How to renew your visa

So, your visa is about to expire huh? Well, unless you want to be fined 500 baht a day overstay fee (payable when you try to leave the country), you'd better make plans. It's a tricky one, but important if you're planning on staying in the Kingdom longer than 30 days. For many long-term foreign residents in Chiang Mai, the 'visa run' is one of those monthly drags we all have to put up with.

Unfortunately the Thai immigration department isn't comprised of the most helpful or efficient people in the country; in fact they can be quite sticky if they suspect you are planning to stay indefinitely in Thailand, so be prepared for the run-around!

If you're simply an innocent tourist then catch a tuk tuk to the immigration office near the airport (dressed neatly) and they'll extend your visa for a maximum of 10 days, and fleece you of 1,900 baht (US$60/£30). If you are planning to stay less than 10 days, it's cheaper to just pay the overstay fine at the airport.

However, they don't really like this and an overstay fine in your passport might not be helpful if you plan on applying for a long stay visa later. Also, if the police check your passport for any reason (unlikely if you stay out of trouble), you'll almost certainly be arrested and deported if your visa has expired. This can involve a few days in the chink and some costly 'help'.

Those who plan to come to Thailand for longer than 30 days can get an on-the-spot 60-day tourist visa from a Thai embassy before coming (costing about US$15/£10). These can be extended for a further 30 days at the local immigration office.

Visa runs

Your next option is the good old visa run - a well worn route to the Myanmar border in Mae Sai, trampled by dozens daily. This is a full day drag, starting at the eastern bus terminus at 9am (to secure a ticket for the 9:30am direct bus). The trip is a pleasant one through the hill passes to Chiang Rai and beyond, leaving you at the Mae Sai bus stop at 1pm.

Alternatively there is a private service run by ‘Martin and Jan’ which is professional shuttle pick leaving at 08:00 and returning at 18:00, daily except Thai public holidays. Call 097585345 or email jantawinters@hotmail.com . We’ve had good reports on this service.

If you arrive in Mae Sai by bus, simply catch a songteaw from the bus station to the border, get an exit stamp from the immigration office nearby, pass the checkpoint and cross the bridge into Myanmar. There is a small office on the right-hand side of the bridge where a stern-looking chap takes your passport, along with US$10/400 baht and gives you a receipt.

Now what? You've got to kill 30 minutes, which isn't difficult, so continue over the bridge and into the impoverished but thriving market town. It's full of traders hawking cheap Chinese goods, excess stock CDs and DVDs (great selection for 70 baht each) and more. In fact, some come strictly to shop and there are some great bargains and some junk too. Ignore the hustlers trying to sell you fake Marlboros and pornos.

Your returning bus leaves at 3:30pm, so make sure you're back in Mae Sai by 3pm because the songteaw journey to the bus stop takes at least 15 minutes. This is the direct bus; however, there are later alternatives changing in Chiang Rai and taking longer to reach Chiang Mai. So, pick your passport up from Myanmar immigration, cross into Thailand, fill out the form as if you were a tourist and... Bob's your uncle.

Well, not quite. You're not supposed to do this more than three times in a row, but we know people who've been doing it for 15 straight months. Every now and again they crack down and ask questions, but your chances of getting stranded there are slim, if anything they'll let you in long enough to get to Bangkok and the airport. If all goes smoothly you'll be back in Chiang Mai by 8pm.

Note!

From September 2004 onwards, the border officials have been asking those re-entering Thailand from the Myanmar border at Tachilek to show an amount of 10,000 baht, either in cash or shown in a Thai bank book. There is an ATM very near the border and it is likely they will allow you through (without your passport) to quickly go and draw the money.

From mid 2006 onwards a new directive from the Immigration Department has not allowed visitors to re-enter thailand on 30 day tourist visas more than two consecutive times. Therefore, you are only able to stay for 90 days on “tourist visas upon entry”. Thereafter you would have to travel to a consulate nearby and apply for a 60 day tourist visa.

Last updated: November 2007.

Read our visa section for full details on visa options.