Thailand – Laos – Vietnam – Cambodia – Malaysia – Myanmar Border Crossings

GENERAL
All border crossings must be at a legal international crossing where you can get a passport stamped / visa validated and motorcycle temporarily imported.

Legal international border crossings should not be confused with local border trading places, where local residents cross the border on either their ID cards or local day passes.

Take a look at the low resolution borders map – For a guide to the legal international land border crossings in the area.

Warning Local border crossings: At local border trading passes it is sometimes possible for foreigners to cross, but remember that you are not legally in the country and free to continue. You are in the country illegally, both personally and with your bike, leaving yourself wide open to serious trouble.
I’ve seen it a few times in both Thailand and Laos – riders who thought they were clever sneaking into the country, but when they tried to leave the country they could not produce any papers to show that the bike was legally imported. The Customs officials were not impressed and neither was the rider when he had to pay a hefty fine to leave. I know of another case in Vietnam where a rider foolishly snuck in from Cambodia without papers & it cost him a couple of thousand US dollars to leave with his bike from the North. Silly boy & don’t do it! So, play it wise & safe – make sure all your border crossings are at legal international crossings where you get your bike import papers properly stamped.

An unfriendly Lao – Vietnam border crossing at Lalay

CROSSING WITH A BIKE
To actually cross an international border with a motorcycle you need a passport and a bike. (Not as silly as it sounds.)
Passport: this should be valid for at least 6 months, & have the appropriate visa if necessary (if the rental shop has your passport as security for the bike then you can’t cross the border.)

Bike You need to prove it’s “real”, not stolen & have valid docs to support this = proof of ownership, the bike licence / registration.

For a Thai registered bike this means the original green registration / ownership book, with up to date registration (not expired). No copies, original only!

Thailand Permission To Export: If the bike not registered in your name you need permission from the owner to export the bike temporarily. Otherwise as far as the officials are concerned you could be stealing the bike from the finance company whom you have not yet paid off, or your estranged wife / girlfriend / boyfriend / ex mate who no longer cares about you. Permission from the owner = a written consent Permission To Export form with both your & their & the bike details + signed copies of their valid (not expired) ID card & house registration.

The Thai – Lao border at Phu Doo.

Thailand International Transport Permit – NO longer required for motorbikes.
A bit of history: The ITP is a small booklet that is basically a passport for your vehicle. A blue one is issued for cars & a purple one was issued for motorcycles; however it is no longer issued or required for motorbikes, although some misinformed border staff may sometimes think so & try to cause trouble. The cost was a mere 100 baht and & if you have one, they can make your international border crossings easier.
In December 2007 the ITP for motorcycles was replaced by a Vehicle Registration Certificate. Certificates of registration are basically English language translations of your bike’s registration book & are valid for one year – the length of registration = you need a new one each year. These are still issued by the Land Transport department & can be helpful, but are not always asked for.
ITPs are compulsory for cars crossing the international borders, but are no longer issued or required for motorcycles. You can get a Certificate of Registration if you can, but they generally don’t ask for one either.

Rent & ride across international borders only a few shops will let you take their bikes out of the country. You can try these shops
In Chiang Mai
Pop Motorcycle Rent
C&P Motorcycle Rent
In Chiang Rai
ST Motorcycle Rent
Chiang Rai Big Bikes CR Big Bikes also have provide a drop off & pick up service.

The Thai – Lao border crossing at Nakraseng

DOCUMENTS DEPARTING THAILAND
First do Immigration, then Customs.
If you’re on a foreign registered bike all you need do is hand in the copies of the Customs & Immigration documents you got on arrival.
If you’re on a Thai registered bike you need to complete the papers for both Immigration and Customs.
First do Immigration, then Customs.
With a Thai registered bike have 4 photocopies of your documents – bike rego / ownership book + copies of your passport to hand over. Usually on the Thai side the Immigration keep two & Customs one set. Then sometimes on the Laos side they will ask for another set.

Completed documents to exit Thailand at Chiang Khong.

1. Bike Ownership Documents

Ownership / bike Registration Book (see above). Make sure your tax is up to date & the rego has not expired!
Permission to export from the owner of the vehicle if it is not registered in your name (see above).
Owners ID = passport / ID.

2. Immigration Two forms are needed, these are;

TM2 Information of Conveyance.
TM4 Crew List.
TM3 Passenger List, only if you’re riding two-up with a pillion passenger

The completed original of these forms is kept at the departure port and you are required to hand in copies of the same 2 forms at the arrival port when you re-enter the country.

Immigration TM2

Thai immigration forms are here.

Some border immigration (Chiang Khong) ask for 200 baht to complete the forms, & you don’t always get a receipt.

Chiang Khong appreciate a tip for completing the forms for you.

Experience has taught me that you are not always asked for these forms on your return, and sometimes, the immigration staff don’t ask you to complete all the forms when you leave. But, be warned there is a fine for not having the forms on your return and occasionally you get a bad egg official who likes to make trouble if don’t have all the copies & / or completed correctly. I’ve had several runs with border staff over this and either way you never seem to win – it’s up to them & their mood of the day. Note too that I’ve yet to pay a fine, so I consider myself lucky. Stand your ground, be firm but polite.

3. Customs need a Temporary Export / Import form (Official name = Simplified Customs Declaration Form for a car and motorcycle temporarily imported or exported.) You get this from at the Customs office at the border. Customs are organized & computerized. They will complete the form for you. Your data goes in the computer & the form is printed out for you to sign.
If you have been out & / or in before, your data should still be in the computer & is easy to bring it up if your info & the bike is still the same.
If you’re leaving with a bike from overseas then you just need to hand in the temporary import form you got at the border on arrival.

The Thailand Customs Export/ Import Form

Customs Temporary Import / Export Validity is usually for just a month, and there is a fine of 1,000 baht a day, with a maximum of 10,000 baht if you return / depart late (up to 6 months). Import & Export time limits are the same – the fines are the same! It is possible to get an extension on both the export & import, but these must done at your local customs office.

Overall completing these forms on departure is relatively easy provided your bike papers & passport are in order.

ARRIVING IN THAILAND
The documents are the same as above.
Immigration: TM2 Information of Conveyance & TM4 Crew List + TM3 Passenger List if you have a pillion.
Customs: Temporary Import / Export Form. You usually get a month on arrival, & no longer than your visa. Get a visa extension & you can extend the bike import.The bike import can be extended out to the 6 months, with your visa extensions.

Rule change June 2016: the Thai Land Transport Department has enacted new rules to curb the thousands of Chinese vehicles pouring into Thailand in a hard clamp down. Unfortunately motorbikes have been caught up in the crack down; & Customs have been told to strictly enforce the new rules. If you are not on a bike registered in Laos, Malaysia or Singapore, countries that have cross border transport agreements with Thailand, then you now need prior approval to enter Thailand. The rules are basically the same as trying to enter China, Vietnam or Myanmar, where your trip needs to be approved in advance via a registered tour company.

You can read about it on GTR here.

In a nutshell you need

Passport valid for 6 months
Medical certificate
Drivers licence recognized in Thailand. If not then you need to apply for a local driving licence.
Vehicle Inspection Certificate
Thai motor Vehicle insurance covering 1,000,000 baht in damages
Approved itinerary with details of accommodation & route.
Entry & departure ports must be designated.

Import is valid for a maximum of 30 days, with no extensions & a maximum of 60 days in a calendar year.

Thailand Visa Issues – New Policy 1st December 2016: you can only make 2 (30 day) “visa exempt arrival” entries into Thailand in a calendar year. More than two entries & you must have a visa – tourist visa or whatever – Non-O, or Business, or student visa; but it must be a visa issued outside Thailand! You cannot just rock up & enter, if you have already done that twice in a calendar year, you won’t get in without a visa in advance in your passport. There are Thai embassies / consulates in the neighbouring countries of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar should you be there & need to get a visa. Riders from Malaysia & Singapore who come regularly, should be aware of this! Click here for more info here.

THE CROSSINGS
Thailand / Malaysia / Singapore are relatively easy and hassle free, provided your passport, visa, bike registration and ownership papers are all in order. Allow 3/4 – 1 1/2 hours to clear the borders on both sides.

Singapore / Malaysia the legal “land border” crossings are:
1. The Causeway: Woodlands (S) / Johore Bahru (M)
2. The Second link: Tuas (S) / Tanjong Kupang (M)
Of these two the Second link is faster and easier.

Thailand / Malaysia there are seven legal land border crossings:
1. Ban Ta Ba / Tak Bai (T) – Pengkalan Kulor (M)
2. Buketa / Waeng (T) – Bukit Bunga, Kelantan (M)
3. Sungai Kolok (T)- Rantau Panjang, Kelantan (M)
4. Betong (T) – Pengkalan / Keroh, Perak (M)
5. Don Nok / Sadao (T)– Changloon / Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah (M)
6. Padang Besar (T) – Padang Besar, Perlis (M)
7. Khuan Don / Wang Prajan (T) – Wang Kelian, Perlis (M)
8. Satun (T) – Kuala Perlis (M) – sea crossing
9. Ko Lipe (T) – Langkawi (M) – sea crossing
10. Satun (T) -Langkawi (M) – sea crossing

Pakxan Laos. No visa on arrival.

Thailand / Laos there are eleven legal international ones:
1. Chiang Saen, Golden Triangle (Chiang Rai T) / Golden Triangle – Sam Liam Kham (Bo Keo L). Mekong River boat crossing. Pax only no vehicles.
2. Chiang Khong (Chiang Rai T) / Houei Xai- FB4. Friendship Bridge 4(Bo Keo L). The 4th Friendship bridge opened 11.12.13. Crossing the bridge – exiting from Thailand you used to need an escort vehicle, cost 500 baht, but this is no longer required. In 2020, on the entering Laos side there was an over friendly Lao policeman offering his services for 2,000 baht a bike for independent non-tour riders. This is not required if you are not a tour group, so be firm and stand your ground. If you lose, please get a receipt and send a copy to GTR to report him again.
3. Huay Kon (Nan T) / Nam Ngeun – Muang Ngeun (Xayaboury L). Land crossing. Closed to motorbikes – entry & departure – in September 2016. Then 1^st October 2017 “open” again for exit & entry (only if you enter via a Lao tour company.) No Visa on Arrival from 1st January 2020. Check the latest Xayaboury info here.
4. Huak (T) / Pangmone (L) opened on 1st February 2020. Exit from Laos is ok. Visa on arrival is supposedly available, but entry by motorcycle without a tour permit maybe an issue. For a wee bit more info see on the Huak crossing, see
Laos Motorcycle Ride East of Phu Chi Fah
On The Road With Destination Thailand TV
5. Phu Du (Uttaradit -T) / Phu Dou (Xayaboury – L) No Lao visa on arrival, but exit from Laos is ok. Closed to motorbikes – entry & departure – in September 2016. Then 1^st October 2017 “open” again for exit & entry (only if you enter via a Lao tour company.) Check the latest Xayaboury info here.
For more info see: Chiang Mai – Luang Prabang via Phu Du & Hongsa.
6. Thai Li – Nakraseng (Loei T) / Nam Hueang – Kenthao (Xayaboury L) Local bridge crossing Nam Heuang River. Closed to motorbikes – entry & departure – in September 2016. The toughest Thai / Lao border crossing, where the Lao won’t let you out at Kenthao, even if your Laos exit permit says Kenthao! Work that one out. Entry maybe possible via a tour company. No Visa on Arrival from 1st January 2020. Check the latest Xayaboury info here.
7. Nong Khai (Nong Khai T) / Tha Dua Friendship Bridge 1, Vientiane (Vientiane L). Friendship Bridge 1. The FB1 gets extremely busy on weekends & holidays. It is easier crossing mid-week if you can. In 2022 entry into Laos is tricky without an agent. The Thais wont let you out unless you have a pre approved entry. Tje fee for this 2.000 baht & someone on theLaos sice is running a nice little racket. On the Thai side you are advised to contact this agent not far from the bridge.
8. Bun Kan (Bun Kan T) / Pakxan (Bolikhamxai L). No bridge. Mekong river crossing by ferry. Motorbikes ok on working days Mon – Frid only. Laos NO Visa on arrival.
9. Nakhon Phanom (T) / Tha Khek (Khammouane L). FB3. Friendship Bridge 3 = entry into Laos is not always guaranteed, but be polite, patient & firm. You may have to use a pick up to transport your bike across the bridge. Exit ok.
10. Mukdahan (T) / Savannakhet (Savannakhet L). ). FB2. Friendship Bridge 2 = riding across the bridge here is difficult. Getting out of Thailand requires a permit from the Mukdahan governor = you need to use a tour company to complete this process. If you get this then entry into Laos should be ok. Exiting Laos is not straight forward & the Lao prefer you don’t ride across the bridge, but use a pick-up to carry your bike across. However with persuasion, GTR has ridden across this bridge to exit from Laos 3 times now.
11. Chong Mek (Ubon Ratchathani T) / Vang Tao, Pakse (Champasak L). Land border crossing. The Thai Chong Mek Thai staff always seems to be the best – friendliest, happiest, easiest, most efficient – border officials to deal with on the Thai border anywhere! In March 2018 Laos stopped private bike entry at Vang Tao – tour groups only. More info on GTR here. In 2022 riders seemed to be able to enter Laos again if there are at least 3 in the group.

GTR on the road with Destination Thailand TV.

The land & bridge crossings are open 7 days a week.

Getting AGL Insurance on arrival in Laos.

The Mekong river ferry crossing – Bung Kan / Pakxan is usually only open regular working days Monday – Friday. It is unclear if there is Lao visa on arrival – some say yes, some say no.

Xayaboury province There are 4 land border crossings between Thailand & Xayaboury province in Laos., but the province has a history of being problematic for motorcycle entry. The Xayaboury border crossings were all closed to motorbikes – in & out – in August 2016. Then in October 2017 they were opened to exit, & entry but only if you enter via a tour company seeking approval first. Exit is a no go from Kenthao. The last border crossing opened was on 1st February 2020 @ Pangmone (Laos) with Huak (Thailand.