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The Fastest & Most Comfortable Visa Run Under 3,000 Baht [In 10 Easy Steps]

I'm updating this post because I still can't believe how few people are using this visa run option. It can be done from any airport where Nok Air has a flight into Udon Thani, which includes Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

I did this because my 90 day stay was up on my Non Immigrant O visa and I wanted another 90 days, but this is applicable to anyone who needs to stamp in and out on any visa.

Today I did this trip again, and this time I was the only foreigner on the last leg of the trip into Laos. This meant I had the VIP treatment of being the only rider in a brand new minivan that dropped me to the doorstep of my hotel.

In this updated version, I'll give you the additional option of staying over a night in Vientiane. But let's start with the fastest version:

Fastest Thai Visa Run in 10 Easy Steps

Option 1: Same Day Return

Not only is the fastest visa run possible, it is also the most comfortable and one of the cheapest. It costs less than 3,000 Baht, and you don't have to sit cooped up in minivan with a mad driver risking your life for 10-12 hours of the day.

Documents, Money, Tools Required:

  • Departure card (filled in)
  • 30 Baht for bus ticket across the bridge (15 Baht each way)
  • 1x photo for Laos immigration
  • $35 for Laos immigration (you can change this up at the airport, but best to be organised and have it beforehand)
  • Pen
  • Lunchbox
  • Snacks for journey

Step 1:

Book a fly n' ride ticket to Udon Thani with Nok Air. If you want to do this trip in a day then the latest flight you can book is the 12.20 PM flight. If you go for the 6 AM flight, you could even be back in Bangkok, or wherever you flew in from, before lunch time. I'm going to explain this from the 12.20 PM POV, as I don't like early flights.

nok air laos ticket price

Step 2:

Take a taxi to Don Muang airport, or if outside of Bangkok, to wherever your local airport is. It's a domestic flight, so you can check in one hour before. I always do it two hours before, regardless.

Step 3:

You won't need an over night bag, so you'll have no luggage to check-in. You'll be given a fly n' ride sticker that tells the staff when you land that you are transferring to Vientiane 9see image below). Go straight to the departure lounge and take advantage of the free WIFI while you wait. Connect to “Nok Wifi” and enter your Nok Air booking ID to log-in.

nok air fly n ride

You'll get one of these transfer stickers when you check in at Don Muang airport.

Step 4:

You'll land in Udon Thani at 13.25 PM. As you make your way to arrivals, you'll see a toilet on the right-hand side before you go down the stairs. Use this toilet to go for a wee. You'll be in the mini-van for 45 minutes and the driver won't be making a gas station stop on the way.

Step 5:

Go down the stairs and look for the Nok Air rep with the clipboard. He/she will be waiting for you by the door. Follow the staff member to the minivan. The van they use is usually a spanking new one. It has seat belts and air-con vents throughout. The driver tends to drive very safely too because he is representing the airline.

Step 6:

If you haven't done so already, make sure you have filled out your departure card. This will save you time when you get to Thai immigration. Also use this opportunity to eat your packed lunch. Be careful not to get out of the van too early. Often the van stops at a travel agents and at a shopping mall fairly near the border. A few people usually depart here. Your stop is the final stop, as pictured below:

nong khai immigration

I didn't want to get too close while taking pictures at Thai immigration because you're not allowed. Put your phone away until you get to Laos.

Step 7.

Jump out at the checkpoint and make your way straight to immigration. Collect a new arrival card to fill in while you are in Laos. Once through, buy your 15 Baht bus ticket from the nice lady. This bus will take you across the Friendship Bridge to Laos. Ask if it’s the correct bus before you get on! Don’t bother sitting if you don’t have to; it’s only a few minute’s ride.

bus across friendship bridge

The buses across the bridge tend to be old, and full.

Step 8:

Jump off the bus and walk straight to ‘window 1' to get your forms. Don’t bother downloading your form from a site to fill in before your journey. I did this last time and it was refused. Gutted!

Refuse all touts offering you a taxi or to help you fill your forms. Sit down on the bench and fill in your forms. Watch your bag at all times!

Go back to ‘window 1' and give in your forms, passport, photo and $35. (Never pay Baht, you will pay more that way). Now go and wait by ‘window 3' to get your passport back.

Step 9:

Collect your passport and walk through to show it at the immigration check. On the other side, a member of Nok Air staff will be waiting to meet you. There's a big Nok Air sign; you can't miss it. If you have booked a flight back to Bangkok on the same day, you will need to sign to refuse the transfer to Vientiane.

Step 10.

Simply walk around and go back through immigration. Buy a bus ticket for 15 Baht (or 4,000 Kip) and repeat the process in reverse. Depending on the time you are doing this, you may be too late to get the fly n' ride minivan back to the airport, so you'll have to get another minivan.

I jumped in one for 200 Baht last time I did this in one day. If you caught the 6 AM flight from BKK, you'll probably be going back on the 16.45 PM flight and will be able to catch the Nok Air minivan on the other side.

If you caught the 12.20 PM flight then you will have missed the Nok Air van when you turn around and go back into Thailand. The van leaves at 3.15 PM. You will have to find another minivan to take you or take one of the taxi touts up on their offer.

Alternatively, go with the Nok Air minivan, relax and stay a night in Vientiane. It's a lovely little city.

Option 2: Stay Overnight in Vientiane

I really prefer this option because it means less traveling in one day, and I get to see the sunset over the Mekong, have dinner in Laos and do some shopping at the night market. Oh, and grab a foot massage if I have time.

So, it's all the same steps as above, except at ‘Step 9' you jump in the Nok Air minivan and go to Vientiane. If your hotel is on the way they will happily drop you off, if not, you will be taken to a travel agents named Trans-Express in town. This is the official Nok Air drop off and pick-up point. You then have to make your way to your hotel, which will be walkable if you use one of my hotel recommendations below:

Hotel Recommendation 1: IBIS Nam Phu

I’ve stayed at the Ibis Nam Phu three times. I go back because it’s so reliable. I know what I’m getting and it has been a wonderful experience every time. The staff all speak English (front desk) and are super-helpful. Here’s a quick pros and cons breakdown for you:

ibis hotel vientiane

The Ibis rooms are clean and modern.

Pros:

  • Centrally located
  • Can walk to and from the Nok Air drop-off/pick-up point
  • Very clean (international chain hotels have standards to adhere to)
  • 15-minute problem solving policy (they solve any issue within 15 minutes)
  • Wonderful lobby for relaxing/working
  • Close to the night market
  • Next door to Nam Phu (music, restaurant and bar)
  • Close to everything: temples, shops, restaurants, etc.
  • Comfortable bed
  • Flat screen TV with international news channels
  • Work desk in room
  • Great WIFI
  • Good breakfast options
  • Bar and restaurant open all day

Cons:

  • Not that cheap at usually $70 per night, but for the location and the quality you can’t go wrong – there won’t be any unwanted surprises!
  • Some rooms are smaller than others.
  • Breakfast is not usually included in the price. You can get a full breakfast for $8, or the smaller cereal, fruit, coffee breakfast for $5. Don’t sweat this though; there’s three cafés, all serving great food, within walking distance.
ibis hotel vientiane

The lobby and restaurant are open plan. There's a long desk for working and sofas to chill out. There's also a bar (not pictured).

✓ Check out prices for the Ibis here

Hotel Recommendation 2: Lao Orchid

My second recommendation is the Lao Orchid Hotel. I’ve stayed here twice and you won’t be disappointed with this choice either.

laos orchid vientiane

Pros:

  • Fantastic location, opposite a lovely temple and right next to the night market
  • Lovely staff
  • Wonderful lobby for chilling
  • Great restaurant: Open-plan means you can chill there in the daytime
  • Has parking if you want to hire a car
  • Great breakfast buffet
  • Bar and restaurant open all day
  • Clean, spacious rooms
  • Good WIFI

Cons:

  • Can be a tad noisy, though good sleepers won't be affected. On my first visit I experienced dogs barking until 2 AM. I assume they were in the temple grounds. The night market goes on until 9/10 PM, so it's a solid 11 PM before everyone has gone home to bed. It's a pretty sleepy town though, and there isn't much road noise at all after 11 PM.
  • Not cheap in comparison to “backpacker” hostels, but mid-priced compared to the Salana and the Dhavara.

✓ Check out prices for the Laos Orchid here

Last Steps – Back to Thailand

Step 11:

Okay, this brings us to the last step in this Thai visa run process. Remember, you need to meet at the Nok Air meeting point, which as I mentioned previously is currently the Trans-Express travel agents. Arrive here a solid 15 minutes before departure time. Go inside and sit down on the bench provided. The driver will arrive with a clip-board on-time, and leave sharply!

trans express vientiane

You'll know you're at the right place because the office looks like something out of the 1970s. They still had a Golf Tour brochure on display from 1995!

Step 12:

If you haven't done so already, fill out your Laos departure card before you leave to save time when going through immigration. If you remembered to pick one up on the way in, fill out your Thai immigration arrival card too.

Step 13:

You will be dropped by the minivan at immigration (border control). Once through, you need the bus ticket to cross the bridge. This costs 4,000 Kip, so make sure you save some kip. You can pay in Baht, but having Kip saves time.

*NOTE: Don’t change up too much Kip. You can’t change it back to Baht in Thailand and will struggle to do so in any other country. No one wants this currency!

Don’t sit down on the bus. Stand at the front so that you can be one of the first off. Once you’ve arrived at Thai immigration, you will want to get straight in the queue; the last thing you want is a bus-load of border runners getting in front of you – this could cost you 45 mins or more.

Step 14:

On the other side, walk straight ahead until you see a bench next to a Nok Air sign. Now, PAY ATTENTION! Do NOT listen to the touts telling you that you have missed the Nok Air bus. It arrives at 3.15 PM. If in doubt, call the number provided on the sign. These touts are trying to trick you into taking a taxi/van with them, which will set you back in excess of 300 Baht.

The minivan will arrive. Sign your name and seat belt up for the ride. You’ll have two hours to kill at Udon Thani airport. There’s a restaurant on the second floor before you clear security to go into the waiting lounge.

There’s also a coffee shop and gift shops on the first floor. Inside the lounge is a Black Canyon Coffee shop and some snack shops. Being an airport, expect to pay premium prices for snacks.

That’s it! You’re done. Get on the flight and return to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or wherever you came from or are going to.

udon thani airport

Boarding the plane at 6.35 PM Udon Thani Airport

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. When I arrived at Bkk airport on August 22nd this year on a 12 month multi entry visa, I asked the Thai immigration officer who had just stamped my Thai entry into my passport as to what all this 90 days in and out was all about.
    Did I really have to keep coming and going each 90 days? and he told me not to bother any more. They wern’t worried. I got the impression that the scheme had died a natural common sense death.
    I took that advice as being official, but is it?
    Having just read this forum there appears to be a lot of individuals who are bothered.
    Nothing was said of it either when I applied for my visa or when collecting it. There’s nothing on the visa to suggest such shananaguns either.
    Whats the real deal here?

    Reply

    • Far from it. If you overstay the 90 days you will pay 500 Baht per day in overstay fines when you go to leave. Overstay too long and you could get a ban. He may of been referring to the fact that you don’t need to leave but instead can extend your visa at immigration, by either 60 days or 1-year (with the necessary financial requirements).

      Reply

  2. Hi, for get a new 30 days-stamp you can make an easy fly from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport with Royal Jordanian at 16:45 (4:45 pm) to Kuala Lumpur (arrive 7:45 pm).

    No need to cross Malaysian Immigration and no need a hotel; just wait at the airport to fly back with the same plane at 10:10 pm to Bangkok (arriving at 11:20 pm). Wait 10 or 15 minutes before go to Thai immigration; so you will get your stamp with the date next day (for a new stay 30 days).

    Royal Jordanian offers this Return Flights for ~120 Euro (booked short time before flying); sometimes cheaper. So I think it’s the most comfortable way to get an extension of 30 days at the airport – but I don’t know you will get 60 or 90 days (with your existing visa).

    Thank you for your helpful answers.

    Reply

    • Ahh, that’s quite a good option. The flight is more expensive though, but you would be guaranteed the 30-days on re-entry, as opposed to 15 over land. Good for those who want to activate 30-days exemption on arrival. Nice one!

      Reply

      • And it’s a really “short time way”: From check-in BKK (~ 03:15 pm) to come back BKK (~ 0:15 am) you need 9 hours only: include 2 time free food and drinks on board of RJ – and as a Frequent Traveller with Gold card OneWorld (British Airways, American Airlines, Malaysian, airberlin, LATAM or others) you can use the Business Class Lounges in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur – that’s very comfortable. All for 4,500 THB (sometimes cheaper, if book your tickets not days before your trip).

        Reply

    • This is for either: A) You have a visa already such as a multi-entry tourist or Non O and you need to leave and come back in to the country to activate another 60 or 90 day stay. Or B) You came into Thailand on a 30-day or 15-day exemption and want to leave and come back in again to activate another 15-day exemption.

      Reply

  4. Hi im tuba , i stayed a month in thailand and i applied for 30 days tourist visa and totally im in thailand since 60 days . And now i want to do visa run to malaysia and come back to thailand for 30 days to give again . I will go to malaysia 19 august and come back 20 august to thailand .when i come back , will there be problem in don meung aiport ?? I have to do visa run because my return ticket to go back my country is 15 september

    Reply

  5. Hi, I really liked your article but i wanted to ask you about a doubt I have.

    I’m on a visa exemption for 30 days (which I already extended in Chiang Mai for another 30 days) and now I need to do a visa run to get 30 more days. It’s the first time I do that so I don’t think I will have problems getting back in Thailand.

    But I wanted to ask you if after going through the Laos inmigration i can just go back there to get back to Thailand or first i had to go to the Thai Embassy to get the visa. I ask you because there are a few websites that mention it and others that don’t.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • You mean you want to go out and come back in to get another 30 days? If you come in by land you will only get 15, so you’ll need to fly back in. You don’t need to visit the Thai embassy to get an entry stamp; you just come back in through immigration.

      Reply

      • Exacty. Even with a french passport and being the first time I do that I only would have 15 days?
        If I get back by plain, I think they would ask to show a ticket that will show when will I leave. They asked me that the first time I got here to board the plain.

        Reply

        • Correct, coming in by a land border would give you 15 days. Were you asked about the return ticket in France or in Thailand?

          If you are concerned about the return ticket when you arrive by plane, you can just pre-book a cheap ticket somewhere without paying upfront and then cancel it when inside Thailand.

          Reply

        • There’s some info about this floating around the interweb but I couldn’t find anything on an official Thai site. UK gov’s travel advice page on Thailand states: “British passport holders arriving by air or land can enter Thailand for 30 days without a visa – this is known as a visa exemption. If you need to stay longer, it’s possible to extend your stay once, from the expiry date of the original visa, for up to 30 days.

          If you’re using the 30 day visa exemption you can only enter Thailand through a land border twice per calendar year. To cross more frequently, you’ll need to get a visa in advance of travelling. This doesn’t apply to entry by air into Thailand. “

          Reply

          • Thanks. But what about visa runs in and out, once you’ve already entered on 30 days? I suspect the advice from the UK Gov refers to 2 separate holidays in one year, as opposed to the typical visa run. Last time I was crossing (earlier this year), the guy in front of me from Singapore was only given 15 days, not the 30 he was expecting. Is it the case that immigration make a judgement based on how long you have been out of Thailand, or other factors?

            Reply

            • Apparently Singapore doesn’t get any respect… Here’s a link to something I found on the Thai Dept. of Consular Affairs website:

              http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/customize/62281-Summary-of-Countries-and-Territories-entitled-for.html

              It has 2015 and 2016 dates at the bottom so it’s fairly recent. Check the ** footnote at the bottom: “** If such nationals enter the Kingdom at the immigration checkpoints which border neighboring countries, they will be allowed to stay for 15 days each time, except (1) Malaysian nationals who cross the borderline from Malaysia, (2) Nationals of the G7 countries: USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, whose granted period of stay will not exceed 30 days each time. In addition, such nationals who hold diplomatic and official passports are also practically exempted from visa for tourism.

              Reply

              • Nice one. Though I wonder how many times someone from a G7 country could get away with the 30 days, if they are going in and out regularly. Didn’t they restrict everyone to 15 days over land borders for a while? I never heard that this was lifted.

                Reply

                • Well, if both the UK and Thai guidance are correct it would seem like twice per calendar year. But it’s only for members of the G7 (which really seems odd) anyway. I’m guessing there’s enough business people sourcing through multiple ASEAN countries that it greases the skids a bit for the weary business traveller moving around by using visa exemption for entry.

                  Reply

  6. Hello

    Thanks for great info from these websites.
    I have a question about tourist visa,I’m going to Thailand without visa because my flight tickets are only 2 weeks period.In plane I fill arrival and departure cards and put my flight dates in cards.
    Im going to apply 60+30 days tourist visa from Laos and you instruction says that :

    Departure card (filled in)

    Do you mean that same departure card that i filled in the plane when I was arriving to Thailand?
    Do I have to go to Laos before that leaving date expires in my departure card?
    Or are you talking about different departure card?

    This is new to me so I have lot of questions.
    Thanks if you can answer.

    Reply

    • When you arrive in Thailand you will fill in your arrival card. They will tear off the departure card and put it in your passport, When you leave to Laos you fill that out. When you come back in you will fill in a new arrival card. It’s really straight forward; don’t worry about this aspect — everyone has to fill one in.

      Reply

  7. Very Nice article on Laos. I have done visa run a few times to Laos but it requires 2 days to do not one day. Cheap way for border run travel by train or bus about 500 Baht from Bangkok to Nong Khai city on Border in Thailand, arrive earlier than 6am. Take tuk tuk to border (60 baht). About 6 or 7am I think the border gate opens and as the article saids.. Nicely written.

    Reply

      • As far as I know, your passport needs to stay overnight with immigration, so the process always takes 2 days. You can arrange with a tout to arrange to have your passport back the same day, around 4-5pm, but that is very risky as it is illegal. It also costs you just as much as having to stay overnight in a hotel.

        Reply

        • Just to go over the border and come back? That is not the case. For example: let’s say you have a multiple entry tourist visa and you have stayed for 59 days in Thailand. You will need to go out and come back in. You can do this visa run to the Nong Khai border, cross into Laos, turn straight back around and come back to Thailand and get your stamp – which will activate a further 60 days. If you actually have to obtain a new visa from the embassy in Laos, that is a different story. It is possible to do in one day, but two may be advisable.

          Reply

          • Hi, seems very helpful article. I just want to make sure if this surely work as I am planning to get Non O visa for my son. Can i really use this one day processing? My baby is just 1.10 months so I want to make sure if it’s fast as this? thanks

            Reply

  8. Hi, I was in Thailand back in November for 30 days. I end up deciding I want to come back to continue doing Muay Thai.

    So I came back in late March. I wrongly assumed that I can come in on just passport and get an 30 days extension for an 60 days. Then I’d have to leave Thailand for a bit then come back and get 30 days extension.

    After that 30 days, I have to leave then I can come back and start over.

    Am I doing this wrong?

    Would I be better off just go to Lao at end of current 30 days to get a tourist visa?

    Also how many times can this be repeated?

    Thanks for help in advacne.

    Reply

  9. Hi i came to BKK on Visa Exemption 30days on arrival and i got another 30days whilst here and finally a 7days. If i leave thailand by air to say Laos and come back to Thailand would can i do what i did without visa and just exemption ?

    Also i have visa Run furms in BKK do by land to cambodia and stay 3 nights ans get a tourist 60day visa which can be extended for another 30days making it 90days in total. Also is it true you have to prove you have 20k THB.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • I would leave by air and come back in for another 30 days. If you go out by land you will only get 15 days, and because you have extended twice they may question your motives at immigration. You could go and get a tourist visa from Cambodia, that would be a sensible option as you would have a legitimate visa from an embassy. The 20k thing has always been a requirement but never asked for, certainly not in my experience of tourist visas.

      Reply

  10. im going into loas with my partner who is thai and my daughter by land as im in udon thani.we are staying in loas for 4 nights 5 days then flying back to bangkok.will i get a 15 day extension or a 30 day extension when back in thailand.

    Reply

  11. Another question… do you know how many times immigration will grant a 30 day extension on a visa exemption (the stamp you get at airport upon arrival)? I received one at immigration in January… then left the country and received another stamp in February. I am wondering if I can get another extension for 30 days this March?

    Reply

    • You get one extension (at immigration) inside the country per visit. You can stamp in and out and get another 30 days by air and 15 by land. But don’t keep doing it because at some point you will be denied entry. Get the tourist visa from an embassy. It’s a safer bet.

      Reply

  12. Hello! This is a very informative post, thank you. My question: It’s possible to fill out your forms and hand in your passport to Immigration for a tourist visa AND get your visa and the passport back on the same day? I always thought it was a 24hr process when visiting an out of country embassy. Is the 24hr time frame non applicable here, because this process involves Thai immigration, not the Thai embassy? Also, will they allow one to purchase a 60 day Thai tourist visa, or is only 30 days permitted? Is the 60 day the same thing as the multiple-entry visa? (So many questions! 🙂 Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • You might have to stay over night to be issued a tourist visa. It depends on the amount of people and what time you get there. I’d book in for a night just to be sure. The process is at the embassy, not immigration. If you are just stamping in and out at the border then this is possible in one day.You can purchase a single entry 60-day tourist visa.

      Reply

    • Providing you leave Thailand by air and return to Thailand by air you will be given another 30 day tourist visa stamp in your passport at immigration at the arriving airport. If you leave Thailand by road and re enter by road you will be given a 15 day tourist visa stamp in your passport. Hope that helps

      Reply

  15. You were able to get a Type O non-immigrant visa in 1 day using this method? I mean staying overnight and picking up the passport/visa the next day. I followed this method for my last visa and it worked perfect for me and my wife but I only did a 60 day tourist visa. This will be my first time applying for non-immigrant type O.

    Reply

  16. Hi again,
    Two questions:

    How would you suggest I hook up with other expats to join together for a visa run? Could be more fun with a small group.

    Could there be any problem having my Thai gf join me? She will be getting her first passport ever.
    Thanxalot

    Reply

    • Hi David
      If you book a visa run with an agent to Laos with a pickup from victory monument in Bangkok there are normally a group of expats waiting for the same trip, you can certainly meet up there before the trip. There is no problem taking your Thai partner on the trip but of course without a passport she is unable to cross the border into Laos. She would need to wait on the Thailand side of the border for you to return from the embassy

      Reply

  17. Hi y’all, I’m American and have been planning to get a retirement one year visa but, because I’m living in another country (Turkey) I’m having difficulty getting ORIGINAL pension documents and police clearance from the states. Can I do this visa run on the 30 day tourist visa I will get at the airport? After the 30 day extension?
    Many thanks,
    Dave

    Reply

    • Hi Dave
      have you considered applying for an education visa ? I got one very easily after registering with a Thai language school and learning Thai for one hour per day, 3 days per week ( and hours and days of attendance is at my choosing ) I received a one year education visa. It still requires 90 day reporting but no need for visa runs. Hope that helps

      Reply

        • Hi Luke the unity Thai language school in Bangkok. They, along with others will assist you in the visa paperwork needed. The rules did change recently. You have to commit to the lessons you’ve booked or the school will inform immigration that you haven’t attended the required lessons and then the visa is revoked. You can obtain a Ed visa from 9 months up to 2 years. The school will provide prices for the courses and you can choose the times you attend and dates to suit you. Hope this helps

          Reply

  18. I made the run to Myanmar – very smooth – 2 hour Big Bus to Kanchanaburi 110TB then Taxi to border roughly 1 hour 600TB – walked to Thai Immigration … walk next door paid 1100 TB (visa is 900 TB then 100 TB for second Taxi to Myanmar round trip (way too far to walk) – 100TB for who the hell knows?!?!) – second Taxi took my Passport and documents in for me – did not use passport photos … got stamps. Drove me back to original taxi … paid 600 TB to return to Kanchanaburi- paid 110TB bus back to Bangkok. ??

    Reply

  19. I don’t see the advantage, and especially I don’t see how
    you can do it in one day.
    Maybe depends on type of visa.
    I’ll be going Sunday or Monday bkk to Vientiane.
    For a educational visa.
    Everything I have read is you have to wait till the next
    day to get your passport back.

    Reply

    • Hi Gerard I’ve just completed this trip for my ED visa. I booked overnight stay because of what I had read about the passport being returned the next day, however my visa was issued and passport returned in 4 hours. They called me to say it was ready to collect. Also received an email stating my visa was ready. I decided to stay overnight as my hotel and return flight was already booked.

      Reply

  25. Hi there, my 90 day non-B visa expires in a few weeks and Im not quite sure which route i should take to extend it. My applcation for a work permit has been delayed so thats out of the question… Can i leave the country apply for a 60 day tourist visa and then return to thailand and extend it for a month at the end of the 60 days? That’s the impression that I have of the whole situation right now. Or do i leave the country and return on a single entry 30 day tourist visa and then extend it afterwards? If I were to do the first option, would this trip to Laos be the most appropriate route?

    Thanks in advance

    Reply

    • Hi Pat, you could do both. You could leave to Laos and get a single entry tourist visa from the embassy that lasts 60 days. You could then extend that for 30 days at immigration. Or enter on a tourist visa and get an extension at immigration, which i think they still give you 30 days for. I’d go for the tourist visa though to avoid any hassle.

      BTW: If you can, please confirm you received my reply. I’m having some issues with readers not getting the replies to their comments and trying to resolve it. Thanks.

      Reply

  27. Hey,

    I’ll be doing this in less than a week, I’m on a tourist single entry visa that’s at the end of its maximum 90 days. If I want 90 more days, do I have to spend the night in Vientiane ?

    Also, do you know if I can ask for another kind of visa (one I would be allowed to work with) if I don’t have the 5000$ on my account and don’t possess an employer’s letter ? Is there really only the tourist visa that I can ask for if I have little money?

    Thanks for your great site,

    Js

    Reply

    • Hi, you can’t get another 90 days on your visa. You can only extend the visa for 30 days at an immigration office for 1,900 Baht. You can go to Laos and apply for another single entry tourist visa and get another 90 days. There is no visa you can apply for that will allow you to work. To work you need a permit. The permit is obtained by your employer when you secure a job. The permit accompanies a B visa, which you would be required to get once your job offer is in place.

      Reply

        • You can only get 90 days if you have a multiple entry Non Immigrant O visa. People with this type of visa have to leave every 90 days. When they stamp back in the get another 90 days stay. You can go to the Thai embassy in Laos (Vientiane) and apply for a single entry tourist visa which will give you 60 days. You could then extend this for a further 30 days at immigration in Thailand.

          Reply

  28. For everybody seeking a 60 day visa.

    In my experience, Hanoi is typically the cheapest route you can take from BKK. The airfare is usually quite inexpensive, as well as the hotels and food. The Thai Embassy is usually very quiet, which means no wait lines. You can drop off your passport in the morning, and pick it up the following day.

    I used to do the Vientiane route and each time, I found myself paying much more than what I would spend in Hanoi, and the Thai Embassy…always super busy. My longest wait was around 4 hours compared to Hanoi, which was 1 minute.

    I find Hanoi more convenient, and definitely cheaper than traveling to Vientiane.

    I hope this helps.

    Reply

  29. Hi

    This site is extremely helpful and constantly revert back to it for assistance.

    I need to do a run at the end of novegebr as my 30 day extension on a 30 day visa exempt will have expired. I plane to do the above mentioned trip in a day. (Kinda over and done with attitude).

    Will i be able to receive a 60 day tourist visa upon entry doing it this way. I have a South African passport.

    Thank you for the endless supply of information

    Reply

    • You should be able to obtain a 60-day single entry tourist visa in Laos; though it is possible to do in a day, you’d have to get there very early — earliest fly and ride and arrive at the embassy at opening time. Also, they may tell you to pick it up the next day. I’d play safe and stay over night at a cheap hotel.

      Reply

  30. Hi,
    Currently in Thailand coming to the end of my 30 days visa (up on arrival)… I would like to know if that technique can still be done considering the situation in thailand?
    Otherwize I’ll have to go to Vientiane which is less practical for me.

    Thanks in advance.

    Guillaume

    Reply

    • You can extend for 30 days by going to CW immigration in Bangkok. Here’s what you need.

      – Your passport and departure card
      – 1,900 Baht
      – One passport photo
      – Copies of your passport photo/declaration page, the page with your entrance stamp and your departure card.

      Reply

  31. hi

    Currently in Thailand coming to the end of my 30 day visa… Can I get a 60 day renewal in Lao.?

    I’ve also looked into getting my ED visa but don’t need it til next May. Will my run to Lao have a negative effect?

    Thanks
    Sarah

    Reply

    • What visa do you have now? Do you mean a 30-day entry stamp? If so, you could go to Laos and get a single entry tourist visa that would last 60 days.

      As long as you are not doing back to back reentry stamps all the time you shouldn’t run into any problems.

      Reply

  32. Hi,
    Thank you for all the information. I recently arrived in Chiang Mai on August 24th. I was issued the 30 day tourist visa upon arrival. I am here to study the Thai language, and my return ticket to America is December23rd. I have booked a flight through Air Asia on September 23rd to Ho Chi Minh City. Once I get there I plant to stay for a couple days to see the city, then take a bus to Cambodia, hang out there for a couple days, continue on to Vientiane and fly back into Chiang Mai from there. Can I apply for a 60 or 90 day Thai visa once in Laos? Or will I be issued another 30 day tourist visa? I’m starting to stress out a little and would really appreciate any information to can share. Thank you very much for your time and help.

    Reply

  33. Have really enjoyed the site and learned a lot from it!!

    I have a question about a visa run to Laos as you describe but Just want to make sure nothing has changed recently.

    Initially I travelled to Thailand from USA on a 60 day Tourist visa and just recently extended the visa for 30 more days.

    If I travel across to Laos (via Friendship Bridge) before my 30 day extension is up, stay overnight and return to Thailand the next day will I get another 30 days or less. Seems like I read at some land crossings you get only two weeks.

    I also choose to take this route via train from BKK since my GF and her sis & BF made the trip before and they are knowledgable about the area.

    Thanks in advance for any info!!

    Stephen

    Reply

    • Hi Stephen, you will only get 15 days. Careful on doing too many extensions though; they don’t like this anymore and if you clock up a few you may get pulled up at some point. Why not grab a 6-month tourist visa while in Laos?

      Reply

      • Hey man,

        how do you get this 6 month visa ? I’ll have to do a run around mid-november, and I’d like to not abuse of this practice – I want my passport to look clean in case I apply for a work or ED visa.

        Your site is a gold mine btw. You just convinced me to get a VPN, which I thought I didn’t need before.

        Reply

  34. Hi, we are going to use the route Tommy suggested just in July of this year, “flying into the Wattay airport” Did you ever hear back from him to see how it went for him? Is this a guaranteed way to get a 90 day visa? We are trying to get on a missionary visa with a church that we will be working with. We have paper work to begin the process.
    Will we (four Americans and a Thai) need a visa to get into Laos? How much is that, if it’s needed?

    Reply

  35. I will do my first visa run as my first 90 days out of my METV will expire in a few days. This is what I’m gonna do, and I will report later. It seems like it’s easier than what has been suggested here (bus, crossing the bridge, etc, VS just landing at Wattay airport), but maybe I’m missing something? I’d appreciate your input!

    Booked an Air Asia return flight from BKK to Vientiane. Total paid: 2390.00 THB. Flying on a Tuesday, coming back on Wednesday.

    Booked a decent hotel room through Agoda in Vientiane City Center : 20 USD (700 THB)

    Visa on arrival cost : 35 USD (1200 THB)

    Taxi cost from BKK city center to Don Mueang and back : 600 THB

    Total : +/- 5000 THB, around $140 USD.

    What do you think ?

    Reply

    • This is a new route that began on 1st July. It’s pretty awesome and, while not as cheap as the option in my post, it’s certainly inexpensive and cuts out the hour trip from Udon airport to the bridge. Go for it!

      Reply

  36. Im followinf your website since 3 years ago always have to full information and give me a real idea about thailand, i want to ask u about apply 60 days visa tourist in nearby country ( laos camboya) , how it can done ? and how much cost evrything like traveling from bkk till there , if take private company for do it is more fast ( ear that they need 5 days !! ) .
    thank a lot and continue !!!

    Reply

    • Hi Ivan, all you need for a tourist visa is the usual passport, photo ID and information of your onward journey. You can get one within 48 hours in a country outside of Thailand, if you go to the embassy/consulate. The cheapest option is always a bus, but you can go to Laos by plane and minivan using the directions in my post. Visa run companies usually do border runs, not visits to the embassy.

      Reply

      • Does this work if i am going from a non-immigrant B visa to holiday visa? My work contract is about to finish. I want to ride around Northern Thailand for about 3 weeks. I was planning on riding from Pattaya up to Laos to start and do my visa there, then come back out and head over to Chang Mai. Can i fly direct to Vientiane/Laos from bangkok or Chang Mai? would this make it faster?

        Reply

        • Because your B visa would be cancelled and you’d effectively be re-entering as a tourist you would get 30 days. I have heard that some people are only given 15 days because they are re-entering by land and not an airport, even though this isn’t a visa run you are doing; it’s starting afresh with a new tourist entry. You can fly BKK to Vientiane with Bangkok Airways but it is expensive.

          Reply

          • No worries thanks. I have also heard back from a couple of other visa run companies and they are telling me I will get 60 days. Either way, I only really need about 20. Have researched it a little bit more and will ride up from here and just leave my bike in secure parking, overnight in Laos and then continue on my merry way:)
            Thanks again for the advice, I will definately be following your guide from when i get there.

            Reply

    • For a Nigerian whose residence is in Nigeria, application for a visa shall be made at the Royal Thai Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria ONLY, with requirement of Clearance Certificate issued by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (N.D.L.E.A) in Nigeria.

      Reply

  38. Hi I am planing a visa run before the 05/Jul/2016 I am in Chiang Rai my plan is to get bus to Udon i have a frend living thear and cross the boarder the folloing day into Laos then return from Laos back to Bangkok same day do you see any problems i may encounter with my plan i am going to get ticket today or tomorrow

    Reply

  39. Hi i am staying with my wife in Chiang Rai i have been working three and three in Australia in oil and gas biz so i have just been geting an N30 when i return to Thailand and leave before its up back to work .
    my work has stoped for a bit due to the global oil price due to start again end of this year .
    i went to Mae Sai yesturday to get a 7 day extention which has me leaving on the 05 /Jul / 2016 . i have a work frend in UDON and i was thinking that i could go stay with him and then could do as you say to cross into Laos and back . can i re enter the same way or do i need to fly back to bangkok to re enter ?

    Reply

  40. What about applying for 60 visa at Vientiane Thai embassy? What would be the fastest way? If I’m not wrong you have to leave your visa application before 12pm? and collect it next day after 9am?
    How would you do it the quickest way?

    Dave

    Reply

  41. Hi, I had a question about doing a visa run by air. My work permit and extension of stay will be cancelled as my job is over now. I need a little more time in Thailand since I’m going to apply for a work visa to a third country, from their embassy in Bangkok. I’ll get a 7-day extension when I go with my employer to cancel the work permit. Then the next day I’ll fly to Kuala Lumpur and back to Thailand the same day, to get a 30-day visa exemption stamp (US citizen). I wanted to go to Kuala Lumpur on the day my work permit was cancelled to save money on the 7-day extension, but I need to have time as I don’t want to get back late at night from Malaysia.

    Is it okay to just get a ticket to Vietnam as my proof of onward travel when I leave Kuala Lumpur and come back to Thailand? If the airline asks me for proof of onward travel when I leave Thailand to go to Malaysia, it’ll be strange because my onward ticket is a return to Thailand the same day. I’ve never done this before so I’m just worried about getting stranded in Kuala Lumpur. Please let me know if this seems like it will work. 🙂

    Reply

    • So in effect, once the 7-day extension becomes invalid because you leave the country, you are essentially just doing a visa run as a tourist, right? So you’ll get 30 days when you re-enter. Since this will be the first time you’re doing it, you should have no problem and get no questions from immigration. Having an onward ticket to Vietnam when you arrive back in Thailand is a safe bet, just in case they ask for proof of an onward journey.

      Reply

      • Yes. I originally arrived in Thailand on a 30-day exemption. I extended that once and then went to Laos to turn it into a work visa, which I’ve been on ever since. But this is the first time I’m leaving and coming back the same day to get a 30-day exemption. Thanks for the advice! 🙂

        Reply

    • I missed it last time and even phoned customer service to ask! When I was on the phone I realised I’d just not seen it in the dashboard. Click on the destination box and look under Laos > Vientiane (fly n ride).

      Reply

  43. Hi there! Do you know if this holds true to change a tourist vis to a Non B visa? My fiance has to go to Laos and every where I read, it takes two days. But now, I’ve read your article that it can be done in one day, which although it’s a lot of traveling, it would be more realistic in our current situation. Would he just need to take the documents for the Non B visa and the transfer fee for it to also be accomplished in one day? Is it really that simple. I’ve never been more excited if it’s so!! Thanks
    Kayla

    Reply

    • I think you will need two days for that I’m afraid. I think you have to apply on day one and pick up on day 2. If you get there early enough it might be possible. you could take the 6am flight. However, I’d ring the embassy and confirm what time you’d need to be there to do it in a day, if they can.

      Reply

  44. I assume all this info is up to date? I.e May ’16? I though it is only possible to get 1 month visas for Thailand though? How did you get 3 months one and do they not start to question why you are in and out so much? I assume one can also just go to any other surrounding country for a long weekend in order to repeat same process or is the 3month visa only available this way?

    P.s please forgive my ignorance, not been to Thailand before so just doing my research, I have been pulled up by immigration before in HK for being there for almost a year, despite them giving me numerous new 180 day stamps each time I went to see other nearby places and re-entered, it was NOT a pleasant experience! One I would rather not experience again especially in Thailand which is renowned for being less than hospitable in certain circumstances. Just planning ahead n want to cover my ass if you know what I mean. Cheers.
    Pops, Thailand sounds like a cool place if it really is that easy!

    Reply

    • Hi Mark, I have a non O based on marriage. It is issued in my home country and lasts for 1 year. Every 3 months I have to leave Thailand and come back in. However, I can extend 3 months to 5 months by going to immigration and applying for another 60 days. This can only be done once though so I do this visa run on the other times.

      Alternatively, I have the option to meet the financial requirements and extend for a year, which is 400k in a Thai bank account for a period of 90 days (before applying to extend, I think). Even in this case, although I wouldn’t have to leave the country, I would still have to report to immigration every 90 days.

      You can do this visa run to extend 15 days if you have been in the country for 30 days though, and if you have the multi-entry tourist visa you can also do this over land run.

      Reply

  45. I did the out/in run a couple of times back in 1973. It was a bit more tricky during the war years… no Freedom Bridge. My first one was from Bangkok flying directly into Vientiane… get stamped in and immediately back out and back on the same aircraft back to Bangkok. The second one was from Udon to Nong Kai by taxi and greasing the palms of the border entry crew to stamp my passport out and then back in without having to take a terribly scary long tail boat ride across the Mekong… It was pretty sketchy back in the day… Oh, how I miss that place!

    Reply

    • Wow. Great memories, I’m sure. Did you ever do that boat trip across the Mekong? And there was me thinking the dilapidated bus across the bridge was bad! Vientiane has changed so much, just in the last 6 years. On my most recent visit I noticed a Lamborghini showroom had opened in the town centre!

      Reply

      • I never did make the boat trip. My adventures described above were from my visit back to Thailand after leaving the military… to get married and bring my new spouse back to America. While in the Air Force, I spend three years at the Udon Thani airport back when it was called Udorn Air Base flying EC-130E combat missions (69-72). Many of our off-duty trips were up to Nong Kai (via motorcycle) to feast on a floating restaurant and just poke around town… being curious young Yank G.I.s. Probably the best three years of my younger days… Correction – Definitely the best three years of my younger days.

        Reply

        • On my recent trip, as we took off from Udon airport I saw lots of what looked like old military-style airplane hangers; this reminded me that this airport was in fact the air base used by the US to fly bombing missions into Vietnam. Do you recall seeing these hangers back then? I’m quite interested in the impact the presence of US military had on Udon back then and the influence it has had since. For example, Udon Thani is well known as being one of, if not the, North Eastern provinces with the highest population of women with foreign partners, so I wonder: was it US soldiers dating local women back then that started this trend?

          There’s also a lot said about the Pattaya scene and how this was kickstarted by the US military presence in Thailand. There’s also literature quoting an R&R deal for US soldiers agreed by the US gov and Thai gov at the time. You can read an extract on this by clicking here. It would be good to hear you first-hand experience of this.

          Reply

  46. Mate, you rock! Got back yesterday and had this post open on my phone the entire way and you nailed every detail. I stayed over night at the Ibis like you suggested and it was great. Love the Laos people man.

    Reply

  47. For pure speed and cost Aranyaprathet/Poipet is definitely quickest/cheapest from Bangkok if you don’t need to get a visa. Bus is 200B each way, 4-5hr, visa into Cambodia is $20 (600B) plus some small change for a tuk tuk from the bus station to the border (6km) gives you a total cost of barely over 1,000B.

    The only advantage of Vientiane is that there’s an embassy there with next day processing if you need a new visa. The visa into Cambodia IS $20 which is under 600B, I sometimes give them an extra $1 but as ever if you pay in baht you’ll be ripped off.

    If you’re looking at flights, budget airline domestic to Hat Yai (for Malaysia, free entry) or Chiang Rai or Mae Sot (for Myanmar, $10) are good options, the airport at the latter is literally 2km from the border. Or sometimes you can find a cheap flight to Penang or KL and just turn around and come straight back.

    Reply

  48. ohhh thailand is wonderful place to visit and i love the Udon airport. When our family first time visit for holidays we were facing lot’s of problem regarding visa but luckily we got an extension. Miss u Thailand!!

    Reply

  51. Nice run. can almost beat it with this one.
    Leave from suvarabumi bus station to poi pet at 1:00 (200) bus goes right to border. walk out of Thailand. (do this on a thursday and no lines). Go get Cambodian Visa (800). Go into Cambodia. Hang out for 10 15 min. Leave Cambodia. Go back into Thailand. (still no lines) Go get bus (green one leaves about 6:15) in front of 7-11 (300 or 200 if they know you, or you speak a bit of Thai). Get off at Homepro Bangpli about 9:15. back home on my motorbike in 5 min. total about 1200.

    Reply

      • The bus to Poi Pet (actually Araanyapratet) leaves the airport bus staion at 1PM. There are others also (7AM, sometimes a 3Pm).
        Also to clarify the original posters visa (for Ben). He already had a multi-entry Visa (valid for 6 months) and was just doing an exit/re-entry and getting another 60 days. He also could have spent 1900 at local Immigration office and gotten an extension (probably 30 days).

        Reply

  53. Peter, that’s one very quick visa run but what a pity you couldn’t have enjoyed a bit of daytime in Nong Khai and an evening out in Udon Thani. I was at Udon airport last week but supped a 150 baht JD and coke instead of a cappuchino. It’s not too bad an airport.

    Reply

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