Can I Use a Tourist Visa to Visit Family in Thailand?

Nov 5, 2019

5 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

People keep telling me that a tourist visa is not valid for visiting family, and I should obtain "the correct visa", but it's now listed under reasons for a tourist visa (e-visa website, UK).

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TLDR : Answer Summary

There is some confusion regarding the validity of a tourist visa for visiting family in Thailand. While the e-visa website lists visiting family as a reason for obtaining a tourist visa, it's important to note that if your visit exceeds 60 days, you may need to apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa instead. This requires providing evidence for your stay, such as marriage or family connections.

Tod *********

and thanx to

@R**

's calm, cool, collected common sense answer, we're done.. (y)

Christ this group would come unstuck with these Evisa questions without you

@R**

, thanx :)

5 years ago

Ron *******

Calm down calm down. It's because of the reason you are selecting. The E visa website does NOT allow you to choose visas. You must instead choose a reason to visit.

If you select visiting family for LESS than 60 days, the system issues a single entry 60 day tourist visa, if you select visiting family's for MORE than 60 days, it will select a single entry 90 day Non Immigrant O visa. You then need to supply the evidence of why you need a Non Immigrant visa. Married, children etc etc.

5 years ago

Gregor **********

is this an official website from a Thai Government Ministry? Any private website constructeurs and so called "agencies" can write anything and it needn't be true

5 years ago

Stéfan ********

Why wouldn’t you be able to visit family and friends while on a tourist visa? So strange

5 years ago

Gregor **********

as of "visiting family purpose" there are other visa types (Non-Imm-O based on married to Thai or support spouses") to apply for, the METV doesn't really fit. but if the Embassy says it does, then if one fits all requirements, why not opt for. you are but right, these requirements from the Embassy don't make much sense. Please await more info from the admins - it is middle of the night in Thailand now

5 years ago

Aaron ****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

5 years ago

Gregor **********

very strange, as an METV is for tourism purposes. I think you should be patient, await the admins will have an answer to this for sure

5 years ago

Aaron ****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Gregor *********

In the UK now a visa can only be applied from online. This is the new Thai Embassy's visa application website.

I noticed the same thing on the main Thai Embassy website last week also, I took a screenshot, I'll try to find it.

Interestingly, METV is available if visiting family, but not for tourism and leisure (i don't want METV, just and observation)

5 years ago

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Aaron ****************

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