Visa Run to Myanmar at Mae Sai/Tachileik
Posted: September 30, 2024 | Tagged: Border Crossings
Remembering the time when I had to do a visa run to Myanmar at the Mae Sai/Tachileik border crossing.
Flashback post to 2014 when I spent 6 months in Southeast Asia.
I'd been hanging out in Mae Salong for a week or two, and my 30-day visa was running out.
Originally, I'd crossed into Thailand from Malaysia near Kota Bharu and then gone to Cambodia, then back to Thailand just north of Anlong Veng before taking a series of trains and buses to Northern Thailand. Backpacking Thailand was pure joy.
From Mae Salong, I had taken a series of Songthaews to Mae Chan and the delightful little border town of Mae Sai.
After a good sleep, I presented myself at the immigration office. The officers there knew the score. At that time, travellers could cross the border, but they were prohibited from travelling deeper into Myanmar. We were allowed to cross the border, have a look around the town of Tachileik and then come back (and get another 30 days). This was known as a visa run.
The friendly immigration official flicked through my passport and said, 'Last time, ok!'. The next time, I would need to be out for a bit longer or get a visa from the embassy.
I got stamped out, crossed the bridge over the River Ruak and entered Myanmar. I got stamped in, paid my 10 US Dollars and got stamped out at the same time.
I mooched around Tachileik for a few hours, then crossed back into Thailand, happy to get another 30 days:
Originally, I'd crossed into Thailand from Malaysia near Kota Bharu and then gone to Cambodia, then back to Thailand just north of Anlong Veng before taking a series of trains and buses to Northern Thailand. Backpacking Thailand was pure joy.
From Mae Salong, I had taken a series of Songthaews to Mae Chan and the delightful little border town of Mae Sai.
After a good sleep, I presented myself at the immigration office. The officers there knew the score. At that time, travellers could cross the border, but they were prohibited from travelling deeper into Myanmar. We were allowed to cross the border, have a look around the town of Tachileik and then come back (and get another 30 days). This was known as a visa run.
The friendly immigration official flicked through my passport and said, 'Last time, ok!'. The next time, I would need to be out for a bit longer or get a visa from the embassy.
I got stamped out, crossed the bridge over the River Ruak and entered Myanmar. I got stamped in, paid my 10 US Dollars and got stamped out at the same time.
I mooched around Tachileik for a few hours, then crossed back into Thailand, happy to get another 30 days:
Here are the photos from September 23, 2014 in the town of Tachileik, Myanmar:
