You cannot do a visa run to Cambodia by land right now. Thailand closed its land border crossings with Cambodia to most travellers, including tourists and traders, in June 2025 (Nation Thailand), then announced the closure of all checkpoints from 24 July 2025 after armed clashes, allowing only humanitarian crossings (Thai Government Public Relations Department, 25 July 2025). Cambodia also suspended cross-border land travel on its side in December 2025 (Thai Government Public Relations Department, 19 December 2025).
The crossings have stayed closed through 2026:
- Poipet–Aranyaprathet (Sa Kaeo): on 2 June 2026 the government denied claims that the Aranyaprathet checkpoint had reopened and said all checkpoints remain fully closed (Bangkok Post, 2 June 2026; Nation Thailand, 1 June 2026).
- Hat Lek–Cham Yeam (Trat) and the Chanthaburi crossings: the Royal Thai Navy said on 2 June 2026 that the checkpoints under its control, including Ban Hat Lek, Ban Laem and Ban Pakkad, were "100% closed" (Nation Thailand, 2 June 2026). Officials repeated that all checkpoints in the area were fully closed on 27 June 2026 (Khaosod English).
- All other Thai–Cambodian checkpoints: in July 2026 the border was still shut, with no reopening date (Nation Thailand, 21 July 2026).
We last checked on 16 September 2026 and found no report of a reopening. If you see news that the border has reopened, confirm it with Thai immigration or the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh before you travel. Limited crossings for repatriation, medical or other humanitarian cases are not a reopening for tourists.
What to Do Instead
| Option | How it works | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Laos by land | Nong Khai–Vientiane over the Friendship Bridge, or Chiang Khong–Huay Xai in the north | Laos visa run |
| Malaysia by land | Sadao or Padang Besar from Hat Yai | Malaysia visa run |
| Fly out | Fly to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kuala Lumpur or another nearby city and fly back | What is a visa run |
| Extend instead | Extend your 30-day exemption once by 30 days at an immigration office (1,900 THB) | Visa exemption extension |
Commercial flights between Thailand and Cambodia kept running during the closure (Thai Government Public Relations Department, 19 December 2025).
Getting a new Thai visa in Cambodia. If you fly to Phnom Penh, the Royal Thai Embassy there takes Thai visa applications through the e-Visa system only; see our Royal Thai Embassy Phnom Penh page for processing times and fees. A DTV is no longer available to visitors there: since 31 August 2026, DTV applicants must be nationals or permanent residents of the country where they apply (Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane notice). See our DTV guide.
Remember the land cap. Since 15 September 2026, entries on the visa exemption by land are capped at two per calendar year, across all land borders (TAT Newsroom). Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are not subject to the cap. Each exempt entry gives 30 days for nationalities on the 30-day list, which you can extend once by 30 days. Flying in does not count toward the land cap, but officers can still refuse repeated back-to-back entries.
Before the 2025 Closure: How the Crossing Worked
The rest of this page describes the Aranyaprathet–Poipet crossing as it operated before the closure. It is here for reference if the border reopens. Hours, fees, procedures and transport may all be different when it does, so check current information first.
Route Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Thai border town | Aranyaprathet (Aran), Sa Kaeo Province |
| Cambodian border town | Poipet, Banteay Meanchey Province |
| Distance from Bangkok | Approximately 255 km (3.5–5 hours by road) |
| Current status | Closed since 2025 (see above) |
| Pre-closure border hours | 06:00–22:00 daily |
| Cambodia visa (pre-closure) | Visa on arrival ($30 USD + 1 photo) or Cambodian e-Visa |
| Thai re-entry stamp | 30 days visa exemption for nationalities on the 30-day list; counts as one of your two exempt land entries for the calendar year |
Getting to Aranyaprathet
Before the closure, buses ran from Bangkok's Mo Chit and Ekkamai terminals (4–5 hours, 200–250 THB), minivans ran from the Victory Monument area (3.5–4 hours), and a daily train ran from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (5–6 hours). Commercial visa run services operated from Bangkok, Pattaya and the Trat area for roughly 1,500–3,000 THB per person. Many of these services may have stopped or changed during the closure.
The Crossing, Step by Step
- Thai exit at Aranyaprathet. Present your passport at the departure counter and receive your exit stamp. The Thai side was usually fast (5–15 minutes).
- Cambodian entry at Poipet. Go to the official Cambodian immigration building, apply for the visa on arrival (form, photo and $30 USD) or show your Cambodian e-Visa, then get your entry stamp. This took 20–60 minutes.
- Cambodian exit. On a same-day run you could turn around straight away at the departure counter. There is no official Cambodian exit fee.
- Thai re-entry. Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online at tdac.immigration.go.th within 3 days before you re-enter; it has replaced the paper TM.6 card since 1 May 2025 and is free (Tourism Authority of Thailand). Then present your passport at the arrivals counter and check the date on your new stamp.
| Your Situation | Likely Stamp |
|---|---|
| Visa-exempt national, re-entering by land | 30 days (uses one of your two exempt land entries for the calendar year) |
| Holding a valid Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa | 60 days |
| Holding a valid Non-Immigrant visa with re-entry permit | Remaining visa validity |
A same-day run from Bangkok took about 10–11 hours door to door and cost roughly 1,600–1,900 THB by bus, including the $30 Cambodian visa.
Scams at Poipet
The Poipet side of the crossing was well known for scams. If the border reopens, expect the same patterns:
- Fake "visa offices" that charge $35–$45 instead of the official $30. Walk past anyone who tries to redirect you to a side building.
- Invented "health screening" or "express" fees. Ask for an official receipt; if there is none, decline.
- Inflated baht pricing for the visa. Bring exact change in US dollars.
- Transport touts on both sides. Arrange onward transport in advance.
- Departure or "stamp" fees when leaving Cambodia. There is no official departure fee.
Only hand your passport to uniformed officers behind official counters.
Officer Discretion on Re-Entry
Thai immigration officers at Aranyaprathet were known for spotting "professional visa runners." If your passport shows several recent land entries, expect questions or refusal. With exempt land entries now capped at two per calendar year, you cannot use this crossing on the exemption more than twice a year in any case. For a full explanation of how visa runs work and the risks involved, see our visa run overview guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Poipet–Aranyaprathet border open?
No. It has been closed to tourists since 2025, and Thai officials said again in June 2026 that it had not reopened. We found no report of a reopening as of 16 September 2026. Confirm the status with Thai immigration or the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh before planning any trip.
Is the Hat Lek (Trat) crossing to Koh Kong open?
No. The Royal Thai Navy, which controls the Chanthaburi and Trat checkpoints, said in June 2026 that they were fully closed.
Can I still get to Cambodia from Thailand?
Yes, by air. Commercial flights between Thailand and Cambodia continued during the border closure. A flight out and back also works as a visa run, and air entries do not count toward the two-per-year land cap.
Where can I do a land visa run instead?
Laos (Nong Khai–Vientiane or Chiang Khong–Huay Xai) or Malaysia (Sadao or Padang Besar). See our Laos and Malaysia guides. Each exempt land entry counts toward your two-per-year limit.
Is the border area safe?
Thai authorities have advised travellers to monitor the situation along the Thai–Cambodian border, and said the rest of Thailand remains safe and open to visitors (Thai Government Public Relations Department, 25 July 2025). Check your own government's travel advice before going near the border.
Summary
The Aranyaprathet–Poipet crossing used to be the easiest same-day visa run from Bangkok, but every Thai–Cambodian land crossing has been closed since 2025 and there is no reopening date. If you need a new entry stamp, use a Laos or Malaysia land crossing (within the two-per-year land cap), fly out and back, or extend your 30-day exemption once at immigration. If the border reopens, the pre-closure notes above will help, but check current procedures before you go.
