Thailand Land Border Crossings — Complete Guide
Thailand shares land borders with four countries and has dozens of official crossings. This hub covers the general rules and links to detailed guides for each border.
Quick Answer
Which Thailand land border crossing is most used by tourists?
The Nong Khai / Vientiane Friendship Bridge (Laos) and Padang Besar (Malaysia) handle the most tourist traffic. The Aranyaprathet / Poipet crossing (Cambodia) is busiest for the Bangkok–Angkor Wat overland route. Myanmar crossings have been limited due to the political situation since 2021.
Crossings by Country
Thailand–Malaysia Border Crossings
Padang Besar (train), Sadao/Danok (highway), Betong, and Sungai Kolok. The Padang Besar crossing is best for independent travellers using rail.
Thailand–Laos Border Crossings
Four Friendship Bridges: Nong Khai (most popular), Chiang Khong (slow boat end point), Mukdahan, and Nakhon Phanom. Excellent onward transport on both sides.
Thailand–Cambodia Border Crossings
Aranyaprathet/Poipet (main Bangkok–Siem Reap route) and Hat Lek/Koh Kong (coastal route). Scam warnings apply at Poipet — read the full guide before crossing.
Thailand–Myanmar Border Crossings
Mae Sai, Mae Sot, and Ranong/Kawthoung. Subject to restrictions due to Myanmar's ongoing conflict. Not recommended for tourist entry into Myanmar.
General Rules and Procedures
All land crossings follow a similar process: exit the country you are leaving (getting an exit stamp), cross the border, then enter Thailand at the Thai immigration checkpoint. You will complete a TM.6 arrival card (available at the crossing), have your passport stamped, and be issued a permit to stay. Keep the departure card — it will be collected when you leave Thailand.
Most major crossings are open daily from around 6am to 8pm (some extend to 10pm). Midnight crossings are not available at any land border. Plan to arrive well before closing time — queues can back up significantly on public holidays and weekends.
Dress code: there is no formal dress code for crossing land borders, but smart-casual is recommended — overly casual or revealing clothing occasionally draws extra scrutiny from some immigration officers.
Two Land Border Entries Per Year
Visa-on-Arrival at Land Borders
Nationalities that require a visa to enter Thailand (check the Thai Immigration Bureau website for the current list) can apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA) at approved land crossings. The VOA costs 2,000 THB, grants 30 days, and requires one passport photo. Processing takes 30–60 minutes. Not all land crossings have VOA facilities — the airport VOA desks are better staffed and faster.
If your nationality qualifies for visa exemption, you do not need to do anything — just present your passport at the immigration counter and your stamp will be issued automatically based on your nationality.