Re-entering Thailand ('extending' stay with bike)

[Bjorn]

Hi,

I'd like to stay in Thailand a bit longer but only got the 'allowance to stay' on arrival in Bangkok (30 days, not extendable). Also got all the bike paperwork in Bangkok, so all good.

If I want to stay another month: Can I just exit Thailand in the South (Malaysian border) and then re-enter same day? Do I need to go into Malaysia, or is it good enough to just leave into noman's land between the two country & then turn over.
I know foreign people (for example divers) here regularly do visa-runs without any problem. Just wondering about the bike...

Cheers
Bjorn

[AussieNat]

Hey.
Your timing, like ours, is impeccably bad.
Things have changed as of Nov 26 08.

Over land entries will only get you 15days in your passport now, no exceptions but a one time 7day extension is possible in Bangkok. All arrivals at the airports get a 30day visa. Still 30days for your bike at the moment and you can renew the bike at any foreign entry point add finitum, your bike doesnt need to exit.

This change is going to severely shake up all those divers living in Thailand who have been flitting over the border once a month for the last ten years.

There are now services where agents will take you to the border town, go with you across the border, put you up in a hotel, race to the embassy, get you a 60day visa the next morning, pick you up and then take you back into Thailand... All for a fee of course.

We are in Phnom Penh getting our 60day visa now. Pick up tomorrow...

Your options for this are.
Phnom Penh, Penang or Vientianne.

[Bjorn]

Oh well, I guess 15 days will have to do. I was planning to head for Laos anyway.

So if 15 days is good enough for me: Can I then exit Thailand, NOT enter Malaysia, turn around and re-enter straight-away with a 15 day allowance to stay for me & the bike?

[AussieNat]

Possible theoretically I guess, but highly unlikely in practice.
Ive never tried it though.
I think you will come into difficulties of not having an exit stamp from a neighbouring country.

Why not enter Malaysia, 3month visa is free for most, have lunch then enter Thailand again??

[pecha72]

Malaysia is officially a carnet country, but they seemed all but strict about it, in fact we probably could have entered with our bike without a carnet, because no-one seemed to be interested about it at all. We actually looked up the customs building, and found the officials, who then stamped it appropriately, because we didnt want to risk having trouble later on. They didnt even bother to come out and see the bike! This was on the main highway between Thailand and Malaysia.

Havent tried, so I dont really know, but doesnt sound like a good idea to make a u-turn, before you´re stamped into the next country.

[globalvisions]

Originally Posted by Bjorn

Hi,

I'd like to stay in Thailand a bit longer but only got the 'allowance to stay' on arrival in Bangkok (30 days, not extendable). Also got all the bike paperwork in Bangkok, so all good.

If I want to stay another month: Can I just exit Thailand in the South (Malaysian border) and then re-enter same day? Do I need to go into Malaysia, or is it good enough to just leave into noman's land between the two country & then turn over.
I know foreign people (for example divers) here regularly do visa-runs without any problem. Just wondering about the bike...

Cheers
Bjorn

Just make sure its all straight with Thai customs when you leave. I was told that if when I was gone over a certain date I would fined 100baht per dayon the bike (not a big deal). In fact when I reentered over 2 months later through the Vientiane border in Laos(different border that I left) the customs officer never charged me any money at all.

I met a biker from England in Cambodia who was over 6 months on the outbound penalty to bring the bike back but I am not sure how that one turned out when they got back into Thailand. Anyway, just an fyi to be clear with customs before you leave Thailand as we all know there is no exact science to border madness. The new 15day visa really stinks. I once got stuck with a 3500baht visa overstay in Thailand....now that will be a more common occurence for people. Call a place paradise then kiss it good bye.

Oh and also consider Vientiane for your border run. Its an easy cruise from Bangkok. Good luck!

[dogito66]

hi,
we're currently also doing the visarun to phnom penh every 2 months but thinking to go to vientiane for a change... is the bridge across to vientiane actually open for motorbikes??? as far as I know it was not possible to cross from thailand into lao this way...
take care

darius

[motornomad]

Originally Posted by globalvisions

The new 15day visa really stinks. I once got stuck with a 3500baht visa overstay in Thailand....now that will be a more common occurence for people. Call a place paradise then kiss it good bye.

Hi

according to the newspapers in Malaysia, the Thai-Government plans to change the 15-day regulation in march similar to the malayan 90 days.

Rick

[tnt go east]

I sorry to have missed everyone at the Chiang mai Meet....hope it was good...

I did a "visa run" a few weeks ago at the Malaya border.

All that happens on the Thai side is you hand over the piece of paper you were given on your way in and have youre passport stamped.

I left the bike in No mans land and got myself stamped in and out of Malaysia and then back into Thailand where the very nice customs man filled out a new piece of paper....and another 30 days for the bike in Thailand.

Come to Laos and Cambodia....great dirt riding even with a heavy overlander....Adventure Central....