Can I use my approved multi-entry tourist visa after already entering Thailand?

Thai Visa Rules Multi-Entry Tourist Visa Visa Activation Visa Exempt Entry Immigration Procedures Expats in Thailand

May 17, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

If my 6 month multi-entry tourist visa from the US gets approved AFTER I enter Thailand, can I still use it?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

If your 6-month multi-entry tourist visa is approved after you have already entered Thailand, it cannot be used while you are already in the country. To activate and use the newly approved visa, you need to exit Thailand and then re-enter, presenting your visa approval documentation at the entry point. This process will 'activate' the multi-entry tourist visa, allowing you to stay in Thailand for the duration allowed by that visa.

Tod *********

Please STOP with the "free tourist visa" stuff

@Alex *********

, 😕

You got in free for 30 days on what's called a "visa exempt entry" it is not a visa of any type, and you can extend that for 30 days for 1900baht giving you a total of 60 days.

Whereas with the METV you get stamped in for 60 days and you can extend that for 30 days for 1900baht giving you a total of 90 days.

Whether you take the one 30 day extension on this free 30 day entry OR whether you bounce out and back to activate a 60 day entry from the METV is your decision.

you need to figure that out on your own.

a year ago

Tod *********

Can you use it after you're already stamped in and inside thailand? NO 😮 You're here on the free entry stamp

BUT

with that being said;

Is it still valid and can be used IF you exit/re-enter and show that PDF eVisa print out at what every entry point you come in to thailand on? YES!! it is good to use 🙂

You have to exit/re-enter to 'activate' that visa.

Y

a year ago

Alex **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

so essentially since I can stay for 30+30 days with a free tourist visa anyway and the multi-entry one requires me to leave every 60 days, this is essentially the same thing, right?

a year ago

Tod *********

@Alex *********

keep in mind that 6 month METV started running down the 6 months the day they ISSUED it not the day you use it to enter thailand, 😕

So if you take this 30 day free entry (which is NOT a tourist visa :/) and then take the 30 day extension for 1900baht you just burned thru TWO months of that 6 month visa NOT using it.

a year ago

Alex **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Right. I understand that. So, what would you recommend? To do a border run at the end of the 30-day free entry to activate the METV?

a year ago

Reply to

Alex **********

John **********

You have to leave and re-enter to use it

a year ago

John **********

@Alex *********

not at all, for a start every 60 day entry on a tourist visa can also be extended by 30 days. A multi entry tourist visa can get you close to 9 months inside Thailand if used carefully (plus you already have a bonus 60 days if your visa doesn't arrive in time)

a year ago

Alex **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

I'm a little confused. I thought when I enter without a visa I only get 30 days automatically and then I can extend it to 30 more days before I have to do a border run. Isn't that correct?

a year ago

Martin *******

@Alex *********

you can, but if planning to do that some airlines will not let you board without a confirmed return or exit ticket within 30 days.

This has been discussed many times.

a year ago

Reply to

Martin *******

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What are the rules regarding the validity and extension of a multiple-entry tourist visa for Thailand?

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