In early June, I took my bike across into Laos via Nong Khai. Still fairly easy to do without an agent. But, my bike is Thai registered in my name.
On the Thai side, the first stop is the Immigration booth. There, your passport is stamped for exiting Thailand. The officer then fills out 2 copies of the T2 document regarding the temporary export of the bike.
Next stop is the Customs booth. There, they keep one copy of the T2 form, and fill out a different one - again, for the temporary export.
The last stop is the booth at the bridge, where they check your passport and papers. Total time - about 10 minutes. No fees are charged.
The Lao side takes about 90 minutes. You can get visa on arrival at the bridge. Cost is $30 USD, $31 on weekends. You then fill out the entry form and get stamped in.
Next stop is upstairs to Room 6. There, the girl takes you to Room 5, where the director signs the form giving you permission to enter. He now can give you up to 2 weeks, and gave me 15 days to be safe. Just remember that the day you enter is the first day of the permit. 2 weeks means 13 days later, not 14.
Then back to Room 6, where the girl fills out the form and their record book. Fee is 2000 kip - about 20 cents US.
Then you see the Customs officer - either in Room 8, or in his office downstairs. He also has to sign the form and grant permission.
Then you go to the outside booth, where they enter your bike into the computer. An assortment of small fees here - 200 baht for the vehicle to enter, 10 baht for the driver to enter, an overtime fee of 2500 kip, and 50 baht for the temporary windshield sticker.
Then, the Customs officer at the outside desk looks at the bike and signs you in.
Last stop is the insurance office, to buy temporary Lao insurance. Cost was 18,000 kip for 5 days, 34,000 for 10 days. Kip was 10,600 to the US dollar.
So, now you are in Laos with your bike. But, you only have permission to travel with it in Vientiane Province. To travel legally outside of there, you have to stop at another office in Vientiane for another permit. Cost is 2500 kip, but nobody there speaks English.
Exit proceedure is similar. In Laos, stop at the Immigration booth for the passport stamp. the Customs booth for the vehicle stamp, and the final signout by the Customs desk officer. No fees to pay, unless you have overstayed.
On the Thai side, the Immigration booth signs you in, and takes the T2 form. The Customs offricer takes the other form.
BobS
On the Thai side, the first stop is the Immigration booth. There, your passport is stamped for exiting Thailand. The officer then fills out 2 copies of the T2 document regarding the temporary export of the bike.
Next stop is the Customs booth. There, they keep one copy of the T2 form, and fill out a different one - again, for the temporary export.
The last stop is the booth at the bridge, where they check your passport and papers. Total time - about 10 minutes. No fees are charged.
The Lao side takes about 90 minutes. You can get visa on arrival at the bridge. Cost is $30 USD, $31 on weekends. You then fill out the entry form and get stamped in.
Next stop is upstairs to Room 6. There, the girl takes you to Room 5, where the director signs the form giving you permission to enter. He now can give you up to 2 weeks, and gave me 15 days to be safe. Just remember that the day you enter is the first day of the permit. 2 weeks means 13 days later, not 14.
Then back to Room 6, where the girl fills out the form and their record book. Fee is 2000 kip - about 20 cents US.
Then you see the Customs officer - either in Room 8, or in his office downstairs. He also has to sign the form and grant permission.
Then you go to the outside booth, where they enter your bike into the computer. An assortment of small fees here - 200 baht for the vehicle to enter, 10 baht for the driver to enter, an overtime fee of 2500 kip, and 50 baht for the temporary windshield sticker.
Then, the Customs officer at the outside desk looks at the bike and signs you in.
Last stop is the insurance office, to buy temporary Lao insurance. Cost was 18,000 kip for 5 days, 34,000 for 10 days. Kip was 10,600 to the US dollar.
So, now you are in Laos with your bike. But, you only have permission to travel with it in Vientiane Province. To travel legally outside of there, you have to stop at another office in Vientiane for another permit. Cost is 2500 kip, but nobody there speaks English.
Exit proceedure is similar. In Laos, stop at the Immigration booth for the passport stamp. the Customs booth for the vehicle stamp, and the final signout by the Customs desk officer. No fees to pay, unless you have overstayed.
On the Thai side, the Immigration booth signs you in, and takes the T2 form. The Customs offricer takes the other form.
BobS
Impressive to get gt-rider info so visible everywhere. Im currently in an internet shop in Vangvieng and in front of me there is a Laos map also with gt-rider ad.
