Cambodia Visa Run

This blog entry is not like my usual entries. This one is for documentation purposes, so that it exists somewhere on the net. This was originally written for teams that are staying at The Life Center church in Chonburi, Thailand. But it could be adapted to almost any group. Prices are accurate as of April 2006. Pictures are by Dave & Shannon Harder and me.

If you are planning to stay in Thailand more than 30 days, you will most likely be taking a trip to get out of the country and right back in again, to renew your visa. We call this a "Visa Run". The nearest country from Chonburi (and Bangkok) is Cambodia. Once you've been there, you'll know why we wrote these instructions. It is it quite (some would say intentionally) confusing.

Prices:

• Air Conditioned 15 passenger van with driver (from Chonburi): 1800 Baht/day (regardless of number of passengers)
• Gas for the van: 1000 Baht
• Cambodian visa application (with photo): 1000 Baht
• Cambodian visa application (no photo): 1100 Baht
• Guide: 200 Baht/person

Times:

• About 3.5 to 4 hours travel time each way
• About 2-4 hours for paperwork and standing in lines (depends on the lines, AVOID SATURDAY)

Step 0: Checklist BEFORE YOU LEAVE

• Passport
• Pen
• 1000 Baht (or $20 US) for Cambodian Visa
• Make sure you have a Thailand departure slip stapled inside your passport (and filled out).
• Passport Photo: You will need one on your Cambodian visa application form. If you don't, it will cost an extra 100 Baht. You can get passport photos taken at a photo shop (Kodak). Getting photos ahead of time is the cheaper alternative.
• You may want to bring a book, pillow, food, water, diskman, portable dvd player etc. The ride is about 3.5 hours. There are gas stations along the way for bathroom breaks.
• You can leave stuff in the van or take it with you. They don't check your luggage/backpack.
• ...and finally your Passport!
• Tip: Leave early to avoid long lines. We left from Chonburi at 5:00am
• Tip: Go on a weekday to avoid long lines. They are open Saturdays but it is busy!
• Tip: Note that $20 US is a better price than paying 1000 baht for a visa. If you have US money, now is a good time to use it (exact change required for either currency).
  

Step 1: Getting to the border

• Shortly after you arrive and park, one or more "guides" will come up and say that you pay them and they will guide you through. Others will say that if you let them guide you, it will be faster than if you do it yourself. That isn't true. They may also tell you that they have a special relationship and you will save money by going through them. That is not true either. BUT if you want someone to hold your hand through the process, they WILL do that. And they cost about 200 Baht extra per person.
• From the parking lot you see a huge market. The road forks. Take the left fork. A little ways down you will see a dirt hill that has lots of people with carts. Go over the dirt hill.

Step 2: Exit Thailand (customs)

• Make sure your departure slip (stapled in your passport) is filled out.
  You will first walk through what looks like a border crossing station, but that isn't the border.
• Head to the departure building. This is on the LEFT side of the road (looking into Cambodia)
• Wait in line (You have a "Foreign Passport")
• The Thai customs will remove the departure slip and stamp your passport, and you'll be on your way.
• Note: If you overstayed your welcome (stayed longer than 30 days, you will be fined 500 Baht per day for every day beyond the 30 days.
  

Step 3: Apply for Cambodian Visa

• Walk across the street and down the road to the Cambodia Visa Office. This is on the RIGHT side of the road (looking into Cambodia) and it has rows of chairs out front.
• Fill out the visa application form:
  
  • you are a tourist
  • you are entering at POIPET
  • you came from Thailand
  • If you don't know the answer to a question (like address in Cambodia), leave it blank
• Hand in your visa application along with your passport and 1000 Baht (or $20 US)
• Wait for your passport to be processed (about 20 minutes)

Step 4: Enter Cambodia (customs)

• You can walk or take the free transport service into Cambodia (it's a diesel, open tour bus--not the guys with the carts). It's not very far so it's not a huge deal. But it will stop right in front of the Cambodia customs office.
• The customs building is on the RIGHT side of the road (looking into Cambodia).
• As you enter the customs building, someone should be there handing out Cambodia entry/exit slip. You need this to get in and out of Cambodia so find a guy with the slips.
• Fill out the Cambodia arrival/departure slip:
  
  • You are a TOURIST
  • Your visa was obtained in POIPET, visa number is not important
  • If you don't know the answer to a question, leave it blank
• Tip: Fill out both sides of the entry/exit slip, because once the exit slip is stapled into your passport, it's harder to fill out.
• Then you're IN CAMBODIA! Do what you like, but if you want to keep things moving, you will walk across the street to the other customs building to exit Cambodia.

Step 5: Leave Cambodia (customs)

• Same basic line, different direction.
• This building is pretty much directly across the street, with a giant DEPARTURE sign.

Step 6: Enter Thailand (customs)

• Walk the back to the Thai customs "building" (actually it's pretty open). This is on the LEFT side of the street (facing Thailand). It is past the Cambodia visa office, right after the bridge.
• As you approach the line, there is a table with guys handing out Thai entry/exit slips. Pick one up and fill it out while you are in line.
• Fill out the Thailand arrival/departure slip:
  
  • Read the instructions!
  • For address in Thailand, use TLC's address: P.O. Box 25, Bang Saen, Chonburi 20130
  • You are a TOURIST
  • You are NOT on a group tour
  • If you don't know the answer to a question, leave it blank
• Tip: Fill out both sides of the entry/exit slip, because once the exit slip is stapled into your passport, it's harder to fill out.
• Tip: If you have a 60 day Thailand visa, make sure they see the page in your passport. Otherwise they will stamp it with a 30 day visa and you will have problems on your next visa run (voice of experience).

Step 7: Go home

• Go back the way you came. Go through the big building in the people lane and over the hill.
• When you go over the hill there is a tent with one final check. Men go through one side, women through the other. You must go through this on the way back.
• You can spend some time in the market if you like. You will be harassed by child beggars and sunglasses salesmen.

I hope this helps. I know I sure would have appreciated a guide like this. If this helped you, leave me a comment eh?