Thailand–Cambodia land border stays closed, with no reopening date

What did the prime minister say?

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul restated the position on 31 October 2026 in the third episode of his own broadcast, "Talk with Prime Minister Anutin", according to The Thaiger. The crossings, he said, would not reopen until Thailand's security and territorial concerns were addressed, and he could not say when that would be: reopening would wait, he said, until Thailand got what it believes it deserves.

The checkpoints had been shut for some time before that statement, and no shift in the government's position was signalled. The concerns he named are disputed land and maritime areas holding important natural resources, plus cross-border crime — chiefly online scam operations and networks that take Thai nationals abroad for exploitative work. He acknowledged the closure could weigh on some economic activity, but said national security and the country's interests come first, and that political or economic pressure alone would not reopen the border.

Who is affected?

Anyone whose itinerary depends on a land entry or exit between the two countries: overland routes to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, visa runs and short border hops. Our border crossings guide covers the main checkpoints and how they normally work, the visa page sets out entry permits by nationality, and the safety guide lists the practical risks on the ground.

• Travellers heading to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh or beyond by bus, car or train.
• Visa runs and same-day border hops that rely on a land checkpoint.
• Anyone on a flight-free route that has to cross this frontier.
• Air passengers: no change is reported for flights between the two countries.

What is not affected, and what should you check?

Nothing else is reported as changing. No new rule has been announced for air travel, Thailand's other land borders are not covered by the statement, and travel inside Thailand is unaffected. Background reporting notes that the frontier runs for roughly 800 kilometres, with some sections legally agreed and others still disputed or not yet marked on the ground. The December 2025 ceasefire, monitored by ASEAN, covers security along the border rather than sovereignty, and is described as fragile.