Entry is always at the officer's discretion
Border status and enforcement change quickly. Check the current status of any crossing with Thai Immigration and the neighbouring country before you set off.
Why visa runs got harder
- Shorter stays. Since 15 September 2026, visa-free entry gives 30 days instead of 60, with one discretionary 30-day extension. The 30-day rule explained.
- Two land entries a year. Visa-exempt entries through land borders are capped at two per calendar year (citizens of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are excluded).
- Closer scrutiny. There's no fixed limit for air arrivals, but officers look at your passport history and can refuse travellers with a run of back-to-back visa-exempt stays.
- No Cambodia run. The Thailand–Cambodia land borders, including Aranyaprathet–Poipet, have been closed to travellers since June 2025, with no reopening date announced.
Border by border
| Neighbour | Status for a visa run |
|---|---|
| 🇰🇭 Cambodia | Closed overland. You can still fly to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap — see Cambodia's e-visa and e-Arrival. |
| 🇱🇦 Laos | The main land option. The Nong Khai–Vientiane Friendship Bridge is the most used crossing. Every return by land counts toward your two-a-year limit. |
| 🇲🇲 Myanmar | Not advisable. Reports conflict on which crossings are open to foreigners, and parts of the border are conflict zones. Check your government's travel advice. |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Check first. Southern crossings are used for runs, but confirm the current status. A land return still counts toward the limit unless you hold an excluded passport. |
| ✈️ Flying out | Avoids the land limit, not the scrutiny. Expect questions if your passport shows several visa-exempt stays in a row. |
The better option for long stays
If you want months rather than weeks, visa runs are now the riskiest way to do it. Remote workers usually go for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) — up to 180 days per entry — but it must now be applied for from your country of nationality or residence, so plan it before you leave home. Long-stay options compared →
Or split the year across countries — Vietnam on its 90-day e-visa, Malaysia's 90 visa-free days, Cambodia's extendable visas — and check each stay with our free trip planner.
Frequently asked questions
Are Thailand visa runs still allowed in 2026?
They are not illegal, but they are much harder. Visa-free stays are now 30 days, visa-exempt land entries are capped at two per calendar year, and immigration can refuse entry to travellers whose passports show repeated visa-exempt stays.
Can I do a visa run from Thailand to Cambodia over land?
Not at the time of writing. The Thailand–Cambodia land borders have been closed to travellers since June 2025 with no reopening date announced. Flights between the two countries still operate.
Does flying out and back avoid the land-border limit?
Yes — the two-a-year cap applies to land entries. But air arrivals are still at the officer's discretion, and repeated back-to-back visa-exempt stays can lead to questions or refusal.
What is the alternative to visa runs?
A proper long-stay visa. For remote workers that usually means the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which allows up to 180 days per entry and must now be applied for from your country of nationality or residence.
Sources
Last checked against these sources on 3 November 2026. Entry rules change, sometimes with little notice — confirm on the official site before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Thailand introduces new 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September — TAT Newsroom
- Thailand visa-exempt land border limit: two a year — The Thaiger
- The visa run era is over: 2026 is the year Thailand stopped looking the other way — The Thaiger
- Border runs limits in Thailand — Thai Law Online
- Thailand travel advice — GOV.UK