Can I leave Thailand for the UK and return without losing my 60-day periods on my METV?

Sep 5, 2023
a year ago
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can I get advice please. I’ve had my metv approved issued this week. Fly out on 17 th September. But booked a return flight to the uk for Christmas to se family. I have to leave Thailand after 60 days then re enter to get my flight back to uk. Will I lose my second 60 days if I’m back in uk or can I get an extension after visit fly back to uk. Then return to Thailand and start my second 60 days. Complicated I know. Thank you for any help. I should’ve checked requirements before booking flights
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user recently had their Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) approved and is seeking clarification on the implications of leaving Thailand for the UK and returning later. The responses clarify that as long as the METV is valid for six months from the issue date, the user can leave and re-enter Thailand multiple times. Each re-entry grants another 60 days. Additionally, they can opt for a 30-day extension from a local immigration office if needed. Thus, their travel back to the UK and subsequent returns to Thailand will not result in the loss of their remaining 60-day periods.
Ann **************
You can change the flights? Might involve a nuisance change fee?
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ann *************
it’s all sorted now thanks. It’s straight forward now I know can enter more than a couple of times.
Stuart *********
On each entry you get 60 days. On each entry you can opt to leave Thailand and come back immediately or get a 30 day extension from a local immigration office.

Time your last entry just before that visa expires and get an extension and you can milk almost 9 months off that visa.
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
yes that’s how I messed up I already booked flights out on 10 th December back to uk I’ll be short of days
Nongnuch ********
you could go from a visa-exempt entry or on the last 60 days you will receive when doing a last border run under the still valid METV, to the 90-days Non-imm-O retirement visa, at a Thai Immigration, by the procedure "change of visa type", if you already have deposited 800.000.- THB in your Thai bank account and can prove the money came from abroad. However you must wait for the "validity period" of your METV to be finished, before you can apply for the "change". One cannot get a new visa as long as one still is on a valid visa. The earliest day to apply, is the day after the expiry of the METV, i.e. after the last border run. Check here for the requirement, click onto number 9 is for the change to the "90 days Non-Imm-O retirement visa" and from this visa finally to the "1-year extension of stay permit"
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Stuart *********
@Keith ********
Border bounce for another entry or get an extension. Depends where you are in the country as to what would be the “cheaper” option.
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
not far from mukdahan so will bounce there thanks for the advice
Stuart *********
@Keith ********
You’ll see many comments on these forums that state “only 2 land border crossings” per year allowed. That’s for visa exempt entries only. You could cross every day with a METV if you so desired. You probably wouldn’t want to, but you could….
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
it’s a foot in the door to get my retirement visa out there tbh sold up and moving permanently on the 16 September
Stuart *********
@Keith ********
Ok that’s another ball game. Have you got a Thai bank account already?
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
first thing I’m doing
Stuart *********
@Keith ********
Ok. You may struggle on a tourist visa. Put a shout out in a local Facebook group for a visa agent to help. Will probably cost around 5,000 baht but you’ll have the account next day. You can DIY and try 24 branches of 10 different banks and may luck out.
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Stuart *********
@Keith ********
feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding the process of the “retirement” visa. I’m down south but most of the procedures will be pretty similar.
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
brilliant thanks. I was hoping you’d say that 🙏🙏😊😊 so much to do at the moment haven’t had chance to properly look into it jumped both feet first. Thanks for the help
Michael ********
Its multiple entry tourist visa, name gives it away a bit. When you return from UK you will get another 60 days
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
thought it was only 2 entries haven’t had chance to check properly. Thanks
Michael ********
@Keith ********
no you can do as many as you like
Steve *******
You can leave and re-enter as many times as you want all the time the visa is valid which will be 6 months from it's issue date. Each time you enter you'll be stamped in for 60 days.
Keith *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
brilliant thank you
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