Hi All,
Back from Laos yesterday. I thought I would share my experience in and out of Chong Mek.. Just in case any one else is planning a trip and it is your first time.
Crossing from Thailand to Laos at Chong Mek.
Go up to the Immigration booth (they will see you looking a bit lost and wave you over)
Show your green book, passport and complete the departure card.
You will need three copies of some pages in the green book and your passport (The immigration officer will direct you where to go inside to get the copies made)
He will keep his copy and you must keep the other copies for when you come back.
You will be stamped out of Thailand.
(This is where he made a joke to pay him 300 baht - I laughed back like it was a joke too and paid nothing)
After you are stamped out of Thailand get on the bike and take it to the customs booth a few metres away.
At the customs both the officer seemed to be having a learning experience with computers.. Like it was his first time.. I just waited patiently while he entered the details again and again and was prompted to enter more information and eventually stopped getting prompts!
Only helped him when he was typing KAVA and wondering why Kawasaki would not show on the screen.
He stepped out side.. took a quick look at the bike and completed the paper work and gave me a print off
( This would have been quick if he knew how to use the software)
Next to Laos
On the Laos side drive up the little hill to the right and Immigration and customs is in the building on the left.
Get your visa on arrival. I had no photo, he looked then laughed and continued
Then when you have the visa, go back around the corner and a bit further down in the same building is the bike paper work office along with insurance agent.
Show your Green Book and passport and visa etc.. Paid 100 baht, done. Insurance costs 100 baht for 7 days.
Note:- When I showed the green book etc they asked for the bike passport.. As far as I am aware these have not been required for some time!.. I told them. "The Thai customs said to tell you the Green book is the bike passport" They looked a bit blank and then nodded and processed the paper work.
The only person that really seemed to know what was going on and helped the Laos customs was the Insurance agent sitting in the same office.
Then drive down the little hill back on to the main road.. 100 metres of so stop at a check point and your details will be entered in to a book and I think they stamped something.. can't be sure.
You are in Laos.
When you leave.
Stop at the check point and they will take some paper work and look on the list and cross you off (he even remembered my name!)
At the Laos side, drive up the road as if going to Thailand but turn left to Immigration and customs (the same place you went when you arrived)
Get stamped out.
No need to go back to the customs office (i did and was told, not needed. You were cleared at the check point)
ride back down the little hill turn left and you will pass one last check point right at the edge of the border where they ask if you have been to immigration (Yes)
You are allowed to go through to Thailand.
At the Thai side you will be directed to the immigration officer by someone sitting down looking very relaxed.. Passed all the paper work filled out the arrival card.. Some stamps and keeping of documents.
Then to the next booth. Customs did something else.
Done.
You are in Thailand.
Back from Laos yesterday. I thought I would share my experience in and out of Chong Mek.. Just in case any one else is planning a trip and it is your first time.
Crossing from Thailand to Laos at Chong Mek.
Go up to the Immigration booth (they will see you looking a bit lost and wave you over)
Show your green book, passport and complete the departure card.
You will need three copies of some pages in the green book and your passport (The immigration officer will direct you where to go inside to get the copies made)
He will keep his copy and you must keep the other copies for when you come back.
You will be stamped out of Thailand.
(This is where he made a joke to pay him 300 baht - I laughed back like it was a joke too and paid nothing)
After you are stamped out of Thailand get on the bike and take it to the customs booth a few metres away.
At the customs both the officer seemed to be having a learning experience with computers.. Like it was his first time.. I just waited patiently while he entered the details again and again and was prompted to enter more information and eventually stopped getting prompts!
Only helped him when he was typing KAVA and wondering why Kawasaki would not show on the screen.
He stepped out side.. took a quick look at the bike and completed the paper work and gave me a print off
( This would have been quick if he knew how to use the software)
Next to Laos
On the Laos side drive up the little hill to the right and Immigration and customs is in the building on the left.
Get your visa on arrival. I had no photo, he looked then laughed and continued
Then when you have the visa, go back around the corner and a bit further down in the same building is the bike paper work office along with insurance agent.
Show your Green Book and passport and visa etc.. Paid 100 baht, done. Insurance costs 100 baht for 7 days.
Note:- When I showed the green book etc they asked for the bike passport.. As far as I am aware these have not been required for some time!.. I told them. "The Thai customs said to tell you the Green book is the bike passport" They looked a bit blank and then nodded and processed the paper work.
The only person that really seemed to know what was going on and helped the Laos customs was the Insurance agent sitting in the same office.
Then drive down the little hill back on to the main road.. 100 metres of so stop at a check point and your details will be entered in to a book and I think they stamped something.. can't be sure.
You are in Laos.
When you leave.
Stop at the check point and they will take some paper work and look on the list and cross you off (he even remembered my name!)
At the Laos side, drive up the road as if going to Thailand but turn left to Immigration and customs (the same place you went when you arrived)
Get stamped out.
No need to go back to the customs office (i did and was told, not needed. You were cleared at the check point)
ride back down the little hill turn left and you will pass one last check point right at the edge of the border where they ask if you have been to immigration (Yes)
You are allowed to go through to Thailand.
At the Thai side you will be directed to the immigration officer by someone sitting down looking very relaxed.. Passed all the paper work filled out the arrival card.. Some stamps and keeping of documents.
Then to the next booth. Customs did something else.
Done.
You are in Thailand.
I was looking for something like this myself before going.
