Visa

First, some general tips!

• If you`re applying before departure, you should allow some time to get it. How long you have to wait depends on the embassy. Like, when I applied for my Indian tourist permit in Oslo, I had to wait for a week.

• The validity starts running from the day it was issued, not the day from you arrive the country!

• To save money, do not overstay!

• Check whether it`s valid for single or multiple entries. Let`s say your plan is to travel in and out of India. You will then need a tourist permit with multiple entries.

Note: When you arrive at the airport, you have to fill out an arrival card.

You`ll be asked to fill out where in Thailand you`re going to stay. If you haven`t made arrangements with any guesthouses, I`ve experienced that it`s good enough to write that you will stay in "Banglamphu area" (the backpacker area in Bangkok). If you have pre-booked a room at a specific guesthouse, you can of course write it down.

In some cases, it isn`t practical to get a visa before your departure because it may expire before your even reach the particular country.

• So, if you`re planning to pick it up along the road, bring a bunch of passport-sized photos!

• Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and India charge a fee for issuing it. So take this into account when you`re sorting out your backpacking budget. Like, if time is short, you might have to pay extra for a permit to be issued faster than normal.

• Carry enough US dollars because this is the all-round currency when paying at the border crossings.

Considering visa run?

Many backpackers prefer this because:

1. It`s difficult to know exactly when you arrive in that particular country. The point with backpacking is NOT knowing exactly when and where you`re going...

2. Change of plans --

   Example: If you apply for an Indian permit before departure, but decide to skip the travelling in India you just lost money...

3. Knowing that you don`t need to arrive in that particular country within a certain time, gives you a sense of freedom.

... the positive side about obtaining it in advance is that you save time at the airport and border crossings. If you already have one, you don`t need to fill out boring and countless application forms and you can just pass through.

I will guide you through the requirements for each country, costs and where you can renew it!

Read about the visa rules for Thailand Tourist Visa

Cambodia Tourist Visa

Laos Visa Requirements

Visa for India

Malaysia Visa

Want to cross the border, but don`t know where?

You`ll read about the most popular border crossings in these countries, prices, opening times, what to watch out for and more!

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