Hi all. Got a bit of a strange question from an acquaintance. Do you always have to use your (obtained in Schengen country) tourist visa when entering Thailand ? He means; Come into the country with 30 day exemption (although you have that visa in your passport) , leave the kingdom after lets say 25 days, come in again after e.g. 3 days and only THEN 'activate/use' the tourist visa for staying the 60 days. (Which is still valid because of the 3 months validity)
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around whether a valid tourist visa obtained from a Schengen country must be used upon entering Thailand or if a traveler can opt for the 30-day visa exemption instead. While some participants agree that once a visa is in the passport, immigration officers typically stamp based on that visa, others suggest that it's possible to enter on a visa exemption and later purchase a tourist visa while abroad. Importantly, using a re-entry permit allows individuals to maintain their original visa status but does not extend their stay beyond the visa's initial entry duration.