Royal Thai Consulate - General, Savannakhet

Pro tips: Visa 8:30-11am M-F & on Monday the line was really long so if u get there earlier you’ll save loads of time. I really wish the hours were longer, til at least 2pm 😢 You come back at 2pm next day & if you come at 2:30 (Tuesday) there was no line, so again you’ll save lots of time, but the tuk Tuks might be gone also & a lot of people went straight from consulate to border, but not sure about busses, there’s a bus station also. No one dressed nice and there was a little window outside so they can only see your shirt. I got an O volunteer visa for 3 months, wish it was 1 year. Savannakhet was super boring for me, just some food and massages, river was ok, but if you can get there before 11am, stay 1 night and go directly to border after 2ish you won’t miss anything. The church and temple aren’t great, market and food also. It’s too bad, I really wish it was better. Also, Saccom bank has best exchange rate (lot better than SuperRichTH) and Unitel was only 20k for 5 days (lasted 6). The consulate was really hot outside and no chairs so be prepared. Also, tuk tuks rip you off here and at border asking 200 baht or 100k when it should be a lot less. The last thing I’ll state is I really wish Thailand didn’t make us do border runs and just change visa in Thailand. It’s a lot of time and money crossing the border and it helps Laos 🇱🇦 economy, but is so bad to have to do this. Also, I had to pay 1,600 baht (American) for 30 day visa and they used 2 passport pages, Laos 🇱🇦 should offer free 30-60 days to promote tourism & just do a quick stamp, not lots of forms and full page visa. It’s a lot of money and hassle. Not very welcoming for tourists. Thailand now offers 45 days and stamp for free. Easy & welcoming.

At 8 AM there were about 250-300 people queuing in a 200 meter long snake line on a heavy rain in front of the consulate. Then an "organised group" of 20 people arrived and went straight in front of all others, who were patiently waiting for hours. I tried to push the "group" back from the entrance and I managed to block them with my body and let inside some 50 people who regularly were queuing.

Very good service even though they opened half an hour late. Application submitted 08.30 in the morning, visa picked up the following afternoon at 14.00. There was a long queue so don't expect a walk in and walk out. Payment is in Thai baht You will get hassled by tuktuk drivers.I always walk to and from the hotel. They have stopped issuing multi entry visas, I found out today, 24 October 2023. So I will not find an alternative consulate to go to probably back to Penang.

Being at the Consulate for a Thai Non Resident O retirement visa there were over 300 in a line waiting outside during the very hot 9 to11 o'clock visa solicitation office hours. As per their internet specification AĹL documents were presented although not accepted for the NR O visa but instead a 60 days tourist visa. Reason was that at age 72 (!) and 2 previous NR OA visas with the by Thai customs registrated RETIREMENT wording on them in my passport... I could not proof that I am retired with my State pension letter. A Embassy Certificate was required. In 60 (50) days try again :-) You make sure you are prepared with more than is detailed on the website.

Long queue 4 hours waiting to meet arrogant and pathetic agent . Better to avoid them if you can . My first comment im 37 y old . But Never be treaten like that