Visa run to Malaysia

[Pagey]

I need to do one more visa run to extend my non imm O visa for another 90 days and I am thinking of taking the overnight train from HH to Arau in Malaysia to take the ferry to Langkawi.

My question is to anyone who has done this in Malaysia, where is the border crossing/immigration to get my passport stamped out and stamped in again after a week on the island ?

Or is it not possible to get my 90 day stamp there ?

Thanks in advance.

[Frank Hovis]

It'd be Pedang Besar for immigration between Thailand and Malaysia by train or Sadao if you drive over the border. That's as far as you need to go for the 90 day Non-O, turn around and come back in, or travel onward to Langkwai makes no difference.

[Pagey]

How does that work Frank as Padang Basar is a couple of stops before I get off the train ?

http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Singapore Timetable

[Frank Hovis]

The train is halted in no mans land and searched 'Gestapo style' and your papers must be in ze correct order or you vill be shot!

No, seriously, the train stops at the Malaysian side of Padang Besar (so don't get out at the Thai side if it stops there at all) where both Thai and Malaysian immigration offices are and everyone troops out, queues up, gets stamped out and then stamped in to Malaysia and back on the train. Same in reverse.
Or at least it used to be like that a few years back - I doubt it's changed much.

[Pagey]

Thanks Frank.

Anyone been recently to confirm this still happens ?

Getting anxious as my 90 days expires on 4/11 and my visa expires 13/11 and I want to book my train ticket early next week to ensure I have a seat and preferably the wider lower berth.

[Frank Hovis]

I don't think you need to worry, everyone on the train needs to do the same as you, so just go with the flow, whatever changes they might have made at Padang Besar I don't imagine they'll have done anything to make it easier for people to accidentally (or otherwise) slip through the border without getting stamped.

[Takiap]

You will be told when you need to get off the train at the border. Then you simply enter the immigration building through one door, get stamped out of Thailand, walk a few paces and get stamped into Malaysia, and the get back on the train. A very easy and painless process.


Bear in mind though, if you intend returning by train, you'll only be able to leave Malaysia the day after you get your visa because there's only one train per day, and by the time you collect your visa, the train has already left. I'm assuming you intend going to Panang.

[lomuamart]

To the OP, the stamping out of Thailand and into Malaysia is as others have described. If you're going to Langkawi then there are ferry services from there to Satun (Thailand) where there's Imm services for both countries and although I've never made that trip, I have heard that that route is an easy way to return although you'll need to check out traveling options onwards from Satun. I think there will be regular buses/minibuses to Hat Yai where you hook up with the trains to HH/BKK. You may be able to prebook the train in Langkawi?
At least it's an alternative journey that saves you retracing your steps from Langkawi to Butterworth (Malaysia where the train stops to get the ferry to Penang).
It's been a few years since I took the train to Butterworth/Penang but if things are the same (and I bet they will be), a word of advice - the SRT restaurant car gets uncoupled and shunted away at Pedang Besar/Sadao so the remainder of the journey from there to Butterworth (about 4 or so hours if I remember correctly) is dry!! No beers or food service but I think that you can stock up at a shop that's on the first floor of the station above the Imm checkpoints. I always find that train journeys are more enjoyable with a few cold beers!!
I've just looked at the map as to where Arau is and see that it's close to Satun. If there are ferries from there to Langkawi, maybe you'll be best to travel from there?

[johnnyk]

If you decide to go to Penang from Butterworth beware the touts when you get off the train. They will try to convince you that an expensive taxi ride across the bridge is necessary. It isn't. Just keep walking through the terminal to the ferry point. The ticket is round trip and basically pennies. And its more fun and interesting than a taxi ride.

[Homer]

If you decide to go to Penang from Butterworth beware the touts when you get off the train. They will try to convince you that an expensive taxi ride across the bridge is necessary. It isn't. Just keep walking through the terminal to the ferry point.

Taxi a**h***s prevent any signage outside the terminal pointing to the ferry. Once outside the terminal look left. There is an elevated, covered walkway about 150 meters away. Once in it, follow the signs to the ferry.

[Homer]

One passes this sign before thai immigration in Pedang Besar. I like pointing it out to fellow travelers while waiting in line.

[Pagey]

You've got me worried now Takiap or maybe we have got our wires crossed ? I can only leave the day after I get my visa ? I have a one year multi entry O visa which expires on 13/11 so I am looking to get a 90 days permission to stay stamp on re entry to Thailand from Langkawi. Don't I just get my passport stamped at immigration check point, presumably at Pedang Basar as per Franks post ?

I will get the train from HH to Arau then a short taxi ride to the ferry at Kuala Perlis to Langkawi. Not going all the way to Butterworth/Penang. See http://www.seat61.com

And yes Lomu, the alcohol situation will be sorted before I get on the train to ensure a good nights sleep !!

[Frank Hovis]

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) Takieb believes you are going to get a new non-O visa at the Thai consulate, while my understanding is that you are simply popping out of Thailand and back in on the same non-O visa to get another 90 days (like you could do at Ranong), which is no problem if your non-O is valid until 13 Nov as long as you are back in Thailand before 13 Nov.

[lomuamart]

Pagey,
Don't worry. As you say and as does Frank above, you're not getting a visa. It's just a 90 day border run.
I appreciate that you may want a few days holiday as well, but basically you could simply get off the train in Pedang Besar, literally follow the crowd through through Thai and Malaysian Imm and customs and walk out of the station into Malaysia.
Or, just walk back through that process into Thailand and get your 90 days and let the train go on it's merry way.
You will have a night in Pedang Basar though as the connecting train to BKK only runs once a day. I suppose you could get transport to Hat Yai and have a good time.
Anyway, as long as you enter Thailand before your visa finishes - as you clearly understand - just have a good time.
Please update the process at the Malaysian border if your experience differs from above. I bet it won't though.
Easy peasy.

[Pagey]

OK Guys, thanks

Its my first visa as I moved here in Feb and will change to 'retirement' visa in Jan when my cash has been seasoned for 3 months so I am a little bit green but don't want to have to visit the UK just to get a visa.