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Can I apply for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa for Thailand while in another country?

Mar 5, 2024
2 years ago
Rosie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hoping to apply for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa.

I am already in Thailand, but plan to leave and return. Won't be in my home country (UK) any time soon though. Can I apply for a METR online via the UK embassy e-visa scheme, and use a false UK to Thailand flight ticket in the application, and then arrive back into Thailand with the approved visa via another SE Asian country? Seems crazy to fly all the way back to the UK to then go through a process that is entirely online anyway....
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster is in Thailand seeking to apply for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) without returning to the UK. They inquire if it's possible to apply via the UK embassy's e-visa scheme and consider using a fabricated flight ticket for their application. Community responses emphasize that official procedures typically require applicants to apply from their home country's embassy, and while some shared experiences suggest flexible interpretations of the application process, concerns about violating immigration rules were prevalent. Overall, while there are differing opinions on the feasibility of their plans, the consensus leans towards caution regarding potential repercussions of falsifying information.
Joe *********
If you run out of time, you go to a different country in the area, that has a free 30 days, then go back, not sure why you would want to try to get something fake to stay longer. Bad idea.
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John *********
I am a U.S. citizen and applied for a tourist visa at the Thai embassy in Seoul, South Korea. They did it. Took me 2 days to submit all the correct documents and it took them 3 additional weeks to complete their paperwork.
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Terary **********
@John ********
When I did my visa in Seoul (pre covid) it was done within 1 week, from what I recall.
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Terary **********
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Matthew **********
How much is an METV please if anybody knows?
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Jordan *******
@Matthew *********
visa fees are on the Thai visa site, they’re £150
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Jordan *******
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Ellis *******
What's a false flight ticket and where did u do these. 🤣regular flier and these flights are pissing me off?
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Christopher *************
And that bis the same as it is in Canada.
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Henrik *****
“All applicants must be residing within the UK/Ireland/UK territories when apply for the Visa. The Royal Thai Embassy has the right to cancel the visa applications should you fail to provide the evidence of your presence within the UK/Ireland/UK territories while applying for the visa.”

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18de2bab23
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Jordan *******
@Henrik ****
“Travel booking confirmation must be provided upon submission of your visa application. This includes flight details showing applicant’s name, departure date, all flights en route from UK/Ireland/UK territories to Thailand and onward flight to another destination.”

They’ve thought it all through, flight confirmation confirming route from UK so you can’t fiddle it
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Angelo ************
@Jordan ******
there are airlines that sell tickets that can be fully refunded without fees and your plans can always change is all that I'm gonna say here
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Jordan *******
Of course it makes sense to buy refundable tickets just for that purpose
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Jordan *******
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Terary **********
You can do this with the Thai Embassy US, I don't know about UK. I know many people in this group take objection to it, but their opinions do not influence immigration's decisions. For the US, (and likely all places), the eVisa site asks "Where are you?" and "Where are you from?". If you answer the two questions correctly, it allows you got complete the application. During the application process it asks the same two questions a bit differently. This allows you to complete the application without lying on the application, pretty much. The first two questions are pre-application questions that do not show up on the application.

In the past, when I have done this, they always ask for follow-up paperwork (flights or hotel accommodations, etc). When I provide the paperwork I include a note explaining that I am touring around and will not be going back home so I can't provide flight evidence from US to Thailand, but I do provide flight into Thailand (because I am traveling anyway).

Bali has no Thai Embassy and I frequently travel to Bali. Which explains why I use the US Thai embassy instead of the Indonesian Thai embassy.

Good luck to you.
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Ruth *******
Are you really asking on a public forum if you can do something illegal?
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Juergen *****
@Ruth ******
well the German military is discussing on a transparent page the ways of attacking Russia, anybody can be kind of....? dumb?
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Ruth *******
@Juergen ****
did momma ever teach you about two wrongs?
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Juergen *****
@Ruth ******
nope, definitely not...

Or you talking about your momma...?

Can you elaborate???🤣

And what is the difference between wrong and dumb, if any...
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Ruth *******
@Juergen ****
well, “dumb” means unable to speak, which is not relevant. Rather than focusing on your ableist comment, I’ll stick with “wrong”.
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Stephan ***********
@Ruth ******
Good one... 👍😁😎
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Stephan ***********
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Stuart ********
You are aware that immigration often monitors these discussion pages.

You cannot be the full penny or maybe a little simple.

U should not to of advertised what u planned to do.

Now you could find that you are flagged when u enter Thailand and then you will see the word ban start to be discussed by immigration if they pull u aside upon re-entry.

Very silly indeed.
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Dennis ***********
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Dennis ***********
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Ned *******
Don't immigration often ask to see the boarding pass . ... would/could that be flagged up on their system when you enter?
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Bart **************
@Ned ******
you're allowed to enter differently than the original documents for the visa stipulated.
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Ned *******
@Bart *************
. . ..fair enough,

Just a thought . . .

though it's not something I would consider,

( would it be classified as.. . making false declarations to obtain a visa? ) . .
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Bart **************
@Ned ******
that is a fair point.
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Bart **************
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John **********
You can only apply for the metv in your home country
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Steven *******
You're asking, on Facebook, if you can break Thai law?
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Dennis ***********
@Steven ******
just opened the floodgates
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Dennis ***********
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Jordan *******
Also from UK, let me know how this goes.

As to my knowledge it’s either get online METV whilst in UK or if you’re in a neighbouring country you’d have to get a visa via the embassy.

Which makes no sense, it should all be online it’s 2024.

Also what’s to say you can’t get granted a Thai visa but decide to visit neighbouring countries first then heading off to Thailand? Surely they wouldn’t expect someone to fly back to uk to catch a U.K. to Thailand flight just because that’s what the visa says?
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Terary **********
Has anybody written and ask the Thai Embassy - UK, to ask if they will accept visa application while outside of the UK? I know for US citizens it says something about requiring you to be in the US when applying, but I wrote the embassy and asked and they said they you can apply wherever but you risk loosing the application fee. I felt that was a worthwhile gamble and it has paid off for me.
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Graham ******
@Terary *********
When you start the online application you have to enter your passport nationality and where you are applying from. You will be directed to the nearest Embassy/Consulate if you cannot proceed with an eVisa application based on these two things.
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Terary **********
@Graham *****
I mention that elsewhere. You can enter anything in those two fields ("Where are you from" and "Where are you"). The application will ask those question again. In the application the questions are slight different "Where is your passport from" and "Where are you a resident". In my case I technically a legal resident of Texas (with TX driver's license).
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Terary **********
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Andi ***********
Terary Apellido You provided details of a flight from the UK to Thailand?
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Terary **********
@Andrew ********
Flight details Indonesia to Thailand. Most visa requirements are "travel to Thailand", and "onward travel". My most recent visa application they were specific about my flight out of Thailand so I bought a cheap ticket to KLA but usually I use bus tickets to fulfill this requirement.
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Andi ***********
Terary Apellido You did not provide a ticket from the UK to Thailand ? I thought UK citizens/residents had to show a ticket from the UK. You are not resident in the UK?
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Andi ***********
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Nigel *********
@Jordan ******
It's not really about making life easier or more convenient for you, it's about controlling immigration. Thailand is currently lobbying for better terms for Thai citizens entering countries such as the UK. I see things getting more difficult, not easier, sorry to say.
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Jordan *******
@Ni***
it’s not just about making life easier for me, surely if a visa can be done online for uk to Thailand then why not elsewhere?

Surely the embassies would like to deal with less paper applications?

Or am I talking too logical here?
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Nigel *********
@Jordan ******
I understand what you're saying.. but this is about controlling immigration. They can easily allow what you suggest if the y want to. They don't want to or need to.
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Nigel *********
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Nigel *********
Give it a go. Let us know how you get on.
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Bart **************
@Nigel ********
I second that
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Bart **************
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Chris *******
You can try, most you've got to lose is the application fee.

Report back and let us know if you pull it off.

Once you have it, matters not where you enter from.
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Terary **********
@Chris ******
I have done this, it has worked for me. I post elsewhere on this thread my story about this matter. Best of luck.
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Terary **********
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Brandon ************
Officially, you must apply through the Thai embassy that serves the country where you physically are located.

Once you have the visa, you are not required to stick to the items you submitted to obtain it.
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Brandon ************
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