Laos visa requirements for Thais

[johnny1966]

Apologies if this is the incorrect Forum. I hear different answers to this question so Im wondering if anyone knows definitively:

 

My thai wife and child (from Udon Thani) wish to join me in going to Vientianne via Nong Khai Friendship Bridge. My question is, can they cross into Laos on their thai id cards, and if so, what is the procedure, and, if they use their passports, are they required to get a Laos visa at the border at a cost of approx 1500 per visa? Thanks for any info.

 

•  

[ubonjoe]

If they enter Laos using aThai passport they will get a free 30 day visa exempt entry.

A 3 day border pass can be applied for  entry to Laos for about 50 baht by showing their ID cards. 

[johnny1966]

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If they enter Laos using aThai passport they will get a free 30 day visa exempt entry.

A 3 day border pass can be applied for  entry to Laos for about 50 baht by showing their ID cards. 

 

 Many thanks. So, there is no financial saving using either I presume. Can the border pass be obtained at the border?

[KhunBENQ]

In 2011 it was some building on the left side before the checkpoint where the big parking lot is. Every Thai person in the area should be able to point you in the right direction.

 

I just checked back and that was "Kantana Tour".

Formally a travel agent. Probably taking some premium for helping with the border pass?

I remember it was 100 Baht then?

 

A picture from their FB page:

 

Obviously they can also do on their own but I don't know the details.

[steve187]

the office opens after the first bus across the border has left. would  have to get the next bus, location at khunBENQ posted, be better to use passports, 6 months or more validity required on passport.

[brewsterbudgen]

6 hours ago, johnny1966 said:

 

 Many thanks. So, there is no financial saving using either I presume. Can the border pass be obtained at the border?

 

Using their passports is a lot easier.  The Border Pass is not straightforward if you don't know where to go, and might require a photo.  It also only allows a 3 day (2 night) stay.

[johnny1966]

19 hours ago, steve187 said:

the office opens after the first bus across the border has left. would  have to get the next bus, location at khunBENQ posted, be better to use passports, 6 months or more validity required on passport.

 

Thx Steve, we will be getting the bus from Udon Thani airport, if we don't have the passport for my son, may have to get a border pass for him....I dont quite understand your post regarding the buses.

[steve187]

i can not remember the times of the buses, but lets say for example the first bus leaves at 7.30am, the border pass office doesn't open til 8am, meaning you would be one bus behind the crowd,

[johnny1966]

20 minutes ago, steve187 said:

i can not remember the times of the buses, but lets say for example the first bus leaves at 7.30am, the border pass office doesn't open til 8am, meaning you would be one bus behind the crowd,

 

 I understand, cheers. We wont be there till early afternoon. Can we still get the border pass at that time?

[steve187]

yes but you have to hand passport over to the Thai Consulate in the morning and collect next day after 2, so you will need to spend an extra night in Lao or one night in Mukdahan

[johnny1966]

3 minutes ago, steve187 said:

yes but you have to hand passport over to the Thai Consulate in the morning and collect next day after 2, so you will need to spend an extra night in Lao or one night in Mukdahan

 

We are entering via Nong Khai, not Mudkahan. Now I am confused. I thought we could arrive at the border, the border passes would be issued to the thai id card holder almost immediately and we could cross into laos the same day. Is this not right?

[steve187]

sorry i missed that you were going to Nong Khai, so all information i gave you was for Mukdahan, i am sorry for the confusion, i thought you were going for a multi entry visa. again i am sorry for my mistake

[johnny1966]

23 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

In 2011 it was some building on the left side before the checkpoint where the big parking lot is. Every Thai person in the area should be able to point you in the right direction.

 

I just checked back and that was "Kantana Tour".

Formally a travel agent. Probably taking some premium for helping with the border pass?

I remember it was 100 Baht then?

 

A picture from their FB page:

 

Obviously they can also do on their own but I don't know the details.

 

Thanks, this is Nong Khai border point? It doesn't look like it.

[KhunBENQ]

13 minutes ago, johnny1966 said:

Thanks, this is Nong Khai border point? It doesn't look like it.

Absolutely.

Of course the photo shows the parking lot and this travel agency building only.

 

On Street View:

https://www.google.co.th/maps/@17.8653322,102.7225233,3a,90y,277.63h,99.38t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1shrVmX5DzaJMIkiM50JQP7A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i41

 

It's that building at the left corner with the yellow sign on top.

 

The Thai border checkpoint is a bit further north.

Nice truck queue

[johnny1966]

2 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Absolutely.

Of course the phote shows the parking lot and this travel agency building only.

 

On Street View:

https://www.google.co.th/maps/@17.8653322,102.7225233,3a,90y,277.63h,99.38t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1shrVmX5DzaJMIkiM50JQP7A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i41

 

It's that building at the left corner with the yellow sign on top.

 

The Thai border checkpoint is a bit further north.

Nice truck queue

 

Geez my memory is bad....thx a bunch.