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Poipet Cambodia visa run...


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Can anyone advise me on the Poipet border crossing in Cambodia please? I need to pop over the border to get a "visa exempt" stamp for 30 days and I'm thinking about taking the Casino bus from Lumpini Park, Bangkok to Poipet. I'm hearing different stories about how easy or infact how legal it is to leave and re-enter on the same day.


I have a flight back to the UK for mid March, so I only need to do this once, (I havn't done a one day visa run for a few years) I will then extend for the additional time required at Sathorn immigration.

 

Any advise would be very much appreciated...thank you.

Edited by Christopher LG
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Do a Google search for your companies still doing visa runs . The options have dwindled on account of changes in immigration laws. Used to be possible to take a comfortable coach but most surviving companies use micro vans.

 

In any event , don't take the casino bus option. Those people are going to gamble and they they will want to spend several hour at the border.

 

You can try Jack Golf. The Korean owner sold out to his former employees who I believe still operate but using only a 15 seater micro bus.

 

Google is your friend and a simple search will come up with available options.

 

Edited by Denim
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First, the only theoretical issue. There is a real Cambodian immigration rule that states those entering Cambodia by land must stay at least one night in Cambodia unless holding a multiple entry business visa for Cambodia. As a practical matter, you just pay a small fee (about 200 baht) to Cambodian immigration to waive enforcement of the rule. Experts at dealing with Cambodian officials can avoid the need to pay this small bribe with a little subterfuge.

 

Apart from the above, Thai immigration at Poipet/Aranyaprathet have a habit of applying their own adjustments to Thai immigration law. If you last entered Thailand with a valid visa, and (as you stated) this is your first in/out for a visa exempt entry for several years, you will likely be OK. I recommend you avoid using Poipet for your border hop if this will involve back-to-back visa exempt entries, especially if (as I suspect) you have spent substantial periods of time in Thailand in recent years.

 

On logistics, your plan to use the casino bus is a good one. When entering Cambodia, you can pay the official US$30 for the visa on arrival or, as some travelers prefer, pay more to either visa touts hanging around on both sides of the border, or the official visa counter. They are willing to accept even more, if you wish, but I believe 1,500 baht is a common asking price (1,700 baht if the fee for waiving the same day return is included). For the extra money paid to touts, they may be willing to handle walking your passport to the office to stamp in and out of Cambodia for you.

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8 hours ago, BritTim said:

First, the only theoretical issue. There is a real Cambodian immigration rule that states those entering Cambodia by land must stay at least one night in Cambodia unless holding a multiple entry business visa for Cambodia. As a practical matter, you just pay a small fee (about 200 baht) to Cambodian immigration to waive enforcement of the rule. Experts at dealing with Cambodian officials can avoid the need to pay this small bribe with a little subterfuge.

 

Apart from the above, Thai immigration at Poipet/Aranyaprathet have a habit of applying their own adjustments to Thai immigration law. If you last entered Thailand with a valid visa, and (as you stated) this is your first in/out for a visa exempt entry for several years, you will likely be OK. I recommend you avoid using Poipet for your border hop if this will involve back-to-back visa exempt entries, especially if (as I suspect) you have spent substantial periods of time in Thailand in recent years.

 

On logistics, your plan to use the casino bus is a good one. When entering Cambodia, you can pay the official US$30 for the visa on arrival or, as some travelers prefer, pay more to either visa touts hanging around on both sides of the border, or the official visa counter. They are willing to accept even more, if you wish, but I believe 1,500 baht is a common asking price (1,700 baht if the fee for waiving the same day return is included). For the extra money paid to touts, they may be willing to handle walking your passport to the office to stamp in and out of Cambodia for you.

"

There is a real Cambodian immigration rule "

 

Can you show a link or proof of this?

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47 minutes ago, khwaibah said:

"

There is a real Cambodian immigration rule "

 

Can you show a link or proof of this?

It is unwise to rely on single sources for information of this kind, but here are a couple of links:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/FAQ_Answers-g297390-d7917804-t4199389-Do_you_have_to_stay_at_a_minimum_of_24hrs_in.html

If you fill in information for Bangkok to Siem Reap using this link:

https://skyteam.traveldoc.aero/

it shows you this:

Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) - Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (REP) 30 Jan 2018


  • Visa may be obtained on arrival in Cambodia. Maximum stay of 30 days.
  • Passengers are not authorised to enter and depart from Cambodia on the same day. Passengers are required to stay in Cambodia for at least 24 hours.

While this is not explicitly for land travel (and actually fails to include the exceptions for official passports, multiple entry business visas, and Phnom Penh airport) it confirms the general principle.

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1 hour ago, khwaibah said:

"

There is a real Cambodian immigration rule "

 

Can you show a link or proof of this?

The rule exists and is posted at all entry points.

There is a different situation at the airport I believe but it is generally enforced for all visas except multi B.

It was not really enforced before but over the past year or two it is pointed out to all trying to do an out/in same day.

200 baht is the usual fine to allow you to 'break the law'

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i've done this tens of times.

 

you can get a return van from a banglampu travel agent for 450 - 550 baht, leaves 7am returns by 6pm/7pm

 

arrange your cambodian visa beforehand and you'll avoid being scammed/overcharged  by the visa fixers and be taken to the border first by the agent when you arrive

 

ignore everyone in the border area who approaches you, the time they save you is negligible and anyway you end up waiting for a van at the other end anyway. walk confidently and avoid eye contact.

 

i have always politely refused to pay any bribes to officials and never had an issue, they just waved me on when i refused - i have a feeling they dont want a scene in front of other tourists.

 

the biggest issue i have is the dangerous driving on the roads generally and by van drivers.

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1 hour ago, BritTim said:

It is unwise to rely on single sources for information of this kind, but here are a couple of links:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/FAQ_Answers-g297390-d7917804-t4199389-Do_you_have_to_stay_at_a_minimum_of_24hrs_in.html

If you fill in information for Bangkok to Siem Reap using this link:

https://skyteam.traveldoc.aero/

it shows you this:

Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) - Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (REP) 30 Jan 2018


  • Visa may be obtained on arrival in Cambodia. Maximum stay of 30 days.
  • Passengers are not authorised to enter and depart from Cambodia on the same day. Passengers are required to stay in Cambodia for at least 24 hours.

While this is not explicitly for land travel (and actually fails to include the exceptions for official passports, multiple entry business visas, and Phnom Penh airport) it confirms the general principle.

That is only for flying and Not from the Cambodian Government. I ask again show us an Official Link or information from the Cambodian Government.

 

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1 hour ago, BritTim said:

It is unwise to rely on single sources for information of this kind, but here are a couple of links:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/FAQ_Answers-g297390-d7917804-t4199389-Do_you_have_to_stay_at_a_minimum_of_24hrs_in.html

If you fill in information for Bangkok to Siem Reap using this link:

https://skyteam.traveldoc.aero/

it shows you this:

Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) - Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (REP) 30 Jan 2018


  • Visa may be obtained on arrival in Cambodia. Maximum stay of 30 days.
  • Passengers are not authorised to enter and depart from Cambodia on the same day. Passengers are required to stay in Cambodia for at least 24 hours.

While this is not explicitly for land travel (and actually fails to include the exceptions for official passports, multiple entry business visas, and Phnom Penh airport) it confirms the general principle.

ONLY applies to flying into Siem Rep that they make u stay 1 night, fly in and out of PP,  no problem,  cross any land border in and out.. no problem...

 

 

so one persons response on TA is 100% correct??  LOL.....  less trusted than here.....555555

Edited by phuketrichard
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1 hour ago, overherebc said:

The rule exists and is posted at all entry points.

There is a different situation at the airport I believe but it is generally enforced for all visas except multi B.

It was not really enforced before but over the past year or two it is pointed out to all trying to do an out/in same day.

200 baht is the usual fine to allow you to 'break the law'

There is no rule and it is not posted at all if any crossing. Fact it is not posted at all, Chong Chom or Choam Sa Ngam Crossings

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28 minutes ago, khwaibah said:

There is no rule and it is not posted at all if any crossing. Fact it is not posted at all, Chong Chom or Choam Sa Ngam Crossings

It is a rule or regulation but it hard to find it. At one time it was posted on the Cambodia e-visa site until they redid (ruined it) it.

Edit: Found this on wiki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Cambodia

Quote

Entry requirements[edit]

Day trips (arriving and departing on the same day) are not permitted except when arriving and departing via Phnom Penh International Airport. Return/onward ticket is required for nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Sudan.[1]

Not official but a reliable source. Tryed to find it on some of their official sources but sites are a mess.

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20 minutes ago, khwaibah said:

There is no rule and it is not posted at all if any crossing. Fact it is not posted at all, Chong Chom or Choam Sa Ngam Crossings

Have to agree with Khwaibah here, been using Chong Chom for the past 8 years and have asked several times to see any law/regulation/rule stating that you need to pay a fee which they can't show. Have always refused to pay and that can be a hassle, but I just leave my passport with them and go for a cold Angkhor.

 

Last 3 times I've used Choam Sa Ngam crossing, they have never even asked about any fee. Only paid for visa Thb1200 or US$30. Great place by the way, no queue and always very friendly plus a great view from the mountains on the way back :)

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1 hour ago, phuketrichard said:

ONLY applies to flying into Siem Rep that they make u stay 1 night, fly in and out of PP,  no problem,  cross any land border in and out.. no problem...

 

 

so one persons response on TA is 100% correct??  LOL.....  less trusted than here.....555555

I am pretty sure you will dismiss this also, but worth a try:

http://cms.olympicair.com/timatic/webdocsI/countryinfo.html

Country: Cambodia

Section: Visa

Subsection: Warning

Result:



 Cambodia (KH)

 Warning:
- Visitors are not permitted to make day trips (i.e., arriving
  and departing on the same day) to Cambodia.

 - Except for holders of government duty passports.
 - Except when arriving and departing in Phnom Penh (PNH).

 - Except for holders of a multiple-entry business visa issued

   by Cambodia.
- Return/onward ticket is required for nationals of

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan,
  Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Sudan 

 

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1 hour ago, BritTim said:

I am pretty sure you will dismiss this also, but worth a try:

http://cms.olympicair.com/timatic/webdocsI/countryinfo.html

Country: Cambodia

Section: Visa

Subsection: Warning

Result:


 Cambodia (KH)

 Warning:
- Visitors are not permitted to make day trips (i.e., arriving
  and departing on the same day) to Cambodia.

 - Except for holders of government duty passports.
 - Except when arriving and departing in Phnom Penh (PNH).

 - Except for holders of a multiple-entry business visa issued

   by Cambodia.
- Return/onward ticket is required for nationals of

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan,
  Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Sudan 

 

Someone will come on soon posting you made that up yourself.

??

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Bangkok Buddy travel  was top notch.  The head office girl Tanya was a dream. But, I last did it three years ago.  Meet in the early AM right next to the Asok BTS station.  Decent but typical mini van.  One hour wait with a free lunch at one of the casinos across the border.  Note they had some options where you could stay 2 or 3 days and come back on a separate mini van. 

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There is another alternative if you don't mind sleeping on a coach.

 

Take an overnight coach to Mae Sot ( get the luxury coach , 3 seats to a row fully reclining ) . Arrive early in the morning at coach station. Get a win motorcycle to the border bridge ( about 20-40 baht ). 

 

Exit Thailand ( stamp out ) walk over bridge . Pay 500 baht to get stamped in and out of Burma. Walk back over bridge and re-enter Thailand ( takes half an hour to walk over and straight back , no waiting , no graft ) Get a daytime  bus back to Bangkok. 

 

Obviously, takes longer but much of the time you will be asleep. The 500 baht you save on the visa will go towards the coach fare.

 

Just an option. The border at Mae Sot is generally quieter than Poipet.

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2 hours ago, Denim said:

There is another alternative if you don't mind sleeping on a coach.

 

Take an overnight coach to Mae Sot ( get the luxury coach , 3 seats to a row fully reclining ) . Arrive early in the morning at coach station. Get a win motorcycle to the border bridge ( about 20-40 baht ). 

 

Exit Thailand ( stamp out ) walk over bridge . Pay 500 baht to get stamped in and out of Burma. Walk back over bridge and re-enter Thailand ( takes half an hour to walk over and straight back , no waiting , no graft ) Get a daytime  bus back to Bangkok. 

 

Obviously, takes longer but much of the time you will be asleep. The 500 baht you save on the visa will go towards the coach fare.

 

Just an option. The border at Mae Sot is generally quieter than Poipet.

If wanting to use Mae Sot, I would suggest flying to Mae Sot airport (walking distance to the border) in at least one direction. Flights are frequent and not expensive.

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15 hours ago, BritTim said:

If wanting to use Mae Sot, I would suggest flying to Mae Sot airport (walking distance to the border) in at least one direction. Flights are frequent and not expensive.

I've used Mae Sai.  I had to stamp out at immigration at the south end of town and then proceed to the north end to cross.  This was many years ago.  The fee was USD5.

 

There are very cheap flights to Hat Yai, RT about the same as a visa to Lao or Cambodia.  The problem was with the land crossing. I had a non-im and crossed a couple of weeks before the trouble started (4 years ago?).

 

The last in and out run for me was 2015. I flew Jet Air to Singapore.  I got funny looks when I stamped out of Singapore half an hour after stamping in, and I got another puzzled official when I turned up in Bangkok several hours after departing.  I had a non-im O in the passport and he may have expected another.  Still, I got 30 days.

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22 hours ago, gunghang said:

I've used Mae Sai.  I had to stamp out at immigration at the south end of town and then proceed to the north end to cross.  This was many years ago.  The fee was USD5.

 

There are very cheap flights to Hat Yai, RT about the same as a visa to Lao or Cambodia.  The problem was with the land crossing. I had a non-im and crossed a couple of weeks before the trouble started (4 years ago?).

 

The last in and out run for me was 2015. I flew Jet Air to Singapore.  I got funny looks when I stamped out of Singapore half an hour after stamping in, and I got another puzzled official when I turned up in Bangkok several hours after departing.  I had a non-im O in the passport and he may have expected another.  Still, I got 30 days.

Reflecting on the previous posts, maybe I was in violation of a "stay overnight" rule. The Thai official may have cut me some slack because of a Thai wife.

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