Koh Lipe sits just 35 kilometres from Langkawi, Malaysia, making it one of the most convenient entry points into Thailand from a neighbouring country. The small immigration office on the island handles arrivals from Malaysia during the high season, but its services are limited compared to a full immigration office on the mainland. If you're planning to visit Koh Lipe or are already on the island and need immigration services, it's important to understand exactly what this checkpoint can and cannot do for you.
Where Is the Immigration Office?
The Koh Lipe immigration checkpoint is located on Pattaya Beach, at the eastern end near Bundhaya Resort. There are actually two small immigration stations on this stretch of beach, each serving arrivals from different departure points in Langkawi. One handles passengers arriving from Kuah Jetty, while the other processes those coming from Telaga Harbour Terminal.
The office is open only when ferry services between Langkawi and Koh Lipe are running. This is typically from around mid-October through the end of June, corresponding with the high season when sea conditions are calm enough for the crossing. During the low season from July to mid-October, when ferries don't operate directly to Koh Lipe from Malaysia, the immigration checkpoint closes entirely.
What the Immigration Office Can Do
The Koh Lipe immigration checkpoint functions primarily as an entry point. When you arrive by ferry from Langkawi, this is where you'll receive your stamp to enter Thailand. The office can handle the following:
For travellers from countries covered by Thailand's visa exemption scheme, officers will stamp your passport with permission to stay for up to 60 days. Since July 2024, Thailand extended the visa-free stay from 30 to 60 days for citizens of 93 countries. This applies whether you enter by air or through land and sea borders like Koh Lipe.
If your nationality requires a Visa on Arrival, you can obtain one at the Koh Lipe checkpoint. The fee is 2,000 THB, and this grants you 15 days in Thailand. Countries eligible for Visa on Arrival include India, China, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and several others. Make sure you bring the required documents: a passport photo, proof of onward travel, and evidence of accommodation.
Travellers who already hold a valid Thai visa obtained from a Thai embassy or through the e-visa system can also enter through Koh Lipe. The immigration officers will simply verify your visa and stamp your entry.
When departing Thailand via Koh Lipe to Langkawi, the office processes your exit stamp. You'll need to present yourself at immigration approximately one hour before your ferry departure.
What the Immigration Office Cannot Do
This is where many visitors get caught out. The Koh Lipe immigration checkpoint is not a full-service immigration office. Several standard immigration services are simply not available on the island.
You cannot extend your visa or visa exemption on Koh Lipe. If you entered Thailand with a 60-day visa exemption and want an additional 30 days, you must travel to the mainland. The nearest full immigration office is in Satun town, which can process extensions. The standard extension fee is 1,900 THB, but some travellers have reported being quoted higher prices on Koh Lipe by unofficial agents, so be cautious.
90-day reporting for those on long-term visas cannot be done on Koh Lipe. If you're in Thailand on a retirement visa, work permit, or other long-stay visa that requires periodic reporting, you'll need to handle this at the Satun Immigration Office or another full-service office elsewhere in Thailand.
Re-entry permits are also not available at the Koh Lipe checkpoint. If you hold a visa or extension that would normally be cancelled upon leaving Thailand, you'll need to obtain a re-entry permit before departing. This must be done at a proper immigration office on the mainland before you travel to Koh Lipe and take the ferry to Langkawi.
The Arrival Process from Langkawi
Arriving on Koh Lipe from Langkawi involves a specific procedure that can feel a bit unusual if you're not expecting it. When you board the ferry in Langkawi, the crew will collect your passport. They hold onto it for the duration of the crossing, which takes between 60 and 90 minutes depending on which jetty you depart from and the sea conditions.
Upon arrival at Koh Lipe, the ferry typically stops at a floating platform offshore. From there, passengers are transferred to longtail boats that bring you to Pattaya Beach, directly in front of the immigration checkpoint. During busy periods, particularly around December and January, multiple ferries may arrive around the same time, creating queues at immigration.
The ferry crew hands all collected passports to the immigration officers. You'll then wait while passports are processed. In the past, passports were returned by nationality, with British passports often called first, followed by Australian, then others. More recently, the process has become somewhat more random, with day-trippers often processed first. The whole procedure can take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour depending on how many people arrived and how many ferries came in simultaneously.
If you have a connecting boat to another island such as Koh Muk or Koh Lanta, let the ferry crew know before arrival. They may be able to help expedite your processing so you don't miss your onward connection.
National Park Fee
Immediately after clearing immigration, you'll be asked to pay the Tarutao National Park entrance fee. Koh Lipe is part of this marine national park, and all visitors must pay 200 THB for adults or 100 THB for children. This fee is valid for five days and covers entry to the national park areas around the island. Keep your receipt with you, as officials occasionally check for it on the beaches.
You can pay this fee in Thai Baht or Malaysian Ringgit, though the exchange rate for Ringgit won't be favourable. It's best to have some Thai Baht ready before you arrive.
If You Need Full Immigration Services
For anything beyond basic entry and exit processing, you'll need to leave Koh Lipe and travel to the mainland. The Satun Immigration Office is the nearest full-service office and can handle visa extensions, 90-day reporting, re-entry permits, and other immigration matters. The office is located at 1 Buri Wanich Road in Satun town and is open Monday to Friday.
Getting to Satun from Koh Lipe requires taking a speedboat to Pak Bara pier, followed by a taxi or minivan to Satun town. The journey takes a couple of hours each way, so plan for a full day if you need to visit the immigration office. During the low season when direct boats to Pak Bara are less frequent, you may need to arrange your travel carefully.
Some travellers choose to handle their immigration business in other provinces before or after visiting Koh Lipe, particularly if they're travelling through places like Krabi, Phuket, or Hat Yai, all of which have immigration offices that can process extensions and other requests.
Using Koh Lipe for a Visa Run
Because of its proximity to Malaysia, Koh Lipe is a popular option for visa runs. The concept is straightforward: leave Thailand, enter Malaysia, then return to Thailand and receive a fresh entry stamp. The ferry to Langkawi and back can be done in a single day if you take the morning boat out and the afternoon boat back.
However, there are some considerations. Thai immigration has become more vigilant about people who appear to be living in Thailand on repeated visa exemptions rather than obtaining proper long-term visas. If your passport shows a pattern of frequent entries and exits, particularly at the same checkpoint, you may face questions from immigration officers or potentially be denied entry.
For those doing a legitimate visa run, the process works smoothly. You'll exit Thailand at the Koh Lipe checkpoint, enter Malaysia at Langkawi, spend some time there (even just a few hours), then take the return ferry and re-enter Thailand. Upon re-entry, you'll receive a fresh 60-day visa exemption assuming your nationality qualifies.
Low Season Considerations
During the low season, roughly from July to mid-October, there are no direct ferries between Langkawi and Koh Lipe. The immigration checkpoint on the island closes during this period since there are no international arrivals to process.
If you need to enter Thailand from Malaysia during the low season, you'll have to take a different route. The typical alternative is to take the ferry from Langkawi to Satun on the Thai mainland, clear immigration at the Satun pier, then travel overland to Pak Bara and catch a speedboat to Koh Lipe. This adds several hours to the journey and requires more planning, but it's the only option when direct ferries aren't running.
Travellers already on Koh Lipe during the low season who need immigration services face the same challenge in reverse. Speedboats to Pak Bara continue to operate year-round, though with reduced frequency, allowing access to the mainland and the Satun Immigration Office.
Police and Tourist Assistance
A police station is located directly behind the immigration checkpoint on Pattaya Beach. If you encounter any problems during your stay, this is where you can seek assistance. The Tourist Police, recognisable by their black t-shirts, can often communicate in English and are available to help with issues ranging from lost property to disputes with local businesses.
For medical needs, there are two clinics on Walking Street and a small hospital near Sunrise Beach, though serious medical issues will require evacuation to the mainland. Keep this in mind when planning your stay, particularly if you have any health conditions that might require attention.