Day trip toLaos

[trubrit]

Sure many of you guys do this on a regular basis but I haven't ever, so can you tell me what is the current situation getting a visa for just a one day trip .Have some visitors coming all on British passports with Thai 30day visitor visa's so presumably won't need re-entry for here.Thanks in advance.

[BobHelm]

As far as I am aware Val, only the Laos 30 day tourist visa is available at the Friendship Bridge.
Costs 1,500 baht or $30 odd dollars for it, on arrival & it fills a page of your passport.

On arriving back at the Thai border they would be granted 30 day visa exemptions - no charge..

[Laan Yaa Mo]

If you want to avoid the lineup at the border, you can get a visa for Laos at their Consulate in Khon Kaen. It is located just south of Wat Chang and north of Khon Kaen University driving from Udon. It is not in the city proper. The wait time is about an hour. Forms are available at the counter or sometimes on the desk in the seating area. Then you can either go to Viang Chan (Vientiane) or to Savannakhet. They are both about 3 hours from Khon Kaen.

[747man]

Val, As Bob says.....Laos 30 Day Visa ( On Arrival is given ) On the Laos side of the bridge 35 US$ For British Passport holders...

But I Think the original THAI Visitor Visa IS Cancelled on departure fro m Thailand,Then on Re-Entry( To Thailand ) They will only get a 15 Day Thai Visitors Visa, ( Visa Exempt ) as it's a Land border crossing

I May be wrong on the 2nd part,because I Already have a Thai NON-IMM " O "Visa & Therefore I Get 90 Days on my Re-Entry....

[BobHelm]

A Thai single entry visa is certainly finished once you exit Thailand - even if you have only stayed for a day..

These days nearly everybody gets 30 days visa exemption at a land crossing into Thailand.
However there is also a restriction on how many you can have in a year - 2 I think...

[747man]

Bob,You are Correct with that part....However there is also a restriction on how many you can have in a year - 2 I think...

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Yes, 747 is correct as usual. I had a 60 day visa for Thailand, but once I left for Laos and returned to Thailand I was only granted 15 days on my return. However, I have heard of other people who get 30 days so....

[BobHelm]

It used to be that only G8 countries got 30 days Uncle & most others got 15 days, but that was also unlimited.
They changed the rules to give nearly everybody 30 days but put a restriction number of it at the same time.
The restriction does not apply to those arriving by air...

[Zidane]

Latest update 15 August 2017

Visa Exempt, 30 days at Airport and TWO times 30 day at land border in one calendar year 1.1 – 31.12: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brunei, Belgium, Canada, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia(unlimited), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Slovak, Slovenia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom and USA.

[trubrit]

Thanks for all the replies guy's. The re-entry to Thailand isn't a problem for my visitors as they will be in the last week of their visit anyway although immigration did tell me they would get 30day as they hold confirmed flight reservations out. It's the Laos side I was wondering about, looks like it 's an expensive day trip if it's 1,500bht each for Laos visa, even more so for me because I need a re-entry from this side and that's another 1,000bht, isn't it .Now I know why I have never been across with the wife and her friends but stay in NK having a beer .Certainly knocks any thought of saving on duty free on the head.

[wazza]

Trubrit

your friends will also save a bit, if they have the $35 USD to be presented

as the FX rates THB / GBP etc offered by the Lao Immigration etc are about 25% less from recollection

[747man]

NEVER Pay for Laos Visa in Thai Baht.......Also Val, Just to let you know,Laos Duty Free Ain't Cheap in my opinion....

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Thank you for the information Khuns Bob, 747 and Zidane.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

NEVER Pay for Laos Visa in Thai Baht.......Also Val, Just to let you know,Laos Duty Free Ain't Cheap in my opinion....

Not just duty free, but everything is a little more expensive in Laos. I guess this is because most of their products are imported from Thailand and China. I have yet to see anything labelled, Made in Laos, but some cottage industries might carry that tag.

[wazza]

Wines were certainly cheaper 8 months ago.

[trubrit]

Wines were certainly cheaper 8 months ago.

They were yesterday as well. My wife brought back this 5ltr box of Californian cabernet sauvignon from the official Laos govt shop at the border for 21$ equated to 714bht, also a similar from across the road for 594bht. My only complaint they don't seem to stock the variety of French and New Zealand wines like they used to .

[BobHelm]

Having come all the way from the UK it might be worthwhile for them to go into Laos.
As others have said Vientiane always seems expensive compared to Udon for anything except Laos Beer, wine & 'designer' handbags
I still think that it is a nice (different) place to visit for a couple of days though..
The colonial French had a grand city creation style (whatever their other faults) that is completely absent from Thailand..

[joepai]

At least you can get good Indian nosh there

[eire]

If you are paying for LAOS visa on arrival in dollars
Make sure your bills are in mint condition
Any creases ,tears,any marks on any of the bills
They will be rejected
Guess Laos Imm prefer Thai Baht