How To Do A Thai Visa Run To Poi Pet, Cambodia

 

 

Your allotted time in Thailand is coming to an end. But like most foreigners who visit the Land of Smiles you’re not ready to leave just yet. Assuming you want to stay, you know you have to do a visa run, but which method do you choose?

Do you hire an agency for a modest price to take you to the border and handle all your paperwork?

Or do you choose to do it alone? After all, you probably took the journey to Thailand alone. So why not deepen your travel experiences?

If you’ve been entertaining the idea but don’t know where to start then this post is for you.

One of the closest border crossings in Thailand is the Thailand—Cambodian (Aranyaprathet—Poi Pet) border. Once there, you can go through the process yourself for a fraction of the cost of hiring an agency and gain some valuable know-how in the end.

But there are few things to consider before venturing off to the border. You have to know what to bring, you have to familiarize yourself with the exit and re-entry processes, and you must be aware of the scams that WILL await you. Let’s start with what to bring.

 

What to Bring

Before heading to Aranyaprathet here’s what you must have:

•            Passport with any visas, if applicable

•            Thailand departure card (received during your last entry into Thailand)

•            One passport-size photo

•            1000 baht, or $30, for your Cambodian visa (prices vary)

•            A pen

 

Getting to Aranyaprathet

The Aranyaprathet—Poi Pet border is about a 3 hour drive heading east of Bangkok. If you have a car or know someone with a car the trip can be made in one day. You can also get there by train, taxi, or—best of luck—van or bus. Traveling by van or bus in Thailand is dangerous, especially at night time. So consider the consequences.

Richard Barrow has been documenting road accidents in Thailand for many years. A quick search on his website will reveal the all-too-often fatalities that occur from bus accidents.

Whatever way you choose to get to Aranyaprathet, it is recommended that you stay the night. This way you can travel there, check out the market, get some sleep, and then be first in line at the border the following morning. If you drive up and attempt to cross the border all in the the same day you will arrive the same time as the busloads of other tourists and expats. (This doesn’t apply if you hire an agency. You will be asked to wait at the casino or other checkpoint, saving you the headache of waiting in long lines.)

Head up to Aranyaprathet on a weekday to avoid the heavy weekend foot traffic.

In Aranyaprathet there are many hotels near the border. Look online and see which one suits your budget and make reservations in advance.

Once you get to Aranyaprathet the fun begins.

 

 

Exiting and Re-entering Thailand

 

Leave all non-essentials in your hotel room. If you cross the border with just what you need you’ll look less like a tourist and more like an experienced border hopper. You’ll still get hassled by people posing as Cambodian officials along the way, but with a little pep in your step and a short and firm “no thanks” to all requests thrown at you, you’re more likely to be left alone.

Find a way to the border. Depending on how close your hotel is to the border you can take a taxi, tuk-tuk, or walk. You’ll most likely be dropped off at the entrance to a large market, or somewhere in the vicinity. Before you enter the parking lot to the market there’ll be a narrow alleyway on your right with a sign that says: To Border, or something to that effect. This is where you’ll Start. Walk down that alley. At the end of the alley you’ll come to the Thailand Immigration Office. If you’re non-Thai you’ll walk up the stairs to the second floor. Arrive at the office at 7:30am to avoid the line. Follow the instructions in Step 1.

After you’re stamped out of Thailand you’ll exit the rear of the Thailand Immigration Office and walk downstairs. Follow the pathway along the fence and over a canal. You’ll be confronted by fake Cambodian officials who’ll try to persuade you into following them. It’s unavoidable. As convincing as their uniforms and medallions and crooked smiles may be, keep in mind it’s an act. As you’ll soon learn, real Cambodian officials have zero interest in helping you. If anyone comes running up to you in an overzealous manner, keep moving, it’s a scam. Cross the road and go into the Cambodian Immigration building. Follow the instructions in Step 2.

Once you have your Cambodian visa you’ll exit the Cambodian Immigration Office and head to the right. You’ll walk until you pass a large casino and come to a small building with an overhang and about 4 window queues. Again, before getting there you’ll be confronted by a multitude of imposters claiming to have the power to stamp you in and out of Cambodia for a certain fee. Some of these imposters will be well dressed in what appear to be official Cambodian uniforms and sit at tables with walkie-talkies and other convincing props. Keep going! Once at the window queue follow the instructions in Step 3.

After having your Cambodian visa stamped you’ll exit to your left, walk straight across the street, and then line up at a similar looking building, this time to get stamped out of Cambodia. The walk is only a few meters but you’ll be hassled along the way. By this time you should be a pro at shrugging off the fakes. Follow the instructions in Step 4.

Having had your visa stamped and fingerprints electronically scanned, you’re ready to head back into Thailand. Take the direct walk back to the Thailand Immigration Office opposite of which you came out, grab a new arrival and departure card from the table outside, head up the stairs to the second floor and get in line. This is where you’ll be stamped back into Thailand. The line is usually a lot longer than when you left Thailand. By this time it’ll be filled with working-class Cambodians and Thais heading back home from the casino. Fill out your arrival card while in line to save time. Follow instructions in Step 5.

After being stamped back into Thailand you’ll walk out of the Thailand Immigration Office and head downstairs, then walk through a customs security checkpoint. So long as you come back into Thailand with what you left with you’ll have no problems. You are now Finished.

 

 

Step-by-Step Instructions by Location

 

Step 1

•            Location: Thailand Immigration Office (exit Thailand)

•            What to have ready: Your passport and departure card filled out completely.

•            What will happen: You’ll get stamped out of Thailand and they’ll take your departure card.

•            What to watch out for: As long as you have your departure card and you didn’t overstay you shouldn’t have any issues.

•            How much will it cost?: No charge.

 

 

Step 2

•            Location: Cambodia Immigration Office

•            What to have ready: Your passport, passport-size photo, 800-1000 baht, and Cambodian visa form (available in the office).

•            What will happen: You’ll hand your passport, passport-size photo, and completed visa form to Cambodian officials. You’ll then be asked to pay the amount listed on the sign at the top of the office window. After a few minutes you’ll be given back your passport with a shiny new Cambodian visa.

•            What to watch out for: Cambodian officials may ask you for more money than what your supposed to pay. Politely stand your ground and refuse. You cannot get in trouble or be denied for refusing to pay extra. Also, when filling out the paper for your visa a man in the office may offer to help you. He is not acting out of the kindness of his heart. If you accept you are expected to pay him. And if you refuse, you won’t have support from the Cambodian officials.

•            How much will it cost?: 800-1000 baht, or $25-$30, for an official Cambodian visa. If you don’t have a passport-size photo you will be charged extra.

 

Step 3

•            Location: Cambodian Border Entry

•            What to have ready: Your passport with Cambodian visa and Cambodian arrival card filled out completely (available at the table to your right).

•            What will happen: You’ll give your passport, visa, and arrival card to Cambodian officials. You’ll be stamped into Cambodia and have your fingerprints electronically scanned. Your passport will be returned.

•            What to watch out for: When you pick up your arrival card from the table before the border entry you may be confronted by what seems to be a man with good intentions. He’ll want to help you fill out your arrival card, but he won’t tell you that he’ll “collect” a fee for doing so. Politely decline his help.

•            How much will it cost?: No charge.

 

Step 4

•            Location: Cambodian Border Exit

•            What to have ready: Your passport with your Cambodian visa entry stamp and departure card filled out completely.

•            What will happen: You’ll be stamped out of Cambodia, electronically fingerprinted, and given back your passport.

•            What to watch out for: If you arrived and are departing Cambodia within the allotted time on your Cambodian visa, you shouldn’t have issues.

•            How much will it cost?: No charge.

 

Step 5

•            Location: Thailand Immigration Office (re-entry)

•            What to have ready: Your passport and Thailand arrival card filled out completely.

•            What will happen: You’ll wait in line and get stamped back into Thailand. Thai officials will take your arrival card, check that you left Thailand (this means getting stamped out of Thailand, and getting stamped in and out of Cambodia).

•            What to watch out for: If you followed the steps above you should have no issues re-entering Thailand.

•            How much will it cost?: No charge.

 

Keep in mind the above is just a general outline on exiting and re-entering Thailand at the Aranyaprathet—Poi Pet Border with a Non-Immigration Type-O Thailand Visa. Rules and regulations may change at the discretion of Thai and Cambodian officials.

Please note, this is not to be taken as legal advice. Contact your local embassy or Thai or Cambodian Immigration Offices for official requirements.

 

XXX

 

Father | Husband | Writer | English Teacher | Autodidact | Bangkok, Thailand | I write about random things on JohnWolcott.com.