Visa



"Backpacking and Visa"

This article covers everything a backpacker needs to know about visas for Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia and India. I will also guide you through the border crossings in these countries.

In this article you`ll find:


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?

Click here to read/share the latest visa updates for Thailand, Malaysia, India, Laos and Cambodia

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.
But...

... 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.

Note: Since you`re going backpacking, your focus is the Tourist Visa. This means that you`re visiting a country for tourism purposes. It also means that you can`t work on this kind of permit.



view of mekong river huay xai laos

The Rules

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



river border crossing huay xai laos

Border crossings in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and India

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!

Visa Updates and Information

Updating information on visas, prices and border crossings can be tough, because they change at a regular basis.

Do you have a piece of valuable visa information that can be of help to this site?

Share what you know, and I’m sure that you will help a lot of travelers, including me! I appreciate all your help!

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See Other Important Visa Messages

Click below to see Visa messages from other visitors to this page...

How to get a Vietnam visa in Bangkok, Thailand  Not rated yet
Take a taxi or the Skytrain to the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok. If you're taking the Skytrain, get off at Phloenchit. Walk towards the hotel- and shopping ...

How to get Chinese visa in Laos (Vientiane)  Not rated yet
Last updated: July 27, 2010

If you're in Luang Prabang, you can get a Chinese visa through a travel agent by paying an extra fee. Otherwise, the address...

How to Get a Cambodian Visa in Bangkok  Not rated yet
Ok. I'm fed up by the wrong online information about the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok. I got my Cambodian visa in Bangkok this week, and I'm going to tell ...

India: Reminder -- New Indian Tourist Visa Rules   Not rated yet
It has come to the notice of the Government that there has been abuse/misuse of the Tourist Visa. With a view to curb the abuse/misuse of the Tourist Visa,...

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