Malaysia – Thailand Border Crossing
This article generally applicable if you want to cross into Thailand overland but I’ll be more specific on Malaysia – Thailand Border Crossing by Car or Motorcycle.
In a nutshell, you will need;
1. TM2 Information of Conveyance form. – 2 copies | Download
2. TM3 Passenger List form – 2 copies. (Only if you’re riding /driving with passenger). | Download
3. TM6 Card (Arrival/Departure white card).
4. Passport valid for 6 months at-least.
5. Driving license recognized in Thailand. i.e. From ASEAN countries or International Driving Permit.
6 (a). Authorized letter from the vehicle owner & copy of the owner’s N.R.I.C./ Passport (If the vehicle is not on your name). | Sample
6 (b). Form 24 (SSM company registration details) & FORM 49. (If you’re using a company registered vehicle) | Sample
Note: Thai border in Sungai Golok requires the authorized letter to be stamped by a Commissioner of Oath.
7. Simplified customs temporary Import / Export form.
8. Copy of your road tax – Ensure it is not expired.
9. Vehicle registration card (Grant / VOC). (Photocopy is acceptable but you will need to get it stamped at any police station to established authenticity of the document)
10. Compulsory Motor Insurance (CMI) (Less than RM 20).
11. Visa – (Not needed for countries that have been exempted). For Thai Visa service, read here and for any other Thailand immigration forms, it can be found here.
Note: If you are NOT on a vehicle registered in Laos, Malaysia or Singapore, you now need prior approval to enter Thailand. In December 2016 Thailand introduced new rules which required a traveler with their own motor vehicles to obtain a permit and guide to enter the country in advance. The new rules allows motorcycles and vehicles under 3500kg to enter the country, with a permit and guide organised via a travel agency. However they state – No vans, camper cars, buses, trucks, vehicles over 3500kg or that have over 9 seats.
All the TM Thai immigration forms and simplified customs import/export form can be obtained at the Thailand border for free despite sometimes you will need to pay up a little fee (RM1-RM5) which you will not get an official receipt. To save up time, you can download the TM2 & TM3 forms from the links above and fill it up before you head up to the border.
Alternatively, you can also get those immigration forms (TM2, TM3, TM6) and third party insurance for your vehicle few Kilometers before the Malaysian border. (You can see few signboards saying Thai Insurance etc, just drop by one of those shops or if you’re going towards north of Malaysia via PLUS highway, you can drop by at Gurun R&R’s (rest area) Caltex Petrol Station which is about 80KM before Bukit Kayu Hitam border to get your immigration forms (TM2, TM3, TM6) and vehicle third party insurance.
Before I go further on the details, please note the borders gate timing are as per below:
Now that you’ve already have a rough idea on the border crossing, I’ll walk you through the process.
Arriving at Malaysian border.
This is the easiest part, you can just drive through and you will only need to get your passport stamped. Most of the Malaysian borders have dedicated lanes for cars and motorcycles.
Arriving at Thailand border (Sadao) – Rules apply generally on all Thai borders.
If you’re driving car, park your vehicle just before the Thailand border as most Thailand border crossing do not have dedicated lanes for drive through. However, If you’re crossing via Bukit Kayu Hitam – Dannok (Sadao) border, you can just drive through and get your passport, completed TM6 (white card), TM2 and / TM3 forms stamped. For motorcycle, you’ll need to park your motorcycle first anywhere close to the Thai border area.
Note: You may need to pay THB25 when you stamp your passport (enter Thailand) during out of working hours and you don’t usually get a receipt but this rule is now in place.
Dannok, Sadao Border (Thailand) – Immigration Counter
Thailand TM6 Immigration form ((Arrival/Departure white card)
Don’t forget to pass over the completed TM2 & TM3 forms to the immigration officer when they check on your passport. You will need to have a copy of each for arrival and departure. The immigration officer will keep one copy for arrival and he/she will stamp the departure copy and give it back to you. You will then need submit this stamped copy when you exit the border on your way out of Thailand.
Thailand TM2 & TM 3 Forms Sample
Often, the officer will not ask you about these forms but the laws are in place and there is a fine for not having the forms on your return and occasionally, you get a bad official who likes to make trouble if you don’t have all the copies & / or completed correctly. If you lost them, be polite, smile always and you can often get out of fine. Remember, this is Thailand 
Next, park your car or motorcycle after the drive through passport control / immigration counter and go to the Customs Declaration Counter to get your simplified temporary import/export form.
Thailand Customs Declaration Counter in Dannok, Sadao
You will need to provide your passport and the vehicle registration card (Grant / VOC) to the customs officer at counter# 1 for verification. If the vehicle is not registered on your name, you will need to provide an authorisation (permission) written letter and copy of the owner’s passport / Identity card. See Sample. If you have been out & / or in before, your data should still be in their system and is easy to bring it up if your info & the vehicle are still the same.
The customs are organized & computerized and they will complete the form for you. Your data goes in the computer & the form is printed out for you which you need to bring it over from counter #1 to counter# 2. They’ll usually print out 2 forms, one of them (import) which they’ll keep and give you the export form which you will need to sign at two sections. See the image below.
Simplified Customs Declaration Form
The validity of the form is usually 30 days and you MUST return the export form to the Customs Counter when you exit Thailand. Failing to do so, there is a fine of 1,000 baht a day, with a maximum of 10,000 baht if you return / depart late (up to 6 months).
Thailand Vehicle Late Export Fine
Important: Entry & Departure must be from the same border. If you want to exit on a different border, you must inform the custom officer before she/he prints out your simplified customs forms.
That’s it! You can now drive / ride into Thailand straightaway and their official may stop you to check whether your passport has been stamped or not on your way in, just show it to them and they will let you pass.
The process is quite simple to be honest and you may want to skip border crossing on Malaysian public holidays as the waiting que at the border can be long and you may just stuck there for hours. Alternatively, go to other small borders such as in Wang Kelian etc as they may not be busy as Bukit Kayu Hitam / Dan Nok border.
