Hi.

This might sound like a stupid question, but I would just like to get this straight:

A friend of mine is coming to Thailand for a 4 week vacation, and he will get a 30 day visa exempt stamp at Suvarnabhumi. We will travel to Isaan, and he wishes to visit Laos (Vientiane) for a few days. I know that land borders only give 14 day visa exempt - does that apply also if he still has days left of the original 30 day stamp from Swampy?

Arrive Swampy Nov 16th - get 30 day stamp until Dec 16th.

Leave for Laos Nov 19th, return back 21th Nov. Does he get stamp until 6th Dec (14 days) or 16th Dec (up to the original 30 days)?

His return flight to Europe is Dec 13th.

If he only gets 14 days, what might his options be to cover the last week of his stay? It would seem obvious to move our trip to a later part of his trip, but that is not an option for me.

Thank you for any friendly and helpful advice :-)

Edited October 27, 201510 yr by koo

AS soon as he exits his 30 day visa exempt is canceled. He may receive either a 15 day or 30 day visa exempt depending on nationality. G7 member get 30 days. This is normally given once.

Edited October 27, 201510 yr by khwaibah

He will get a 15 day stamp. The original stamp from Suv. will be void.

He can extend the 15 day visa exempt entry for 30 days at the immigration (1900 Baht).

30 day stamp for G7 = Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States

No sure whether a 30 visa exempt entry can be saved with a re-entry permit (1000 Baht)?

Edited October 27, 201510 yr by KhunBENQ

He will get a 15 day stamp. The original stamp from Suv. will be void.

He can extend the 15 day visa exempt entry for 30 days at the immigration (1900 Baht).

30 day stamp for G7 = Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States

No sure whether a 30 visa exempt entry can be saved with a re-entry permit (1000 Baht)?

That was my thanking. Maybe UJ can answer the re enter permit.

What nationality is your friend?

What nationality is your friend?

Finnish - non-G7 EU country. 30 days by air, 15 days (sorry quoted 14 b4) by land.

After getting the 15 entry on his return from Laos he could apply for a 30 day extension at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 baht to get the additional days he will need.

In theory a re-entry permit can be obtained for any permit to stay but I have never heard of anybody getting one for a visa exempt entry.

What nationality is your friend?

Finnish - non-G7 EU country. 30 days by air, 15 days (sorry quoted 14 b4) by land.

The best option would be to buy a double entry tourist visa before coming, but if he wants to enter using visa exempt entry then he'll have 2 choices.

1. Buy a re-entry permit for 1,000 baht from an immigration office or at the Nong Khai border crossing.
   • I doubt many people, if ever, buy one for visa exempt entry but your friends situation is rare.
   • A re-entry permit will keep his 30 day stay alive that he receives at swampy.
   • When he returns from Laos the IO will use the re-entry permit and stamp him back in until Dec 16th.
2. Re-enter using visa exempt entry and apply for an extension of stay.
   • ​Towards the end of his new 15 day visa exempt stay he can get a 30 day extension of stay at an immigration office for 1,900 baht.

I would try buying a re-entry permit on the way out at Nong Khai. It's the easiest option as it avoids a trip to an immigration office and saves a few baht. If for any reason he can't get a re-entry permit he still has the extension option to fall back on.

OK.

Thanks for the replies. We will see if the re-entry permit is possible. But looking at the 31-35 USD Laos visa price and this hassle, I honestly feel that we might skip that altogether and enjoy the banks of Mekong only from the south side.

He can make the extension at the immigration for 1900 baht and even if he would only get a 7 day extension that would be enough as he will go back to Suomi the 13^th!

Hello,

Maybe you'd try a 60-day single-entry TV at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane

(1,000B / 2 working days) if you intend to stay there for at least a few days,

because this is cheaper than a 7-day extension (1,900B).

Edited October 29, 201510 yr by Too