What you need to know to apply for a Thai visa in Laos or Cambodia

The latest information on how to extend your Thai visa when crossing the border with Laos or Cambodia, updated in October 2022.

As of this October, the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, in neighbouring Laos, has announced the latest regulations for the issuance of single 60-day tourist visas, which in most cases can be extended for an additional 30 days with the Thai immigration authorities.

However, the procedure is more complicated than going to the Cambodian border, which issues a 45-day visa waiver to most nationalities with the possibility of an additional month in Thailand.

The Thai Embassy in Laos has announced that applicants will be required to present a Thai bankbook containing at least 25,000 baht (approximately '666) to spend in Thailand.

See : How to open a bank account in Thailand in 2022?

Most nationalities can apply for a 60-day tourist visa, but people from 29 countries (including China and Bangladesh) may face significant delays due to additional identity checks.

Double or multiple entries into Thailand are only granted to Lao citizens or foreigners with long-term residence rights.

Entry to Laos can be by road or air, but immigration officials will probably want to see proof of prior booking of accommodation in or near Vientiane.

Appointments at the embassy must be made in advance, via its websiteIn addition to the above, walk-in visits are no longer permitted.

The procedure usually takes 24 hours, which means spending a night in the capital.

Several Thai tour operators offer visa travel to Laos, either by minibus or by air, the former for a fee of about 15,000 baht (about €399) and about double that by air.

Most foreigners wishing to extend their holiday in Thailand opt for a new 45-day visa waiver stamp at the Cambodian border, with the possibility of an additional month.

French, Swiss, Belgian and Canadian citizens are entitled to this 45-day extension.

See : Thailand officially extends visas on arrival

However, some nationalities (notably Indians and Chinese) cannot use this route, as they are not exempt from visa requirements, but rather from visa on arrival, which is different.

The visa on arrival applies to about 20 countries and offers 30 days (plus 15) for a fee of 2,000 baht (about '53) on arrival in Thailand, unless waived.

All foreigners are limited to two "run" (visa waiver or visa on arrival) border crossings in a 12-month period.

It is not known at present how many tourist visas (60 days, extendable by one month in Thailand) can be issued in a year.

However, "The Royal Thai Embassy reserves the right to refuse the visa application for all persons who have stayed for more than 90 days in the last 6 months prior to the date of application.

See : Visas for Thailand: the different types

Another problem with the Cambodian border is that only organised groups with a tour or visa company are allowed to make the crossing in one day.

Unaccompanied persons arriving at Aranyaprathet or Pong Nam Ron immigration posts are told that they must stay in Cambodia for several days because their identity documents were not sent in advance for verification.

The best advice at the moment is to organise a visa race through an agency that regularly runs races and knows the ropes.

Proof of vaccinations or Covid-19 tests are no longer required to enter Cambodia, Laos or Thailand.

Source: Pattaya Mail