Thailand bans visa runs for foreigners

This is the end of an era but not a big suprise: visa runs are officially not possible anymore at Thai border.

The Immigration Police at land border has stopped giving entry stamps to foreigners who exit and immediately return to Thailand  to extend their stay in the country. A practice is commonly called a “visa run”.

Apparently, it only concerns foreigners on visa exempt entries but we advice you to check to be sure.

“The order is not new. Originally, officers were authorised to consider giving permits. But in this current situation of heightened security, all officers have to step up restrictions” said an official of Immigration Office to Bangkok Post.

Many foreigners regularly travel to Cambodia for visa runs and return to Thailand by Sa Kaeo checkpoint, he said.

Some foreigners do not even go in person, but get their entry stamp via illegal networks who take care of it for them. In Thailand, visa runs are a very lucrative business…

But agencies already are adapting. Now they will offer a one day visit of Poipet in Cambodia for example to visa runs candidates so they can go back to Thailand and get their visa stamp anyway. Apparently if there is a 24 hours gap between leaving the country and entering back to Thailand, Thai Immigration seems to accept and give you a new entry stamp. We did not test yet so we can’t assure you it works…

It is good news for border towns that will accommodate travelers who before only stay at the border’s checkpoint.

Thai authorities also indicate that from now on, foreigners entering to Thailand must provide information proving they come into the country as tourists (hotel bookings, flight ticket. ..). This was normally already the case for several months.

Those wishing to enter Thailand from Cambodia will have to go to Phnom Penh to apply for a visa at the Embassy of Thailand.

Note that visa runs are not really necessary for many nationalities. Those who get a 30 days visa waiver upon arrival in Thailand can renew it for 30 days in any Immigration office in the country. it costs 1900 baht. Generally, a visa run costs more.

The ban on visa runs is following the investigation on Bangkok bombings that revealed  Immigration officers were bribed by an illegal network linked to the perpetrators of the attacks.