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Border-Visa Run 101: What You Need to Know

After receiving several inquiries from readers of my other related posts, who were confused about the difference between a visa run and a border run, I decided to clarify exactly what these terms involve and the distinctions between the two.

To begin, let's understand why you might need to do a visa or border run in the first place.

When you enter Thailand, you will receive an exemption stamp, allowing you to stay for either 30 days or 15 days, depending on your country of origin.

Once this duration is over, you must leave the country.

To extend your stay, you have the option of visiting an immigration office and paying a fee of 1,900 Baht, but this can only be done once.

Another way to extend your stay is to exit the country and return.

Moreover, those who possess a visa have a specific period allowed for their stay in the country, usually 60 or 90 days, depending on the type of visa.

Upon reaching the end of this period, they must either extend their visa inside Thailand or leave the country. If they leave, they can either return to reactivate another period of validity on their existing visa or obtain a new visa from a consulate or embassy in another country.

Let's delve into this topic further to gain a deeper understanding.

thailand-border-visa-run

The border separating Thailand and Cambodia, Aranyaprathet to Poipet.

The Difference Between a Visa Run & Border Run

The terms “visa run” and “border run” can be used interchangeably, though there are nuances pertaining to different circumstances.

Both require you to go across the border and back, so essentially they are one of the same thing. However, depending on your situation, they may mean slightly different things.

For the sake of this post I'll provide examples to explain how they can differ slightly in meaning, but by the end of the post you'll see why they are really one and the same.

The Visa Run

If you do not have a visa and are seeking to obtain one, you will need to visit a consulate or embassy outside of Thailand.

This will likely require you to stay for one or two nights in your destination, giving you enough time to visit the consulate or embassy, apply for, and collect the visa.

Arguably, this is the primary difference between these two terms.

In this scenario, the term “visa run” would be more applicable because you are crossing the border to obtain a visa.

However, the term “visa run” can still be applied to those who already have a visa, as we'll discuss below, since they are seeking to get a new stamp in their visa by running to the border.

The Border Run

When people use the term “border run,” it generally refers to the fact that they already have a visa or are seeking to re-enter the country on an exemption stamp. In this case, they need to go over the border and return on the same day.

So, the term “border run” essentially means literally going over the border and coming back (running to the border and back = border run).

Several companies offer this service, and a typical border run involves obtaining a ticket from a border run company and boarding a minivan early in the morning. The minivan will then take you to the nearest border, usually involving a 3-4 hour trip there and back.

Upon reaching the destination country's side of the border, you turn around and return directly to Thailand, obtaining a re-entry stamp in the process.

Land Border Runs

If you do not have a proper visa and were previously on an exemption stamp, which would have given you 30 days on arrival at the airport (or 15 days, depending on your country of origin), re-entering Thailand via land will grant you a new stamp with a validity of 30 days.

It used to be the case that leaving Thailand and returning would only get you a 15-day stay, but this rule has since changed for most nationalities.

Additionally, immigration authorities keep track of the number of “in-out” stamps in your passport. If you abuse the system by repeatedly entering and leaving the country without obtaining a proper visa, you may expect to be stopped by immigration officials, questioned on this matter, and possibly refused a new stamp.

If you aren't sure whether your country of origin will permit you a 15 or 30-day stay in Thailand, you can check here on Wikipedia.

A few lucky countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Korea and Peru – are allowed 90 days within any 6 months.

Airport Border Runs

Flying in and out of Thailand can still be considered a border run or a visa run because you are crossing a border, turning around, and coming back in. However, the rules will be slightly different for those who do not have a proper visa.

If you fly out of Thailand and return on the same day, you can receive another 30-day stamp on arrival. Nevertheless, if you frequently engage in airport border/visa runs, expect to be questioned by immigration at some point.

Immigration officials will inquire about your intentions and ask why you need to keep leaving and returning to Thailand.

If you have a girlfriend, wife, or family in Thailand or if you are working there, they will want to know why you haven't obtained the appropriate visa for your situation.

Even if you are simply a tourist who enjoys visiting repeatedly, they will ask why you have not acquired a tourist visa for this purpose.

Indeed, I advise obtaining a tourist visa rather than doing back-to-back border/visa runs – it will save you any hassle with immigration. A tourist visa is relatively cheap and easy to obtain. See here.

Getting Your Visa Stamped (at the border)

For those who do have a proper visa, such as a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa or a Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa, when you cross the border and return, you will receive a stamp that activates a new validity period for your existing visa.

If you have a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, you will be granted another 60 days of stay. On the other hand, if you have a Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant O Visa, you will be given an additional 90 days of stay.

It's worth noting that these visas can be extended at immigration for a cost of 1,900 Baht. So, if you are unable to do a border run, you can still extend your visa for a certain period by visiting immigration with the required documentation and fee.

If you possess a Non-Immigrant O Visa, you will be allowed to extend once during the yearly validity period, for 60 days. For those with a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, you can extend once within the visa validity period, for 30 days.

For those who are new to this process, I hope this post provides a clear insight into what a visa/border run is, why it is necessary, and the differences between the two terms.

If your visa is about to expire and you need to leave the country to activate another period of validity, or you simply want to enter and exit to receive another 15 days in Thailand, or even if you want to visit the consulate or embassy of another country to obtain a visa, you can find my recommended visa/border run itinerary at the link below.

Getting a Visa to Cross the Border

Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to cross over the border into the country where you are doing your border/visa run. For example, the large majority of nationalities will require a visa to enter Laos.

In Laos, this visa can be obtained and paid for at the border. You can pay in US Dollars or Baht, with US Dollars usually being the cheaper option.

However, you also have the option to get your visa in advance, which can be advantageous and more convenient. By doing so, you won't need to fill in the visa application form upon arrival or fiddle with money at the border.

You can use the widget below to determine whether or not you need a visa for your destination country.

Visa Document Checker

 

If you are considering doing a visa run, then check out my recommendation for the fastest, most comfortable, most affordable visa run option.

In this post, I break down the entire visa run step-by-step, and even recommend great but cheap accommodation for those who need to stay overnight to in order to visit the Thai embassy.

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



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  2. Wesley says

    I don't want to do a tourist visa this time due to online application,I am spending my annual 44 days holiday in Thailand in December to January , I have never done a border run before I'm from the UK how many days would I get on re-enter of the border in Thailand.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      You can get 30 days when you re-enter. But why not just the single entry 60 day tourist visa? It will save you having to leave and re-enter and save any issues with immigration if they ask when you are leaving and re-entering immediately and whether you are a genuine tourist. That probably won't happen but it might.
      Reply

  3. Kate says

    Hi so currently I am in Thailand on a Multiply entry tourist visa. I went to an embassy and got an extension for an additional 30 days on my visa making it 90 days total. Next week the additional 30 days runs out and I will need to do a run. I will be flying out and back in. Is there an amount of time I need to stay out of the country before I come back in? Should I stay in a hotel and then come back in the next day instead of on the same day? I do not need to go to an immigration office, I just need to get a reentry stamp.
    Reply

  4. Nick says

    I'm planning on living in Bangkok for 1 year. Can I get the 60 day tourist visa and just fly to a nearby country every 60 days and stay for 1 week or so and apply for another 60 day tourist visa for Thailand from another country. I have seen that they have cracked down on Visa runs recently and that you can only leave and come back a few times each year? Also, is there a specific length of time you have to leave the country for? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Get a multiple entry tourist visa from your home country. It will give you 6 months validity but you have to exit and re-enter every 60 days. But if you time it right and leave and renter just before it runs out you will get almost 8 months out of it. Then you can go to a neighboring country and get a 60 day tourist visa, then extend that inside Thailand before it expires and get another 30 days. That will give you 11 months in total.
      Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      If you get a visa before you travel to Thailand it is unlikely, in my opinion, that you will be asked for proof of onward travel.

      My reasoning for this is twofold:

      1) You have already supplied information to the Thai Government to get the visa.

      2) Immigration are understaffed and under pressure and someone with a visa in their passport already is low on their priority for questioning further.

      It is a good idea to have proof of finances on you... so a minimum of 20k baht equivalent... and some sort of way of confirming your intentions, like screenshots of bus timetables and prices to your exit country and perhaps screenshots of a proposed hotel for the new country..... just something to show your plans, even if you cannot make an actual booking.

      My opinion is if you are prepared for the worst, it will not happen. Answer confidently, politely and clearly as to your plans and have the supporting information and I think immigration will be happy because there will be nothing to disbelieve.

      I travelled in on a 90 day O visa recently... on a new passport....no questions asked.
      Reply

  6. M says

    My daughter is travelling from Aust. though Bangkok (1 1/2 hr transit at airport, Thai airlines) October, 4th.
    She then returns late October for 75days total, mostly volunteering but flying home 7th January
    I’m confused as to what visa to obtain.

    #1 Does the transit through BKK on 4th October impact on commencement date of visa? ( I’m worried it will and she is in country too long from commencement of visa)
    #2. Can she get a 3 month volunteer visa instead ( there is two weeks holiday at end of volunteering)
    #3 is it better to get 60 day and extend another 30 tourist visa

    #4 she needs to change her flights :(
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I'm a bit confused but...The visa becomes active as soon as you pass through immigration in Thailand. The volunteer visa (Non Immigrant O) lasts 90 days, so if she is only in the country for 75 days she'll be fine. If at any point in her trip she needs to leave Thailand for a period of time and then come back into Thailand, she can get a re-entry permit to ensure that her Visa remains valid for the full 90 days.https://www.thethailandlife.com/thailand-re-entry-permit
      Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      This is not going to be a clear cut answer I fear. Is daughter using same airline from BKK to continue journey? If so luggage should be transferred to new aircraft automatically and I expect her to be able to avoid immigration completely. So any visa she has will not be stamped as USED and will be valid for the next arrival. However, I cannot find any info online to confirm this and I know, for example, that one of the middle east hubs makes you pass through a passport control and hand luggage scan even as a transit passenger.......although your passport is not stamped...... whilst in Amsterdam, Paris and London I know they don't involve immigration for transit passengers that remain air side...HOWEVER... I do recall that on arriving at BKK there are signs for transit passengers (connecting flights) to lead them away from the main arrivals hall, suggesting immigration is avoided. If daughter is using a different airline she may well be expected to collect her luggage and check in to the next flight, which will mean passing through immigration. The visa itself will run from when passing through immigration and so if it is a SINGLE ENTRY visa, it will not be valid for the next entry irrespective of the timing. Ok if multiple entry but then the issue is length of validity and stay as you are worried about. I suggest you contact Thai airways asap to ask about the process at BKK.
      Reply

      • TheThailandLife says

        Okay, so we are presuming your daughter is travelling on somewhere else on a connecting flight. Sorry I didn't quite get that from the question.In that case (international flight connection), she will pass through security screening but not immigration, so the visa won't be activated.
        Reply

      • Marika says

        Thank you for your answers
        Yes, she is booked on connecting flight 1 1/2 hrs later with same airline through to India , same booking number etc. Alll her flights are booked through Thai airlines with same initial booking number etc. I did ask the travel agent who booked the flights about the visa and she wasn’t sure.

        I think I’ll take your advice and contact the airlines and take it from there. So much confusing and conflicting information when I tried to google.
        Reply

        • Mike Baker says

          I am at BKK now and have looked into this. A transit passenger will go through to the CIQ area. Customs Immigration Quarantine area. This separates transit passengers from normal immigration and customs.

          It may well indicate this on the tickets or booking records as the signage suggests you need a CIQ number.
          Reply

            • James E says

              Typically, when we deplane in BKK, there will be CIQ reps waiting as the plane empties. They seem to round everybody up and herd them to the transit area. I have never seen anybody with anything more than a CIQ sticker stuck to their shirt or jacket but maybe different airlines handle this differently.
              Reply

              • TheThailandLife says

                It used to be the case when I lived in Samui. The plane would land and there would be a rep there ushering us towards the direction for connecting domestic flights. We'd clear security and then wait in the lounge, then pass through immigration in Samui.
                Reply

  7. Kristian Capson says

    Thanks for a great page with info about visas. If I get the tourist visa (60 days) and is required to show the embassy in my country, my round trip tickets and plan to extend for addition 30 days. What will the Immigration officer say when they see I have a return ticket after 60 days?

    Or can I show the embassy round trip tickets for 90 days and say I plan to extend for 30 more days after the 60 days has past or is that not allowed?

    Maybe I can book an open return ticket that I can re-book if I get the 30 more days? Just that those tickets are very expensive.

    How to recommend to solve this problem? Thanks!
    Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      Good question. I was thinking the same.

      In the UK I must state my expected date of arrival and departure but don't need to show the tickets. However it leads to the same problem.

      As a tourist visa can be extended (although not guaranteed) I would buy and show a 90 day ticket and state my intention to extend. I would also state that if an extension is not granted I would of course leave the country without overstaying - giving them some comfort as to my genuine intentions.
      Reply

  8. Astrid says

    Hi! Great posts! Just to see if I have it right:
    1. I have a multiple entry toerist visa. Do I have to extent at the local embassy after 60 days, not 30 right?
    2. So after that extensions (90 Days in total) do i have to do a borderrun or a visa run and which one do you recomment?
    3. Does that run allow me to stay again 60 Days?
    4. Can i after that extent rif another 30 Days? I dont think so, so do i need another border or visarun?
    Thank you so much! Astrid
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      1. Extend before your 60 days is up. I'd leave 2 days to make sure you get it done at immigration, just in case you have to return on a second day for whatever reason. So day 58. 2. You can just go out of the country and back in on the same day, so a border run. They are the same thing really, with subtle differences, but people generally use them interchangeably. 3. Yes. 4. No. One extension per visa.All the best!
      Reply

  9. Mike Baker says

    I have been travelling 4 times a year to and from the UK on two month tourist visas but in 2019 would like to stay longer but probably not more than 90 days at a time (UK insurance limit). I am over 50 and "retired" but not receiving a pension.

    1. Am I right in thinking I can extend my 60 day tourist visa and how many times a year can I do this?

    2. Looking at the Royal Thai Embassy UK website I am reading that I could apply for a multi entry "O" or "OA". Both appear to cater for those over 50 but the "OA" visa seems to have a police check and medical check required and approximately twice the level of bank balance. My question is why bother with an "OA" if you are over 50?
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Mike,1. You can extend a 60 day tourist visa once, for 30 days. When you visit again, simply get another tourist visa.2. The OA requires the police and medical check if you apply in the UK, but if you apply for a Non Immigrant O visa, you can then do the OA inside Thailand and avoid that. Read more under the Retirement Visa section of this page here: https://www.thethailandlife.com/thai-visa-requirementsIf you plan on going back and forth 2-4 times a year, you might just choose to go for a 6-month multiple entry tourist visa, and get two of those a year. That's pretty hassle free.
      Reply

      • James E says

        Which raises the question: Which type of "O" Visa does one use for the initial application? On the Thai Embassy (US) website the only "O" visas offered are Thai Family and Volunteering. If neither of those apply is there another option?
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          If you can't get a Non O, you can convert a tourist visa instead. You need to have at least 15 days left on your tourist visa to convert it, and obviously meet the financial requirements of the retirement visa.
          Reply

      • Mike Baker says

        Thank you for this reply. I am now getting to understand the differences in these visas, which are quite significant (for me at least).

        The "O" visa is applied for in the UK (in my case); lasts 12 months; cannot be renewed (I have to submit a fresh application from the UK); but crucially has a lower financial requirement and no police or medical requirements. As such it seems to suit those who return to the UK each year.

        The "OA" visa can be applied for in Thailand without police or medical requirements; can be renewed from within Thailand; BUT has approximately double the financial requirement as the "O" and crucially one has to have 800k baht resting in a bank account for all intent and purposes forever if the level of monthly income is not met (could be less if a combination of income and deposit us used). This visa is more suited to those that live full time in Thailand and would not plan to return to the UK each year at a time to coincide with the expiry if the "O" visa.

        For me, not wishing to live full time in Thailand and having a need to return to the UK regularly, the extended tourist visa seems the best option right now - I can get 2 periods of 3 months and 1 period of 2 months annually with 3 months in the UK in the summer and the other month split between flights when I need to clean the windows! This arrangement also secures my UK holiday insurance that has a maximum of 90 days cover and is much cheaper than World Nomads for me.
        Reply

  10. James E says

    Interesting post! It leads to a question, though: Do you have a list of the visas that do not require border/visa runs? I think the retirement visas allow online reporting (but don't know how or where to do that). Are there any others? Thanks!
    Reply

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