Chiang Mai to Laos Visa Run

For many expats and long-term travelers in Thailand, the visa run is an essential yet sometimes daunting part of their journey. One popular and efficient route involves taking a minivan from Thailand to Laos for a swift in-and-out border crossing. This process, known as a visa run, is often necessary for those who need to extend their stay in Thailand but have exhausted their visa options within the country. Whether you're a digital nomad, a retiree soaking up the sun, or simply someone who has fallen in love with the Land of Smiles, a visa run to Laos offers a quick and practical solution to keep your adventures in Thailand going.

Pick Up

f you decide to go with a company that offers this service (which is recommended), you will arrange to be picked up at one of several convenient locations. I chose to get picked up at Maya Mall, as it is conveniently close to the Nimman area.

was instructed to be there at 6:45 AM,  the driver showed up almost exactly on time. The bus was already partially full, and we made one more stop near Central Chiang Mai to pick up additional passengers before starting the long journey toward Huay Xai in Laos.

The van interior is quite nice, and there is water there for guests to drink. I was lucky and got a seat in the front row where there is extra leg space. 

Pit Stop 1 

I estimate we left Chiang Mai proper at around 07.00 and drove for almost exactly 2 hour before taking a 10 minute break at a fill station. 

It is highly advised to bring some wet wipes in case you need to use the restroom during the journey, as it is highly unlikely you will find them in the public toilets. 

At the Border

We then made the final leg of the journey to Laos, it was approximately another 2 hours in the minivan before we reached Huay Xai, perhaps due to the fact that it was the weekend, there was hardly anyone at the border crossing. We went through the Thai side immigration within about 15 minutes. 

After getting through the Thai side, we bought tickets for the shuttle bus across the friendship bridge in to Laos. 

The entire process of crossing Thai immigration , getting the shuttle bus and arriving on the Laos side took approximately 20 minutes, again perhaps due to it being a weekend. 

Once arriving at the Laos side, we followed the signs to the Laos visa on arrival desk. 

The visa application process was as simple as handing on the 2000 THB at counter 1 and waiting 10 minutes before the passports appeared at counter 2. This process was very painless indeed. 

Once we have the passports returned, we purchase another shuttle bus ticket to take us back over the friendship bridge to the Thai side. The shuttle bus on the Laos side costs 40 THB for some reason, as opposed to 25 THB on the Thai side. 

After a short wait we get back on the shuttle bus and return to the Thai side of the border. As of June 2024 there is / was no fee to be paid on the Thai side when returning. 

It should be noted that the Thai side of the border was quite strict about documents. The officer on the Thai side scrutinized the documents quite thoroughly and requested a TM30 form (proof of hotel booking) from both me and the person in front of me, so it is highly advised to bring this with you to avoid delays. Although the officer didn't ask, they are entitled to request to see an outbound flight from Thailand.

Once we got back to the minivan, the driver was waiting for us in the same spot. We got back in the van and made our way back to Chiang Mai. We had a pit stop at the exact same PTT station we had stopped at on the way there. By this time, the KFC was open, so if you are hungry by this stage, you can get some food there. After 15-20 minutes, we got back in the van and spent around another two hours traveling back to Chiang Mai, arriving at approximately 5:10 PM at Maya Mall. As far as I know, the driver will return passengers to the same places where they were picked up.

Summary 

The trip was pretty grueling, to be honest. It doesn't feel like normal traveling since we end up in the same place we started! But of course, that is because it isn't real traveling in the usual sense. Think of it more as a 'business trip' (of sorts) that must be done! The day is long, starting at 6:45 AM and ending around 5:10 PM, but given that we are traveling across borders and dealing with immigration processes, it really isn't too bad considering the circumstances.

The journey itself can be tiring, with hours spent on the road and the stress of ensuring all documents are in order. However, the experience of crossing an international border, even briefly, adds a unique element to the day. The landscapes we passed through were beautiful, providing a glimpse of the rural charm of northern Thailand and Laos.