As a traveler in Southeast Asia, crossing borders becomes an every few days kind of ordeal. Each country has a different rule of entry and some countries will require you to apply for a visa before you set foot in their country. As visa requirements often change, for travelers in Southeast Asia it can be difficult to plan things like budget and duration of travel. Here, we’ve compiled the latest visa information in Southeast Asia to make it easier for you to plan and most importantly, enjoy your trip!
Please note that you should still consult the government website of your home country to make sure that you have all documents and necessary requirements before applying for your visas! This article is just to help you get a better understanding of the full process.
Thailand
- Most nationalities receive a Free Tourist Entry Pass upon arrival into Thailand by air or land.
- Citizens of five nations (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Korean) receive a 90-day visa-free entry into Thailand.
- Citizens of 55 nations (including the USA, UK and most EU nations) receive 30-day visa-free entry into Thailand but must be able to show a return ticket leaving in the 30-day window when entering the country. Travelers may also be required to show a certain amount of funds per person to enter the country (10,000 THB = approx. 320$ USD).
- Citizens of Cambodia and Myanmar receive only 14 days.
Getting a 60-day Tourist Visa before you travel:
For those who know that they want to stay longer in Thailand, this is probably your best option. The cost for a 60-day Tourist Visa is $40 USD and you should apply for it, in person, at a Thai Embassy before you travel. You can do so at any Thai Embassy in any country that is not Thailand.
As you do not need to apply for the Thai visa in your home country, if you enter Thailand on a 30-day free pass, you could always leave and travel to a neighbouring Asian country and get yourself a 60-day Tourist Visa to Thailand while you’re there.
Cambodia
Most nationalities are eligible for a 30-day tourist visa on arrival which costs $30 USD. (T Visa) Payments must be made in $USD.
You must have two completely free pages in your passport, as well as 6-months validity. You must also have two recent passport photos of yourself.
Passport holders of ASEAN countries do not require a visa on arrival.
eVisa:
You can also apply for an eVisa before entering Cambodia which takes 1-3 days to process. If you google ‘Cambodia eVisa’, lots of adverts come up first in the search list, however, the official government website is: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/.
You will need to fill out an application form online and upload a digital photo. The eVisa is actually a bit more expensive than a normal visa on arrival at $37 USD but may be worth your time.
Advantages of an eVisa:
There are a few reasons why you may want to pay for an eVisa over a normal visa.
1) You avoid the queues at airports or at borders where people are getting their visas on arrival.
2) In the past, visa scams were fairly common. When visa fees were paid at Thai/Cambodia border crossings, officials demanded that fees be paid in THB and there is no way of knowing if these scams are currently still in operation, so the eVisa avoids this completely.
Disadvantages of an eVisa:
1) You have to know your point of entry beforehand which can be difficult for most travelers who are not sure yet where they will be and at what precise date.
2) You cannot use the eVisa at all border crossings. It is currently only available at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports, Cham Yeam/Koh Kong, Poipet/Banteay Meanchey and Bavet/Svay Rieng.
Visa extensions: The normal 30-day tourist visa is a single entry, and once it runs out you can extend at an embassy for another 30 days for a fee of $45 USD. After that, you must leave the country and come back to get a new visa.
Photo by Peter Hershey on Unsplash
Laos
Citizens of the following countries can enter Laos visa-free for a specified number of days: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam (30 days), Japan, Luxembourg, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland (15 days), Brunei, Myanmar (14 days).
Almost all other nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival for 30 days whether crossing by air or land. You will need at least 6 months validity left on your passport, at least 2 blank pages, 2 passport photos.
The cost ranges from $20 – $50USD, depending on your nationality. For example: Australia – $30 USD. Canada – $42 USD. China – $20 USD. USA – $35 USD. UK – $35 USD. For other nationalities, please contact a Laos Embassy to find out the exact price.
You should have the correct amount in $US Dollars. Paying in Thai Baht or Cambodian Riel at the neighbouring countries borders can be more expensive as prices are often rounded up and poor exchange rates are given. You may also be forced to pay a flat rate in Thai Baht which will end up costing you more than the original price.
Vietnam
Vietnam grants visa-free entry to many nationalities for a certain number of days:
90-Day Visa Free Entry: Citizens from Chile can enter Vietnam for 90 days without a visa.
30-Day Visa Free Entry: Citizens of Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos and Kyrgyzstan can enter Vietnam for 30 days without a visa.
15-Day Visa Free Entry: Citizens of the UK, Norway, Russia, Belarus, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Japan, Italy, Germany, France, South Korea, Spain.
For Canadian and American citizens: You will have to obtain a Vietnam Visa on Arrival. Travelers simply need to follow the following simple steps:
- Go online: http://www.vietnamvisa.govt.vn
- Submit application form online via our secured network to receive the Visa Approval letter.
- Get Visa Stamp when arriving in a Vietnam International Airports ( Ha Noi/ Da Nang/ Ho Chi Minh city/ Nha Trang ).
E-Visa:
Should you wish to stay longer than your allocated time, you can apply for an eVisa in advance of your travels on the official Vietnam Portal of Immigration. The eVisa is valid for a maximum of 30 days, single entry. The cost is $25 USD.
You can apply online for the eVisa online here. You will need to upload a copy of your passport and receive a registration code. After that, you pay the $25 USD fee by credit or debit card and wait 3 days for the visa to be processed. Once you have your eVisa, you should print it out and bring it with you to show to the Immigration Officials upon entry to Vietnam.