PATTAYA, THAILAND – The Royal Thai Navy firmly denied social media rumors that land crossings to Cambodia would soon reopen, leaving visa runners with only longer and more expensive alternatives.
The dream of quick border runs collapses
For many German, Austrian and Swiss residents on Thailand’s eastern seaboard, visa trips had long been routine. From the beach in Pattaya, they used to drive to Cambodia for a day, renew their permission to stay in Thailand, and be back home within two days. The cost was often just a few hundred baht for fuel and tolls.
Since the border closures, this model ended. Hopes that it might soon return were buried on Wednesday when the Royal Thai Navy publicly rejected talk of an imminent reopening.
Navy: No change in sight
A navy spokesperson stated that there was no plan to reopen the crossings, no related policy, and no “urgent need” to relax controls.
Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyaphan called social media rumors
“completely false.”
said Parach Rattanachaiyaphan, Rear Admiral. Reports that Thailand would open “humanitarian supply channels” to Cambodia were described as disinformation.
What the closure means for travelers
There was no route via Chanthaburi or Trat: land borders in the provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat remained shut. Controls continued to be strictly enforced under national security laws.
This forced travelers onto alternative routes. Those needing to extend their stay could no longer rely on the two- to three-hour Cambodia option, and instead faced flights to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia or bus journeys to Laos via Ubon Ratchathani.
What had once been a quick day trip became a demanding journey involving flights, hotels and at least two overnight stays. According to the information provided, costs could easily reach 10,000–20,000 baht, compared to earlier expenses of around 500–1,000 baht.
Why the navy held a hard line
The spokesperson also warned that spreading such rumors could mislead the public and might be intended to stir up “sentiments from beyond the border.” Authorities would investigate and take legal action.
A navy source stressed that any decision to reopen the border would have to be carefully examined “from all dimensions,” with security as the top priority. So far, Cambodia had not submitted any official request.
Signals from Phnom Penh fail to move Bangkok
Earlier reports had suggested that Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen might signal a willingness to reopen. The rumor that Thailand would quickly follow appeared to have emerged from these reports.
However, while Cambodia might show more flexibility, Thailand remained firm. For visa planning, travelers were advised to calculate with the costlier options, as the fast Cambodian land run was no longer available.
No request, no timeline
According to navy information, Cambodia would first have to file a request through official channels, starting with the border defense command, then the navy, the defense minister and the government. This sequence had not been initiated.
This meant that there was not even an informal process under way. The border therefore remained closed, with no visible prospect of change in the foreseeable future.
Planning ahead for Thai visas
For visa management, residents and long-stay visitors were urged to consider a Plan B. Options included a Malaysia run by air, a longer but cheaper Laos run by bus, or switching early to a longer-term visa such as a Non-OA retirement visa, marriage visa or elite membership.
The days of the quick Cambodia day trip were over for expats and tourists relying on land-border renewals.