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Thai visa?

Hi

I wonder if someone would be able to help with regard to a visa question.

My son is going backpacking next week. he has a one way ticket to Bangkok.He arrives in Bangkok on Thursday afternoon and has a train booked to take him to Laos on the Thursday evening.

I have read the info on visas and I think that will be ok and he won't have to buy an additional visa as he is exiting Thailand could someone confirm if this is correct.

Thanks in advance.
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Comments

  • DTDfanBoy
    DTDfanBoy Posts: 1,704 Forumite
    Providing he has a UK passport that will be fine, just make sure he has proof of his train ticket, hell need to show the airline and Thai border officers may wish to see it as well.
  • ixia
    ixia Posts: 1,338 Forumite
    Thanks very much,that's what I thought just wanted to double check.
  • ixia
    ixia Posts: 1,338 Forumite
    Sorry just looked at his train ticket and its to take him to Nong K
    hoi station which is still in Thailand. Here he needs to cross the border to board the next train to Laos as you couldn't buy a straight through ticket online.

    Does anyone know if this will cause a problem as it doesn't show him going direct to Laos. He has confirmation of accommodation booked in Laos.

    Thanks in advance
  • fifeken
    fifeken Posts: 2,746 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It depends on the airline and whether they stick to their rules, but I wouldn't be risking it.

    He should either get a visa (if time permits) or get some other evidence of leaving Thailand. This could be the cheapest LCC flight with no intention of using the ticket, or a fully refundable ticket, as long as he can afford to float this for potentially a few weeks while it gets refunded.

    There are other more dodgy methods costing nothing, but MSE is probably not the place for them.
  • ixia
    ixia Posts: 1,338 Forumite
    Thanks for your reply. I have spoke to my son and we have decided to go for the cheap airline ticket we think its better to do this than take the risk he won't get on the flight.

    Will it be ok to buy a ticket leaving from elsewhere in Thailand and not Bangkok s long as it is within the 30 days as the cheapest ticket is from Krabi to Penang in Malaysia.
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 16,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    ixia wrote: »
    Thanks for your reply. I have spoke to my son and we have decided to go for the cheap airline ticket we think its better to do this than take the risk he won't get on the flight.

    Will it be ok to buy a ticket leaving from elsewhere in Thailand and not Bangkok s long as it is within the 30 days as the cheapest ticket is from Krabi to Penang in Malaysia.

    The airport of departure from Thailand makes no difference.
  • georgim
    georgim Posts: 37 Forumite
    When I flew to Phuket last year we got a free 30 day 'visa' upon entry we didn't need to fill anything in before (like the states). I am not sure about visas if he is visiting longer though. Hope this helps!
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 16,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    georgim wrote: »
    When I flew to Phuket last year we got a free 30 day 'visa' upon entry we didn't need to fill anything in before (like the states). I am not sure about visas if he is visiting longer though. Hope this helps!

    I assume that you had a return ticket... That free 30-day admission is only available to people who can show a ticket leaving Thailand within the 30 days.
  • Hmm yes sorry. My friend is out there for 3 months at the mo, I'll ask him for you
  • Kilmar
    Kilmar Posts: 12 Forumite
    He'll get a free of charge 30 day stay in Thailand, will have to pay equivalent of about $35 U.S. for entry to Laos, and another free 30 day stay in Thailand if he goes back that way. And will be fined on departure if he ever overstays a 30 day stay without getting a proper long stay visa.

    We invented the name of a guest house in Laos when we were asked on arrival, then the immigration officer there said, as they usually do, "My brother has a better guest house than that "

    But your son must be there by now, so how is he getting on?
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