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Ubon Ratchathani visa run guide

Nearest border options for Ubon Ratchathani residents needing a fresh entry stamp — Chong Mek into Laos, Chong Chom into Cambodia — plus the land-border entry limit that changed the rules, doing a run by air, and the visas that let you stop doing runs altogether.

In force, not yet confirmed centrallyPublished by Thai missions, no central instrument found

DTV: apply where you are a national or resident, and bring a police certificate

What this page says now: You could apply at any Thai embassy or consulate, including while present in a third country on a tourist stay — which is why applicants shopped for the post with the lightest checklist. No criminal-record or police clearance certificate was required.
What changed: You must be a national, or a legal/permanent resident, of the country where you apply, and must apply at the Thai mission covering that country. Being physically present somewhere on a tourist stay or visa exemption does not qualify you to apply there. A criminal-record / police clearance certificate from your country of citizenship or legal residence, issued within the last 6 months (UK applicants use the ACRO certificate). Applied from 31 August 2026 according to the sources below, not to a published instrument.

Announced from 31 August 2026 by individual Thai missions — Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane; Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet; Royal Thai Embassy, London — rather than by a single published Ministry of Foreign Affairs instrument. We have not found a consolidated official announcement, so confirm the current checklist directly with the mission handling your application. Five-year validity, 180-day stays with one extension, the ~THB 500,000 financial test and the dependant provisions are unchanged — the change is who may apply where, and one extra document. Allow several weeks for the police certificate.

The page below has not been changed on the strength of this, and will not be until Thai e-Visa — Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand publishes it. BAANLYY publishes what the Thai government publishes, not what is expected of it.

Sources for the change: Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane — published DTV application conditions · Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet — published DTV application conditions · Royal Thai Embassy, London — published DTV application conditions.

Check it yourself: Thai e-Visa — Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police. Sources last re-read 4 September 2026. BAANLYY is not a law firm or an immigration adviser and this is not legal advice.

Not confirmedReported, not confirmed by any official source

Proposed: a 300-baht arrival fee

What this page says now: No arrival or tourism fee is charged on entry, and none appears in the costs on this page.
What it is proposed to change to: 300 baht for arrivals by air and 150 baht for arrivals by land or sea, described by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as returning to Cabinet for a decision on how it would be collected.

No Thai government source for this has been found. Everything cited below is a news outlet or a private operator.

This proposal has been announced and postponed repeatedly since 2022. There is no Cabinet approval, no Royal Gazette entry and no start date. Budget for it if you like, but do not plan around a date, because nobody has published one.

The page below has not been changed on the strength of this, and will not be until Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand or Tourism Authority of Thailand publishes it. BAANLYY publishes what the Thai government publishes, not what is expected of it.

Source for the change: The Nation — Why Thailand is reviving its 300-baht tourist fee plan (not a government source).

Check it yourself: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · Tourism Authority of Thailand. Sources last re-read 4 September 2026. BAANLYY is not a law firm or an immigration adviser and this is not legal advice.

Overview

The short version

Ubon Ratchathani residents have two land border crossings for a fresh Thai entry stamp: Chong Mek into Vang Tao, Laos (about 1.5 hours southeast, the closer and far more commonly used option) and Chong Chom into O Smach, Cambodia (about 3 hours away in neighbouring Surin Province). Since Thailand introduced a cap on visa-exemption entries made at land borders, a same-day run is no longer something you can repeat indefinitely — it's worth understanding the current limit, the option of doing a run by air instead, and, for anyone here long-term, the visas that avoid the need for repeated runs altogether. Immigration rules change; always confirm current requirements on the Immigration Bureau's website before you plan a trip around them.

Visa run vs. 90-day report vs. extension — know the difference

These three get confused constantly. A visa run means physically leaving Thailand and re-entering to obtain a new entry stamp — the subject of this guide. A 90-day report is a mandatory address-confirmation filing required of long-stay visa holders, submitted to the Ubon Ratchathani Immigration Office in person, by mail or online — no border crossing involved. A visa extension is an in-country extension of your current permission to stay, also handled at the Immigration Office. If you're on a proper long-stay visa (see section 07), 90-day reports and extensions are what you'll deal with — not border runs.

Chong Mek — the Laos border crossing

Chong Mek is Ubon Ratchathani's nearest international land border, roughly 85 km (about 1.5 hours by car) southeast of the city via Route 217, reachable by hired car, rented car, minivan or shared songthaew from Ubon's main transport stops.
At the checkpoint, park near the Thai immigration building, walk through Thai exit immigration to get your exit stamp, then continue on foot or by short shuttle across to Lao immigration at Vang Tao on the other side — there's no river or bridge to cross here, just adjoining checkpoints.
Most nationalities can get a Lao visa-on-arrival at the Vang Tao checkpoint — bring a passport photo, cash (Thai baht or US dollars are commonly accepted) and expect a modest fee; requirements are set by Lao authorities and can change, so confirm current visa-on-arrival rules before relying on them.
The Thai side of Chong Mek hosts a large daily border market (Talat Chong Mek) popular with Thai and Lao shoppers for duty-reduced goods, so many visa-run trips double as a market outing before heading back across.
If you want to go further than the checkpoint itself, Pakse — Champasak Province's largest town and the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau and Wat Phu — is about 40 km / 45 minutes past the Lao side, a common extension for those turning the run into an overnight or weekend trip.
Checkpoint hours are roughly 06:00-20:00 but vary and can change with little notice — check current hours locally or with the Immigration Bureau before planning a same-day trip, and build in buffer time so you aren't caught on the wrong side at closing.

Ubon Ratchathani airport transfer guide (UBP to city & the Chong Mek border) →

Chong Chom — the Cambodia border crossing

Chong Chom sits in Kap Choeng district of neighbouring Surin Province, roughly 200 km (about 3 hours by car) from Ubon Ratchathani city via Sisaket — noticeably further than Chong Mek, which is why most Ubon-based long-stayers default to the Laos crossing instead.
The Thai side connects to O Smach on the Cambodian side, in Oddar Meanchey Province — a border zone known mainly for its casino resorts and a market that draws Thai day-trippers, rather than as a gateway to Cambodia's main tourist circuit.
Entry requirements for Cambodia depend on nationality — some visitors can get a visa on arrival, others need to arrange a Cambodian e-visa in advance — so check current Cambodian immigration requirements for your passport before planning a run here.
Because of the extra distance and drive time through Sisaket, Chong Chom is realistically a full-day trip rather than a quick same-day errand, and most residents treat it as a fallback if Chong Mek isn't convenient rather than a routine option.

Chong Mek vs. Chong Chom at a glance

Crossing	Distance & time	How to get there	Notes
Chong Mek (→ Vang Tao, Laos)	~85 km, about 1.5 hr	Drive, hired car, minivan or songthaew from Ubon Ratchathani city	The busiest and closest option — a land checkpoint (no bridge) with a large cross-border market on the Thai side. Onward to Pakse, Champasak Province, is a further ~40 km / 45 min. Most nationalities get a Lao visa-on-arrival at the checkpoint.
Chong Chom (→ O Smach, Cambodia)	~200 km, about 3 hr	Drive via Sisaket to Kap Choeng district, Surin Province	Further away and in a neighbouring province, so it's used far less by Ubon-based long-stayers than Chong Mek. Leads into Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey Province around O Smach's border market and casino zone.

The land-border entry limit — the rule that changed visa runs

This is the single most important thing to understand before planning a run around Chong Mek or Chong Chom.

Thailand's Immigration Bureau limits visa-exemption entries obtained specifically at LAND border checkpoints to a set number per calendar year for many passport holders — a rule introduced to curb people using repeated same-day land border runs purely to reset a visa-exempt stay indefinitely.
This cap applies to entries via land crossings like Chong Mek and Chong Chom; it does not apply to entries by air, and it does not apply if you are travelling on an actual visa (tourist visa, Non-B, Non-O, DTV, LTR, retirement) rather than the passport-based visa exemption.
Because this rule, the list of nationalities it applies to and the exact entry count have changed before and can change again, treat any specific number you read online — including here — as a starting point, not a guarantee, and confirm the current rule on the Immigration Bureau's website or with a Thai embassy/consulate before planning a border run around it.
The practical takeaway for Ubon Ratchathani residents: if you are relying on repeated land border runs to stay long-term, you are now capped, and a land run should be treated as an occasional option, not a standing monthly routine.

Visa run by air — the alternative

Because the land-border limit does not apply to entries by air, flying out and back is the workaround some long-stayers use once they have used up their land-crossing entries for the year.
Ubon Ratchathani Airport (UBP) itself runs mostly domestic routes to Bangkok, so an international air run typically means connecting through Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK) to a nearby country such as Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia or Vietnam and back.
This costs more than a land run in time and airfare, so most residents treat it as an occasional fallback once or twice a year, not a routine — and it is still subject to Thai immigration's broader discretion on repeated visa-exempt entries regardless of channel.
If you are flying rather than driving, book with enough buffer that a delayed or cancelled connecting flight doesn't leave you overstaying inadvertently.

Skip repeat visa runs — long-stay visa options

If you're doing land border runs every few weeks, that's usually a sign it's time to look at a proper long-stay visa instead — most avoid repeat border crossings entirely and only require periodic reporting or an annual extension.

Visa	What it offers	Best for
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)	5-year multiple-entry visa for remote workers, freelancers and soft-power activities (Muay Thai, cooking, medical treatment); 180-day stays per entry, extendable once for 180 more days in-country.	Digital nomads, remote employees and long-stay visitors who want to stop doing border runs altogether.
Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa	10-year visa via Thailand's BOI for wealthy pensioners, work-from-Thailand professionals, high earners and skilled professionals meeting income/asset thresholds.	Higher-income retirees and remote professionals who qualify and want maximum stability.
Retirement visa (O-A / O-X)	Long-stay visa for those 50 and over meeting income or bank-deposit requirements, renewed annually (O-A) or covering a longer initial period (O-X, limited nationalities).	Retirees settling in Ubon Ratchathani long-term who don't need to work.
Non-Immigrant O (marriage) / Non-B (work)	Extendable one-year permission to stay tied to a Thai spouse or Thai work permit/employer.	Those married to a Thai national or employed by a Thai company.

Compare every Thailand visa type →

Ubon Ratchathani Immigration Office — extensions & 90-day reporting

Ubon Ratchathani has its own provincial Immigration Office for in-country visa extensions and 90-day address reporting — neither requires a border crossing. Current address, hours and required documents can change, so confirm details on the Immigration Bureau's official site before a visit, and bring your passport, a completed application form, a passport photo and, for extensions, the supporting documents your specific visa category requires (proof of funds, employment letter, marriage or retirement paperwork, etc).

Full Ubon Ratchathani immigration office guide →

FAQ

Ubon Ratchathani visa run questions

What's the difference between a visa run, a 90-day report and a visa extension?

A visa run means leaving Thailand and re-entering to get a fresh entry stamp — it involves crossing a border. A 90-day report is a mandatory address-confirmation filing for long-stay visa holders, done at the Ubon Ratchathani Immigration Office (in person, by mail, or online), not at a border. A visa extension is an in-country extension of your current permission to stay, also handled at the Immigration Office, again without crossing a border. Long-stayers on proper visas typically deal with 90-day reports and extensions, not border runs.

Which border crossing is closer to Ubon Ratchathani — Chong Mek or Chong Chom?

Chong Mek is much closer, roughly 85 km (about 1.5 hours) southeast of Ubon Ratchathani city, and it's a walk-across land checkpoint into Vang Tao, Laos. Chong Chom is roughly 200 km (about 3 hours) away in neighbouring Surin Province, crossing into O Smach, Cambodia. Chong Mek is the faster, far more commonly used option for Ubon Ratchathani residents.

Is there a limit on how many times I can do a land border visa run?

Yes — Thailand's Immigration Bureau caps visa-exemption entries made specifically at land border checkpoints per calendar year for many nationalities, a rule aimed at people using repeated same-day border runs to stay indefinitely. The exact number and which nationalities it covers have changed before, so verify the current rule on the Immigration Bureau's website or with a Thai embassy before relying on a specific figure. It does not apply to entries by air or to travel on an actual visa rather than the visa exemption.

Can I do a visa run by air instead of by land from Ubon Ratchathani?

Yes, and it isn't subject to the land-border entry cap. Ubon Ratchathani Airport (UBP) is mostly domestic, so an international air run usually means connecting through Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang to a nearby country and back — more expensive and time-consuming than a land run, so most residents use it as an occasional fallback rather than a routine.

Do I still need to do visa runs if I have a DTV, LTR or retirement visa?

No, not for the same reason. Those are actual visas, not the passport-based visa exemption, so they aren't subject to the land-border entry limit. You'll instead deal with 90-day reporting and, depending on the visa, an annual extension or re-entry permit if you travel — none of which require a same-day border crossing. If you're relying on repeated visa runs today, switching to a proper long-stay visa is usually the more stable option; see BAANLYY's visa guides.

Can I extend a run at Chong Mek into an overnight trip?

Yes — many Ubon Ratchathani residents combine a Chong Mek run with a look at the border market on the Thai side, and some continue roughly 40 km / 45 minutes past the Lao checkpoint to Pakse, Champasak Province's largest town and the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau and Wat Phu, turning a same-day errand into a short weekend trip.

Sources & References

Primary and official sources are cited above for Thailand's immigration, foreign affairs and tourism authorities. Border-crossing rules, entry-stamp limits, hours and nationality-specific requirements change; always confirm current requirements on the Immigration Bureau's official site or with a Thai embassy/consulate before relying on any detail here. General information only, not immigration or legal advice. BAANLYY never takes paid placement.