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Border crossing by car Malaysia - Thailand
Friday, 15 December 2006

Border crossing by car Malaysia - Thailand

The Malay-Thai border crossing - The North South Expressway drops you right at the border at Bukit Kayu Hitam. This border carries much less traffic than the crossing at Singapore. However do expect delays at the usual peak times and on public holidays. Note also that this border is not a 24 hour border and closes at midnight Malaysian/Singaporean Time (11pm Thailand) daily.

Leaving Malaysia

At Bukit Kayu you can pick up copies of the Thai immigration documents. For a modest fee, these can be filled out by petition writers if you feel you need this (I never have used this service). You can also pick up the Thai documents at the border itself as you approach Thai Immigration.

Time Travel

As you cross into Thailand you gain an hour. This is typically something you do in plane travel and not cars.. so remember to adjust your watch and if you are upto it the clock in your car.

This can also cause confusion when you try to remember the opening and closing times of the border crossing (and it didn't help me that they changed them)..

Changes in Border crossing times:

The opening and closing times of the border crossing are changing - lately it seems the right way in that they are extending the times. During the recent Hari Raya holiday (Dec 2001), the border remained open until Midnight Malaysian time (11pm Thai). On a trip through in January this year (2002) I was able to establish that this was a permanent change.

Times:

Gates Open: 6am Malaysian

Close: 12 midnight Malaysian

Immigration

In booths similar to the Singapore crossing you must present the same documentation: passport and arrival/departure card. Processing takes no more than a couple of minutes.

Customs

Drive slowly through - there is little interest. When you come back from Thailand however expect an inspection of the boot, some questioning and possibly the need to have your luggage x-rayed.

Police Checkpoint and time change

As you drive up the road into no mans land, you will come to a Malaysian police checkpoint. Here the police will inspect registration documents. Being a Singaporean registered car, we have been stopped every time. Make sure you have your log card and Passport ready. If you do not own the car have a letter (and copies) prepared authorising you to take the car into Thailand.

At this point adjust your clocks. Thailand is one hour behind Malaysia.

Entering Thailand

After the police checkpoint there is a duty free shopping area on the left. Rather underwhelming, it nevertheless sells all the usual duty free items and is a good place to stop and stretch the legs. After this at the top of the rise is the Thai immigration checkpoint.

Immigration

For Thai immigration & customs you will need 4 documents:

- Passport

- The car log card/ registration document

- The Thai arrival/departure card

- A completed manifest (only for when you have passengers).

These forms are available at a kiosk on the left immediately upon entering through the gate. The documents are in Thai & English and are straightforward. Fill them in now. At this point rejoin the queue and as the car passes by the immigration booth, have one of the occupants jump out and queue up. If you are on your own, you will need to pass through and pull the car over near by - do not however leave the area and make sure the car is within view of the Customs window.

At Immigration passports are stamped en-masse with tourist visas. It can be a little chaotic. Nearby will be the Customs window where the car documents, along with the passport of the owner or designated driver, need to be handed in.

The Thai Arrival/departure card.

Bilingual - these are the same as used on flights into Thailand.

You can pick these up at the border as you approach Thai Immigration at the kiosk at the left of the compound.

The Thai 3rd party Insurance disk

You will need to buy 3rd party insurance for Thailand.

Just outside the border shed is a small booth that sells insurance. The cost varies based on vehicle type, engine size and duration of cover (2543 is the Thai Chantarakati (lunar calendar) year for 1999

Customs

The Thais' approach to Car tourism is a historical one based on import tariffs and protection - so this makes the documentation look a little odd.

For instance you will not be driving into Thailand for a holiday but rather "Temporarily Importing a Motor Vehicle for the purposes of Tourism". These days the required permit is issued automatically at the border. One of the things you do at customs is guarantee that you will re-export the car - failure to do so will mean a fine equivalent to the amount stipulated on the declaration. I am told that if you bring a foreign registered car in by plane or ship you are required to post this bond based on custom's valuation in advance. A land crossing is clearly easier.

At the Customs window, hand the documents in (your registration document and your passport) . Here the customs officer will produce for you a simplified customs declaration form. They may inspect your vehicle and will need to see it. You will then be asked to sign the bottom of this form to guarantee to export the vehicle out of Thailand.

You will end up with one form called the simplified customs declaration form it will be stamped by customs indicating that your vehicle has been inspected. You may need to show this again at the customs post at Sadao a couple of kilometres down the road. You must keep this form for the period you remain in Thailand as you will need to surrender this upon departure.

Important - if you do not intend to exit Thailand at the same border crossing you must advise Customs as you enter Thailandof the intended departure point - this will allow the authorities time to transfer the neccessary paper work to your intended exit border crossing. I did this when travelling onto Laos - allow them a few days to get this done.

Note - Insurance

The above Thai insurance is extremely basic and is meant only to keep you legal. It is recommended that you seek more comprehensive insurance when planning your trip as many Singaporean insurance policys do not cover Thailand. Unless stipulated, your comprehensive coverage typically ends in peninsular Malaysia with a 50 kilometre overlap into Thailand (which is designed to allay any doubts about you being near a border) - its not meant to cover you in Thailand.

None of the Thai insurers will provide comprehensive insurance for non Thai cars.



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Temporary tourist visa: Visa on arrival

Monday, 18 December 2006
Temporary tourist visa: Visa on arrival

- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements ,passport holders from some countries may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days.

- The applicant must possess instrument of means of living expenses 10,000 per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.

- The applicant must produce instrument of means of transport (full paid ticket) which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry.

- Visa on arrival is provided at 12 designated international checkpoints and applicants should produce the application form to which his/her recent photograph (2 1/2 inches) is attached. The application fee is 1000 Baht.

- Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau , Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. (662) 287-3127 or 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5.

List of countries

- List of Thailand's Immigration Checkpoints which provides facilities for issuance of visa on arrival are as follow :


1. Savvanabhumi International Airport , Bangkok

2. Chiangmai International Airport , Chiangmai

3. Phuket International Airport , Phuket

4. Hatyai International Airport , Songkla

5. U Tapao Airport , Rayong

6. Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai

7. Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai

8. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai

9. Betong Immigration Checkpoint , Yala

10. Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint , Songkla

11. Samui Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani

12. Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration checkpoint