Can I use my 60-day visa after entering Thailand visa exempt on my first entry?

Thailand Visa 60-day Visa Visa Extension Re-Entry Permit Tourist Visa Immigration Regulations Bangkok Malaysia Expat Travel Advice

Mar 24, 2023

2 years ago

Anna *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello good morning,

I am in my home country and I am going to take a trip to Thailand. I have a 60-day visa granted to enter Thailand and my idea is to extend it for another 30 days once there.

My flight is with entry to BKK and due to some changes in plans I am interested in being in BKK for only about 4 days and fly to Malaysia to spend a few days there with a family member and return by land to Thailand.

Can I not present my 60-day visa the first time I enter BKK and use it on this second Malaysia-Thailand land entry?

1,139

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The user has a 60-day visa to Thailand and plans to enter Bangkok (BKK) briefly before traveling to Malaysia. They inquire whether they can enter Thailand visa exempt initially and then activate their 60-day visa when returning by land. Responses indicate that while it may be possible, it ultimately depends on the discretion of the immigration officer. Experiences shared by others include successful activation of unused visas after entering visa exempt, with specific circumstances noted.

Zam *******

This is exactly what I did, so yes it is possible!

My Tourist Visa was not approved in time for my flight into Thailand, so I had to use a 45 day stamp on arrival, which I then extended for the 30 days.

During this time I have had my now approved and unused Tourist Visa, which I successfully used 3 weeks ago when doing a Malaysia land border run.

Edit: But now I think about it, maybe because your Tourist Visa is already approved at the time of entry (mine wasn't) then your situation is different

2 years ago

James ********

2 years ago

James ********

2 years ago

Tod *********

As a rule it will totally be up to the immigration officer as far as IF you can get in visa exempt and then activate the tourist visa when you come back into thailand by land.

If it's an eVisa <- that you got online by the PDF email, there have been reports of people who didn't present it, entered visa exempt and then when they went to use the eVisa it was already invalid.

If it's a sticker visa that you got at a thai consulate, all you can do is ask the officer, but keep in mind they are under no obligation to let you in visa exempt and 'save' that tourist visa for another entry

Worst case IF you have to enter on the tourist visa, go to the immigration office where you will stay for the 4 days and BUY a single re-entry permit for 1000baht, that will let you get back in on the tourist visa you entered on and get the remaining time left on it

2 years ago

John **********

Is it in your passport?

2 years ago

Anna *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

no, it is e-visa by PDF mail.

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Anna ************

then you WILL have to show it to them AND most likely use it OR it will void when you enter on another type of entry stamp

all you can do is ASK at passport control

BUT

definitely print it, show them and ask,

As I said the person who tried to sneak an visa exempt entry with a valid eVisa (by not showing them) couldn't use it when they exited and tried to come back in as it was voided 😮

2 years ago

Anna *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

ok understood thanks. So, how many times can I go in and out of Thailand since I have several flights leaving and entering Thailand?

2 years ago

James ********

@Anna ************

sounds like you should have applied for the METV multiple entry tourist visa. Which with planning can get you up to 9 months stay in Thailand.

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Anna ************

that is between you and the people at passport control. There is no official rule, so be ready to show that you have onward travel when you stamp in <- they'll ask that FIRST if they're going to give you a hard time about coming in as much as you have.

2 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Join the Group

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

Can I enter Thailand on a visa exemption while having a Non-B eVisa?

5 comments