New Transit Import Rules

Hi everyone. Just wanted to share with you the latest rule from the Thai authorities regarding border crossings.

Border runs have been cut short due to the very recent change in rules regarding overland entry by Thai immigration. Foreigners under the Visa Exemption Listwho are entering Thailand via border posts at Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia without securing a prior visa will now be granted 30-day visa exemption stamp TWO times per calendar year, from January 1 to December 31.

 

Thanks for the update. I intend bringing my Malaysian-registered bike Malaysia > Thailand > Laos > Thailand > Malaysia within October, so this is alright for me this year (NZ citizen).

 

Appreciate it if you would give us an update on your border crossing experience specifying crossing points. Thanks.

 

Shall do, when the time comes. A few sleeps away yet...

 

Isnt that quite old? I think it was changed back in 2016 or thereabouts....

 

Hi, I got this info from this link Visa on Arrival | ThaiEmbassy.com

It is dated 5/6/19. I like to think that the new 2 land border entries per calendar year is incorrect as it is terribly inconvenient to me. It is also noted here that you can visit Thailand 6 times a year for up to 30 days each occasion if you fly in. Presumably you need to show proof that you have a flight out of Thailand within 30 days of arrival. Leaving the Kingdom by another other means is verboten. This rule has been in place since the early 70s. Yep, I was caught in it when our plane broke down in Trang and the airlines tried to ferry us across to Penang by hired cars. That’s another story.

 

If you look under visa exemption and bilateral agreement link you will see this: Holders of normal passports of the following countries are granted visa-free travel to Thailand for a period of up to 30 days. The exemption is granted at most twice in a calendar year when entering over land or via a sea border but there is no limitation when entering by air. For Malaysians entering by land border, there is no limitation in issuing the 30-day visa exemption stamp. Korea, Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Chile will get 90 days in both airport and land border.

 

Any update on this matter Sir ? Can you go in on a Malaysian registered bike ?
I am planning to go soon on a Singapore registeres bike.
Thanks
Uli

 

Due to a reciprocal land transport arrangement between Thailand and Singapore, the twice a calendar restriction on land (or sea) entry into Thailand on a Singapore-registered vehicle was lifted since Nov'18.

Here's the link to the announcement from the Thai Embassy in Singapore:
Revision of the Visa Exemption Scheme Regulation | Royal Thai Embassy

 

I took my Malaysian-registered bike into Thailand via Sungai Golok, out via Houayxai, back in via Houayxai, and out again via Sungai Golok. No problems encountered at all.

Note 1 - Although I have been to Thailand several times over the course of 2019, only the above were entries by land, therefore conforming to the 2x visa-exempt land entries per year.

Note 2 - The last I saw, Malaysian Nationals are not restricted to the 2x / year.

 

The restriction mentioned in the announcement is based on Nationality, not on Country of bike registration.

Note - The 2x land entries per calendar year is based on 30-day visa exemption. There is nothing (as far as I am aware) preventing further land entries by obtaining a visa before entry.

 

Thanks for sharing Sir...happy to hear.
Safe travels, rubber down and always a handful of petrol in your tank
Uli

 

I hope you have a good and safe trip. Once your bike is registered on the Customs database following the initial entry, the process becomes even smoother (encouraging further forays...).
Where are you planning to ride, and when?

 

I have travelled Thailand Laos, ,Cambodia several time...but these ever changing rules and different interpretations made me puzzled...so thankful to have latest updates
Initially just Thailand and Laos, followed by Pakistan via Myanmar
Thanks a lot
Uli

 

Hello David,
the bike is registered in Singapore and I have a German passport
Thanks
Uli