? In other words, would I have to apply for a another type of visa whilst in Laos?"

Yes and yes.

Same day turn-around will cost you an additional 300 baht, payable to the Khmer authorities. For some reason, known only to them, it is necessary to make the exit stamp move to the passport. It's magical.

The OP is asking about Laos, not Cambodia.

The 300B you are talking about is extortion by the Khmer immigration officers. Their is a Cambodian law stating you are suppose to stay 24hrs in Cambodia, so immigration officers use

this as an excuse to extort you. Next time refuse to pay. I have never paid them. You tell them "no, I never pay" they will wait a few minutes, question you a little like you must pay, just smile and keep saying what, no way I never paid before and they will give in and stamp you out of Cambodia. I have never had a problem.

As a back up I also have a phone number for a top immigration officer in Cambodia that told me if I ever have an issue with an officer asking for money to call him, so far I have never had to call him.

OP as stated above if you dont need to get a new visa and just a visa run then you just stamp out of Thailand, take the bus across the bridge stamp into Laos and then turn around and stamp out of Laos cross the bridge and stamp back into Thailand, that simple. I believe the bus across the bridge is 10 baht or 20 baht cant recall, but it was cheap. Will you be going alone? I have seen allot of guys take their girlfriends where if she dont have a passport she can get a day pass, then go shopping in Laos.

As for what Walter T was referring to that he went to Savannakhet I'm sure he applied for a new visa as he said he had to spend the night. A visa run is just a in and out, but a new visa (which OP you dont need) then they would need to spend the night. They would go to Thai embassy/consultant before noon to submit an application and passport. Return the next day after 1pm and pick up your visa.

Thank you so much Bullie, for the information and/or clarifications.

Actually, you answered another question that I was going to research (but not ask) and that's the general process of leaving Thailand, entering Laos, and then re-entering Thailand. Thank you to everyone again - you have all helped me so much.

I am going to Thailand alone, I went for 2 months last year on a 60 day visa, but this time I really wanted to extend it to at least 9 months.

Since the UK only issues a triple entry visa that, as Swampdonkey says, is valid for 6 months does that mean that the 30 day extensions is totally off the menu?

"...does the last visa run to Laos I'll do on the 14th March become null and void because I have gone beyond the enter before date of 20th December? In other words, would I have to apply for a another type of visa whilst in Laos?"

Yes and yes.

Cheers Terry for confirming this scenario!

Same day turn-around will cost you an additional 300 baht, payable to the Khmer authorities. For some reason, known only to them, it is necessary to make the exit stamp move to the passport. It's magical.

The OP is asking about Laos, not Cambodia.

The 300B you are talking about is extortion by the Khmer immigration officers. Their is a Cambodian law stating you are suppose to stay 24hrs in Cambodia, so immigration officers use

this as an excuse to extort you. Next time refuse to pay. I have never paid them. You tell them "no, I never pay" they will wait a few minutes, question you a little like you must pay, just smile and keep saying what, no way I never paid before and they will give in and stamp you out of Cambodia. I have never had a problem.

As a back up I also have a phone number for a top immigration officer in Cambodia that told me if I ever have an issue with an officer asking for money to call him, so far I have never had to call him.

OP as stated above if you dont need to get a new visa and just a visa run then you just stamp out of Thailand, take the bus across the bridge stamp into Laos and then turn around and stamp out of Laos cross the bridge and stamp back into Thailand, that simple. I believe the bus across the bridge is 10 baht or 20 baht cant recall, but it was cheap. Will you be going alone? I have seen allot of guys take their girlfriends where if she dont have a passport she can get a day pass, then go shopping in Laos.

As for what Walter T was referring to that he went to Savannakhet I'm sure he applied for a new visa as he said he had to spend the night. A visa run is just a in and out, but a new visa (which OP you dont need) then they would need to spend the night. They would go to Thai embassy/consultant before noon to submit an application and passport. Return the next day after 1pm and pick up your visa.

Thank you so much Bullie, for the information and/or clarifications.

Actually, you answered another question that I was going to research (but not ask) and that's the general process of leaving Thailand, entering Laos, and then re-entering Thailand. Thank you to everyone again - you have all helped me so much.

I am going to Thailand alone, I went for 2 months last year on a 60 day visa, but this time I really wanted to extend it to at least 9 months.

Since the UK only issues a triple entry visa that, as Swampdonkey says, is valid for 6 months does that mean that the 30 day extensions is totally off the menu?

A visas validity is only the amount of time you can use the visa for an entry. It is shown as the enter before date on the visa sticker.

With a 3 entry tourist visa you can get a total stay of almost 9 months. Just be sure you use the 3rd entry prior to the enter before date.

Same day turn-around will cost you an additional 300 baht, payable to the Khmer authorities. For some reason, known only to them, it is necessary to make the exit stamp move to the passport. It's magical.

The OP is asking about Laos, not Cambodia.

The 300B you are talking about is extortion by the Khmer immigration officers. Their is a Cambodian law stating you are suppose to stay 24hrs in Cambodia, so immigration officers use

this as an excuse to extort you. Next time refuse to pay. I have never paid them. You tell them "no, I never pay" they will wait a few minutes, question you a little like you must pay, just smile and keep saying what, no way I never paid before and they will give in and stamp you out of Cambodia. I have never had a problem.

As a back up I also have a phone number for a top immigration officer in Cambodia that told me if I ever have an issue with an officer asking for money to call him, so far I have never had to call him.

OP as stated above if you dont need to get a new visa and just a visa run then you just stamp out of Thailand, take the bus across the bridge stamp into Laos and then turn around and stamp out of Laos cross the bridge and stamp back into Thailand, that simple. I believe the bus across the bridge is 10 baht or 20 baht cant recall, but it was cheap. Will you be going alone? I have seen allot of guys take their girlfriends where if she dont have a passport she can get a day pass, then go shopping in Laos.

As for what Walter T was referring to that he went to Savannakhet I'm sure he applied for a new visa as he said he had to spend the night. A visa run is just a in and out, but a new visa (which OP you dont need) then they would need to spend the night. They would go to Thai embassy/consultant before noon to submit an application and passport. Return the next day after 1pm and pick up your visa.

Thank you so much Bullie, for the information and/or clarifications.

Actually, you answered another question that I was going to research (but not ask) and that's the general process of leaving Thailand, entering Laos, and then re-entering Thailand. Thank you to everyone again - you have all helped me so much.

I am going to Thailand alone, I went for 2 months last year on a 60 day visa, but this time I really wanted to extend it to at least 9 months.

Since the UK only issues a triple entry visa that, as Swampdonkey says, is valid for 6 months does that mean that the 30 day extensions is totally off the menu?

A visas validity is only the amount of time you can use the visa for an entry. It is shown as the enter before date on the visa sticker.

With a 3 entry tourist visa you can get a total stay of almost 9 months. Just be sure you use the 3rd entry prior to the enter before date.

"Just be sure you use the 3rd entry prior to the enter before date."

The amount of times I have done that and mistakenly worked from the "stamp", not the "visa" itself!

Really easy to forget!

A visas validity is only the amount of time you can use the visa for an entry. It is shown as the enter before date on the visa sticker.

With a 3 entry tourist visa you can get a total stay of almost 9 months. Just be sure you use the 3rd entry prior to the enter before date.

The infamous Ubonjoe: it's nice to meet you! Thank you for your kind advice.

My visa came today with an issue date of 19th August 2015 and an enter before date of 18th February 2016. Supposing I arrived in Thailand on the 10th September, and I was to stay for 6 months (with 2x visa runs to Laos but will return the same day I left Thailand), would I be able to apply for an extension of 30 days towards early February or not?

It would be up to you as to whether you would do an extension in February or not. The visa expiring (enter before date) has no effect on being able to apply for the extension

Entering on the 10th of September would mean you are going to loose about 22 days of the total stay you can get from the visa. In February you should be on 2nd 60 day entry which would mean that getting the 30 day extension would mean you would be applying around 8 days before the enter before date. In this case it would be best to make a border hop to use your 3rd entry instead of getting the extension.

It would be up to you as to whether you would do an extension in February or not. The visa expiring (enter before date) has no effect on being able to apply for the extension

Entering on the 10th of September would mean you are going to loose about 22 days of the total stay you can get from the visa. In February you should be on 2nd 60 day entry which would mean that getting the 30 day extension would mean you would be applying around 8 days before the enter before date. In this case it would be best to make a border hop to use your 3rd entry instead of getting the extension.

Brilliant; thank you for your help UbonJoe. I'll do my last visa run on either the 17th or 18th, then apply for an extension.

I don't underestimate the kindness that everyone on this thread has shown me, and I hope you all take good care!

Same day turn-around will cost you an additional 300 baht, payable to the Khmer authorities. For some reason, known only to them, it is necessary to make the exit stamp move to the passport. It's magical.

The OP is asking about Laos, not Cambodia.

The 300B you are talking about is extortion by the Khmer immigration officers. Their is a Cambodian law stating you are suppose to stay 24hrs in Cambodia, so immigration officers use

this as an excuse to extort you. Next time refuse to pay. I have never paid them. You tell them "no, I never pay" they will wait a few minutes, question you a little like you must pay, just smile and keep saying what, no way I never paid before and they will give in and stamp you out of Cambodia. I have never had a problem.

As a back up I also have a phone number for a top immigration officer in Cambodia that told me if I ever have an issue with an officer asking for money to call him, so far I have never had to call him.

OP as stated above if you dont need to get a new visa and just a visa run then you just stamp out of Thailand, take the bus across the bridge stamp into Laos and then turn around and stamp out of Laos cross the bridge and stamp back into Thailand, that simple. I believe the bus across the bridge is 10 baht or 20 baht cant recall, but it was cheap. Will you be going alone? I have seen allot of guys take their girlfriends where if she dont have a passport she can get a day pass, then go shopping in Laos.

As for what Walter T was referring to that he went to Savannakhet I'm sure he applied for a new visa as he said he had to spend the night. A visa run is just a in and out, but a new visa (which OP you dont need) then they would need to spend the night. They would go to Thai embassy/consultant before noon to submit an application and passport. Return the next day after 1pm and pick up your visa.

Quite correct ericthai, I was under the impression the OP was asking about when his triple entry and 3 x 30 day extensions were due to finish - apologies to OP if my advice was irrelevant

Quite correct ericthai, I was under the impression the OP was asking about when his triple entry and 3 x 30 day extensions were due to finish - apologies to OP if my advice was irrelevant

No problem whatsoever; your intention was to be helpful and I thank you for that