Pattay visa run - how to do a visa run from Pattaya Thailand

Pattaya visa runs

For those whose 30-day tourist visa for Thailand will soon expire, there are several options. If you need only a short extension, just go to the Immigration Office on Soi 8, and you can get a 10-day extension for a fee of 1,900 Baht. You will also need copies of certain pages of your passport, and a passport sized photo. However, you can only do this once, and then you will have to leave the kingdom

For those who want to stay longer, a visa run to the Cambodia border is another option. There are two popular border crossings near Pattaya where you can leave Thailand, and return with a new 30-day visa. These border-crossing points are at Trat - Koh Kong, and Aranyaprathet - Poipet.

There are several tour companies that conduct 'Visa Runs' from Pattaya. They are widely advertised, and you can get information on them from almost any travel agent. Typically they leave around 06.00 or 07.00 in the morning, and return to Pattaya around 17.00. The fee can range from 1,800 Baht to 2,500 Baht. They are all quite similar, but there are differences. For example, some will pick you up, some include breakfast and lunch, some use 6 or 9 passenger vans, some use tour buses, some have daily departures, while others leave only on specific days. It is good to do a little investigation to find out which one is best for you.

Usually they all include the visa fee for Cambodia (1,000 Baht), and assistance in crossing the border. You will need your passport, and one passport sized photo. Some also require a copy of your passport.

There is another alternative, and that is to take public buses to the border. However, be warned that this is not for those who are used to travelling in comfort, and is only recommended for the serious do-it-yourself traveller. The buses are air-conditioned, but they are not VIP or express busses. They stop along the way to pick-up and drop off passengers, and can be very crowded with standing room only.

There are also vans, or minibuses to both border crossings. They leave about 06.00 or 07.00 in the morning, and are 700 to 900 Baht one-way, and 1,200 to 1,500 Baht round trip. But if you are going on a one-day trip to the border just to get your visa and come back, you would be well advised to take one of the commercial visa runs. You will save yourself time, money and hassle in the long run. Besides, there is a common scam at the border among Cambodians who prey on na?ve visitors and convince them to pay non-existent crossing fees.