| Tourists arriving in Thailand without a valid visa in their | | | | The 'Visa Run' is simple enough. Most Hotels and |
| passport do not have to worry because they will | | | | travel agents are well used to the procedure and can |
| have the passport stamped at the immigration desk. | | | | advise. Every day of the week there are coaches |
| Many visitors believe that the stamp in their passport | | | | and minibuses heading towards the borders. Some |
| is a visa. It is not, it is a Visa Exemption Stamp. This | | | | services are described as luxury and charge a little |
| stamp allows the passport holder to remain in | | | | more. Shop around. It is often worthwhile paying that |
| Thailand for a period of thirty days. Immigration | | | | little bit extra for what is a very tedious, tiring and |
| procedures are normally hassle free and the visitor | | | | boring bus ride. |
| will proceed a greeting and a smile. Sometimes | | | | You could of course 'do it yourself' but unless you |
| though visitors may be asked to provide evidence | | | | have your own car you will have to rely on public |
| that they have enough cash to support themselves | | | | transport. This will make a long day much longer. |
| during their holiday. | | | | None of the main tourist spots in Thailand are |
| The Visa Exemption stamp does not apply to the | | | | anywhere near a border. |
| citizens of all countries. Some are expected to have | | | | The Visa Run can be a bit of an adventure. You see |
| obtained a proper visa in their own country before | | | | parts of Thailand that the average tourist never |
| they left. Diplomatic agreements mean that some | | | | sees. You will meet people on you 'run' who will be |
| countries will get more than thirty days. Wherever | | | | very different from you and sometimes friendships |
| you are coming from it is best to check with the | | | | are formed. |
| Thai Embassy a month or more before your | | | | Crossing the border and back will give you another 15 |
| departure from your home country. | | | | days in Thailand. Fly out and back and you will get |
| The Visa Exemption is also granted to visitors arriving | | | | another 30 days. A return flight to Singapore can |
| by land border but these are different in that only | | | | sometimes be a worthwhile consideration. It is a case |
| give 15 days. | | | | of examining your options. The possibility exists to |
| Whether you are given 30 or 15 days it is highly | | | | leave Thailand by land and stop outside for one or |
| advised that you do not overstay your granted | | | | two days and here you can then get a proper |
| allocation. There are heavy fines in place for those | | | | Tourist Visa which will allow you to stay for 60 or 90 |
| who do and there is even a possibility of | | | | days. It could well be worth it. |
| imprisonment as well as a fine. If you make it to the | | | | The land and water visa run to Myanmar is quite |
| airport or land border you will only be fined. | | | | special and could be a tourist trip of its own. Similarly |
| To extend your visa exemption is straightforward | | | | trips to Laos or Cambodia for visa extensions can |
| enough but you will have to leave the country and | | | | turn an ordinary holiday into an adventure. |
| re-enter. This is commonly known as the 'Visa Run'. | | | | |