Thai visa?

A question about : Thai visa?

Hi

I wonder if someone would be able to help with regard to a visa question.

My son is going backpacking next week. he has a one way ticket to Bangkok.He arrives in Bangkok on Thursday afternoon and has a train booked to take him to Laos on the Thursday evening.

I have read the info on visas and I think that will be ok and he won't have to buy an additional visa as he is exiting Thailand could someone confirm if this is correct.

Thanks in advance.

Best answers:

• Providing he has a UK passport that will be fine, just make sure he has proof of his train ticket, hell need to show the airline and Thai border officers may wish to see it as well.
• Thanks very much,that's what I thought just wanted to double check.
• Sorry just looked at his train ticket and its to take him to Nong K
  hoi station which is still in Thailand. Here he needs to cross the border to board the next train to Laos as you couldn't buy a straight through ticket online.
  Does anyone know if this will cause a problem as it doesn't show him going direct to Laos. He has confirmation of accommodation booked in Laos.
  Thanks in advance
• It depends on the airline and whether they stick to their rules, but I wouldn't be risking it.
  He should either get a visa (if time permits) or get some other evidence of leaving Thailand. This could be the cheapest LCC flight with no intention of using the ticket, or a fully refundable ticket, as long as he can afford to float this for potentially a few weeks while it gets refunded.
  There are other more dodgy methods costing nothing, but MSE is probably not the place for them.
• Thanks for your reply. I have spoke to my son and we have decided to go for the cheap airline ticket we think its better to do this than take the risk he won't get on the flight.
  Will it be ok to buy a ticket leaving from elsewhere in Thailand and not Bangkok s long as it is within the 30 days as the cheapest ticket is from Krabi to Penang in Malaysia.
• When I flew to Phuket last year we got a free 30 day 'visa' upon entry we didn't need to fill anything in before (like the states). I am not sure about visas if he is visiting longer though. Hope this helps!
• Hmm yes sorry. My friend is out there for 3 months at the mo, I'll ask him for you
• He'll get a free of charge 30 day stay in Thailand, will have to pay equivalent of about $35 U.S. for entry to Laos, and another free 30 day stay in Thailand if he goes back that way. And will be fined on departure if he ever overstays a 30 day stay without getting a proper long stay visa.
  We invented the name of a guest house in Laos when we were asked on arrival, then the immigration officer there said, as they usually do, "My brother has a better guest house than that "
  But your son must be there by now, so how is he getting on?
• Thankyou AMG. That really is new and worth knowing.
• You get the Laos VOA at the border post on the Friendship Bridge.
  Nong Khai is a great place, sat right on the Meekong, and well worth loitering for a few nights.
  Good luck