Thailand Entry/Exit Form

Hi there,

I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?

Thanks for your help! !

Hi, Yes, you need to fill one out within 72 hours before each entry into the country.

Hi there, So is a train or bus ticket proof of exit from Thailand? But do you have to buy it before entering Thailand? Is that possible?

Good evening,

So is a train or bus ticket proof of exit from Thai territory?

In my opinion, still not, but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe things have changed since the first international train* from Bangkok to Vientiane was put into service? I doubt it. Plus, the ticket would need to be nominative in that case. * the only one in this situation.

Buying a Thai train ticket outside Thailand is possible—there are plenty of booking sites, starting with the official SRT (national railway company) website.

But Davidoff’s question, if I understood it correctly, was about the TM6 form, not proof of exit within 60 days/59 nights. By the way, when they do leave, they’ll most likely revert to 30 days/29 nights.

Yes. I was wondering about the requirement at boarding for Thailand to show proof of exiting the country within the allowed timeframe. Why not a bus or train?

With a flight ticket, the check-in agent can immediately verify on their computer that you’ve actually booked an upcoming flight just by entering your first and last name. But with a bus or train ticket, what can they check? They don’t have access to the reservation systems of non-airline transport companies.

I don’t recall ever reading any accounts of people using a bus or train ticket as proof to board a flight to Thailand without a real visa and while overstaying the allowed duration under the Visa Exemption scheme.

There are specialized websites that, for 30 bucks, issue a flight ticket that serves as proof—a real reservation—which they then cancel once your expected entry date into the country has passed. You’ve complied with the "immigration" requirements of the country (and the check-in agent), and the site makes 30 bucks. These same sites usually also offer hotel room reservations on the same principle for countries that require advance hotel bookings as a visa condition.

Yes, a bus, train, or boat ticket is a valid proof of exit from Thailand for airport check-in and Thai immigration services. I’ve used this method four times (a named bus ticket proving exit from Thailand before the end of the Visa Exemption), at three different airports (Toulouse, Orly, CDG) and with four different airlines, even though my round-trip tickets were spaced 4 or 5 months apart. The check-in staff verified that my bus ticket showed an exit from Thailand before the end of the 30 or 60 days, and then they checked us in without any issues. Another traveler on VF did the same thing as me (between 2015 and 2020), from three airports and with different airlines, with no problems at all. It’s clearly stated in the texts from embassies in London, Switzerland, etc.: « confirmed air, train, bus or boat tickets ». (It’s reasonable to refer to these embassies’ texts because the visa exemption entry legislation is common to around sixty countries; moreover, their texts are consistent. The French embassy’s texts don’t mention anything.) https://www.thaiembassy.ch/Content/Embassy/188.html

As Songsam mentioned, the check-in agent can verify the validity of a flight ticket, but not that of a bus, train, or boat ticket. This can cause issues because it’s not common, as Aixois54 (a former airport professional) pointed out. He also used bus or other tickets once or twice to prove his exit from Thai territory. Aixois54 adds:

To avoid any potential problems, it might be worth considering (at no cost) taking a screenshot of the official embassy website and emailing it to the airline to get a written response confirming that they wouldn’t be justified in refusing boarding to a passenger with a non-air transport ticket for leaving the territory (THAILAND) within 30 days (in the case of a departure from France without a visa). What’s certain is that at a check-in counter, it’s easy for the agent to verify the "reality" (on computer systems) of a flight ticket (including from another airline, obviously), but not that of a train or boat ticket... It’s never easy to handle a problem outside an agent’s usual workflow "on the spot" (at the airport before boarding), so a prior written exchange with the airline helps you stay zen (by having their response)....

That’s what I (now just a passenger and tourist) did once or twice when traveling to THAILAND for similar cases (non-air exit from the territory within 30 days)....

https://voyageforum.com/forum/visa-thailande-d7614862/ For my part, I’ve never had any issues at check-in with just a bus ticket as proof of exit, even though my round-trip flights were 4 to 6 months apart. But I always arrive early for check-in with copies of the London or Switzerland embassy texts (links above), just in case...

Safe travels!

PS: I can’t seem to insert links—it used to work fine... The embassy texts are easy to find under Visa Exemption, and for the discussion with Aixois54, I included the date and thread. Well, now it seems I’ve managed it... (?)

Yes, you’ll need to fill out two TM6 forms—one for each entry into Thailand. The first when you arrive in Bangkok, and the second when you return from Laos by train.

For Laos entry requirements, the info is updated regularly here: Laos Entry Requirements Guide, unlike some sites that keep outdated info.

Hi there,

Back in 2017 with Lufthansa, I had to fight hard to leave despite having a train ticket from BKK to Vientiane. Check-in refused to let me board, so I had their supervisor called, and after several discussions, I was finally able to take the flight to BKK. Ever since, I always keep a flight ticket as proof of onward travel because I never want to go through that airport stress again. But does it depend on the airline? Qatar Airways in 2023: no questions at all about a possible exit from Thailand.

Hi there,

In 2017, I had to fight hard to leave despite having a train ticket from BKK to Vientiane.

In 2017, the international Bangkok-Vientiane train didn’t exist yet. Service was limited to the new Nong Khai station (Thailand), where you took a rail shuttle to Laos. That might be why Lufthansa gave you a hard time. The "direct" Bangkok-Vientiane train only started running in July 2024.

But does it depend on the airline? Qatar in 2023: no questions about potentially leaving Thailand

It’s becoming more and more common for check-in to be handled not by airline staff but by Paris Airport (ADP) personnel, which can make things worse—ADP staff aren’t exactly known for their flexibility…

With Lufthansa in 2017, I had to fight hard to leave despite having a train ticket from BKK to Vientiane.

Yes, it's a risk because it's not common to use a train or bus ticket as proof of exit, and for the agent behind the counter, "it’s never easy to handle a problem outside the usual scope of a check-in agent’s work on the spot.".

Since we’re following Thailand’s entry laws, they technically can’t deny us boarding. But I’ve heard so many unbelievable stories of unjustified check-in refusals for other reasons—most often temporary ones—that even when you’re following the rules, you can still run into issues...

That’s why I always arrive well in advance for check-in with copies of statements from the London or Swiss embassy (just in case... (I’ve never had to use them). Plus, the price difference between a flight ticket and a train or bus ticket is worth the risk of having to explain yourself for a few extra minutes at check-in!

In my 4 check-in experiences using a bus ticket as proof of exit, once in 2017, the check-in agent asked their colleagues if a bus ticket was valid. The answer was yes (phew!), and I had no issues with check-in. So, 1 out of 4 times, the agent didn’t know if it was valid... That was the only difficulty, resolved in 2 seconds.