Answered3 years ago

Can I enter Thailand on a 30-day visa exemption if my e-visa application for a Tourist Visa is delayed?

Tourist Visa Visa Exemption Visa Approval Process Multiple Entry Tourist Visa Migration Rules Thailand Visa Policy

Alex ***********

asked Jan 11, 2024

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Hi everyone,

my e-visa application for a Tourist Visa (Multiple Entry) may not be approved on time when I'm leaving...

If this will be the case, is it possible to enter Thailand on my FIRST ENTRY via 30 days visa exemption (since my visa is still not approved)

If the visa would get approved while I'm in Thailand already, could I just leave to a NEIGHBORING country for a few days and than re-enter Thailand again with the TR Multiple Entry visa from e.g. Singapur?

I'm not sure if this is working for the Multiple Entry Visa since the req. is that you have to be in your home country while applying for that visa (what I was during application)

Thanks for your help already!

Answer summary

The user is inquiring whether they can enter Thailand using a 30-day visa exemption if their e-visa application for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) isn't approved before departure. Commenters confirm that entering Thailand on a visa exemption is possible. They advise that once the METV is approved, the user can activate it by leaving the country and re-entering, even on the same day. The validity period of the METV starts upon issuance, and careful timing of when to activate it can maximize the stay duration in Thailand.

14 repliesnewest first

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Nongnuch ********

@Alex **********

there is no problem to activate the METV should it arrive after you have entered Thailand visa exempt. You can activate the first 60 days of the METV when you exit and re-enter Thailand. The METV allows you an unlimited number of entries during it's validity. Just keep in mind that the 6-month validity of your METV starts to run down since the day the visa was issued. So this COULD be the reason that the embassy is waiting until the last day before your departure with issuing the visa, to allow you to get the most time out of it . . . . If you do a border run on the last day of the visa validity, you'll receive another 60 days for the last time, stretching the theoretically possible stay on a METV to 8 months. Then include a 30 days extension and it will get you almost 9 months

3 years ago

Henrik *****

Some embassys proces the touristvisas by departuredate to the benefit of the tourist.

I will normaly arrive in email 1-2 weeks before departure, giving the longest possibel time to activate the visa.

If you apply for the touristvisa longer than the recommended time from you embassy, you just have to wait longer before you get the visa, so nothing gained by applying early.

You could contact the embassy with your concern.

3 years ago

Chris *******

Yes.

3 years ago

Brandon ************

It happens to many people. Once you get the visa, even if you're already in Thailand, you can activate it by leaving and returning. You don't even need to be out for a few days, you can leave and immediately return the same day. Though it wouldn't make much sense to do a special trip out just to activate your visa. Let your 30 days finish before making the trip, and make sure you print your visa out, hand it to the officer at the airport, and check your stamp to make sure you got the 60 day "TR" stamp before you leave the airport.

3 years ago

Richard ********

@Brandon ***********

leaving and returning only by air or by land is ok also ?

Brandon ************

either is fine

Richard ********

🙏

Alex ***********

thanks for your quick response 🙏🏼

So there will be no issues at all when entering with the METV on my 2nd entry to Thailand?

I'm a little bit concerned since I always understood that the METV can only be applied for in your home country and therefore Visa Runs, using the METV are than also not possible... I know that for the Singe Entry Visa this is no problem at all and common procedure.

Or is this a valid procedure since I can proof that I stayed during application in my home country?

3 years ago

Brandon ************

@Alex **********

you were in the country when you applied. Lots of people receive their visas late and there's no issues with Thai immigration.

3 years ago

Brandon ************

@Gorgon ****

definitely see if you can use Vancouver. Nothing but complaints and weeks and months to process applications at Ottawa and Vancouver is days.

3 years ago

Gorgon *****

@Brandon ***********

good to hear...and am in the process of planning for next year..seeing first if I can use Vancouver office..(process may be routed through provinces..can't remember)

3 years ago

Brandon ************

@Gorgon ****

yeah but Ottawa and Paris are the only two embassies that do that.

3 years ago

Gorgon *****

@Brandon ***********

depends on Embassy perhaps..but Canadian Ottawa Embassy will most certainly refuse ME visa if, in submission of further details requested, you make mention of already being "in country"..visa will be refused. 2 years back received visa by email after arriving through visa exempt, then exited and initiated actual visa..this year when disclosed already "in Country"...visa (then well over 2 months post application) was swiftly denied. ( I realise you are aware of associated problems with that source, but officially received notice for that very reason. ) . All records from both years kept, btw. Folks have to be aware that one's history in not necessarily an advantage , quite possibly the opposite though never stated..in attempts to be as rigorous and forthright with documentation it (seems) since the evisa system was adopted the "tourist" status has changed in their judgement , at least. Prior to that, one simply mailed in passport, payment and things were quite efficient . Has to be a policy change that is very difficult to sort..and I refuse to speculate.

3 years ago

Alex ***********

@Brandon ***********

yes that's also how I understood the requirement... meaning I could maximum be asked at Immigration to proof staying in Germany during application (which I can with my first boarding pass). Thank you!

Because technically it would be possible to apply and receive visa's via the e-visa system while in Thailand and activate them with visa run's... but I guess Immigration can easily find that out when checking application date with entry dates into Thailand...

3 years ago