Thailand suspends specific Mae Sot border crossings and indefinitely closes all Cambodia land borders

If you usually rely on a quick border bounce to reset your visa, you need to rethink your travel plans this week. Thailand has indefinitely closed all overland border crossings with Cambodia over national security concerns. Meanwhile, authorities have also temporarily restricted specific crossings on the Myanmar border in Tak province.

According to the Chiang Rai Times, the Thai-Cambodian border closure applies to all land checkpoints. Thai authorities stated these crossings will stay shut until Phnom Penh takes concrete steps to address unspecified security issues.

Localized closures in Mae Sot

Over on the western border, the disruptions are highly localized. The government suspended import and export activities at certain crossings in Mae Sot and Phop Phra from October 30 to November 5, according to INN News (in Thai).

Officials stressed this is not a blanket closure of the Myanmar border, but rather a temporary measure to protect public safety. To keep an eye on the area, military units from Task Force Rajamanu have stepped up patrols along the Mae Sot border, as reported by Thai PBS News (in Thai).

What this means for you

For expats and tourists needing an exit stamp, the usual overland routes are currently compromised. Here is how to handle it:

• Skip the Cambodia land borders: With all overland routes to Cambodia closed indefinitely, popular crossings like Aranyaprathet/Poipet are off the table. You will need to fly into Cambodia or pick another country entirely.
• Tread carefully around Mae Sot: The current suspensions in Mae Sot and Phop Phra specifically target import-export channels, but the heavy military presence makes it a poor choice for a routine visa run right now.
• Pivot to Laos or Malaysia: If you need a land border, crossings into Laos or Malaysia remain open. Otherwise, booking a quick flight is your safest bet until the border security situation settles down.