ask
Search
Ask
Answered9 years ago

Can you enter Thailand on the 'Enter Before' date of your visa?

Tod *********
asked Aug 18, 2017
5.9k
views
31
replies
84
likes
I thought this was a useful explanation to 'understanding your visa' ;) :)
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around the interpretation of the 'Enter Before' date on Thai visas. Many contributors agree that it is generally permissible to enter Thailand on the 'Enter Before' date itself, clarifying that entry can occur on this date or any date prior. References from various Thai embassies support this understanding, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the accuracy of visa dates to avoid penalties for illegal entry or overstaying.
31 repliesnewest first
15

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Terary **********
Terary **********
you forgot the visa number
Joe ******
Joe ******
It's perfectly OK to enter ON the date. Done it myself several times. Even left and entered on the "Enter Before" date.
Tim ********
Tim ********
Thank you!
Xer **************
Xer **************
Its on or before the specified date
Xer **************
Xer **************
Yes ...
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
@Ru**
, I sent you a p/m, we are talking about one thing here and one thing only. That was can a person enter thailand on the exact "enter before" date stamped on a visa and get in.

Not about stamping out of thailand on the admitted until date, not about extensions, not about overstays.

Please stay on topic.
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
sheesh, don't feel bad
@Fr***
, I'm a born, bred, corn-fed american english speaker and I still didn't understand it :O :/
Frank **************
Frank **************
I get clearer now but for me as a non native speaker, the English language is not easy to understand.
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
@Fr***
, yep, ;) enter on the exact enter before date and you get stamped in for the amount the visa gives you.
Frank **************
Frank **************
Than the explanation from the Royal Thai Consulate Hull / UK and the Embassy in Germany are wrong ?
Frank **************
Frank **************
I think one question will be answerd now because I found this on the Page of the Thai embassy in Germany. I post in German and in English please pay attention for point 3: WICHTIGER HINWEIS:

Bitte kontrollieren Sie nach Erhalt des Reisepasses die Richtigkeit der Gültigkeit des Visums.

Bitte beachten bei der Einreise am Flughafen in Thailand das Datum der Einreise und der Ausreise, die das Immigration Office in den Reisepass eingetragen hat und kontrollieren Sie die Richtigkeit der genehmigten Aufenthaltsdauer und wenden sich bei Irrtum sofort an die Immigrationsbeamten. Illegale Einreisen und verspätete Ausreisen sind strafbar und können mit Geldstrafe und Freiheitsentzug geahndet werden.

Anmerkung zum Visasticker:

Das Datum bei „enter before“(auf deutsch: Einreise vor dem ..) hat die Bedeutung, dass die Einreise nach Thailand vor diesem Zeitpunkt stattfinden muss. Erst bei Einreise erhalten Sie den genehmigten Aufenthalt je nach Art des Visums in den Reisepass eingetragen. ///

Please check the validity of the visa after receiving your passport.

Please note the date of entry and departure from the airport in Thailand, which has been entered into the passport by the Immigration Office, and check the correctness of the approved period of residence. In case of error, please contact the Immigration Officer immediately. Illegal entry and delayed departure are punishable and can be punished with a fine and a deprivation of liberty.

Note on Visasticker:

The date at "enter before" means that the entry into Thailand must take place before this date. Only upon arrival you will be given the approved stay in the passport, depending on the type of visa.
Frank **************
Frank **************
Thats another info from the Royal Thai Consulate in Hull : The validity of this visa commences from the date it is issued and expires 6 months later. The expiry date of the visa is shown as the ENTER BEFORE date. For example, if the visa was issued on 01 JAN 2017 (DATE OF ISSUE) the ENTER BEFORE date would be 30 JUN 2017. This means that your final 60-day entry into Thailand must be no later than 29 June 2017. Each time you enter Thailand you receive a rectangular stamp in your passport stating date of entry and the ADMITTED UNTIL date which will be 60 days after entry. Do not remain in Thailand beyond the ADMITTED UNTIL date. Each time you exit Thailand you will receive a triangular stamp in your passport stating date of exiting Thailand. With careful planning it is possible to get an accumulation of almost 8 months in Thailand with this visa by making your final entry into Thailand 3-4 days before the ENTER BEFORE date as shown on the visa.
Frank **************
Frank **************
@Tod ********
I thought that was clear now because the information at the German Thai Embassy says : The date at "enter before" means that the entry into Thailand must take place before this date. Only upon arrival you will be given the approved stay in the passport, depending on the type of visa.
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
like amornrat said it really should be written as "enter on or before" because they most definitely will stamp you in of you enter on the exact enter before date.
Gilles *******
Gilles *******
thanks a lot
Sandeep ******
Sandeep ******
@Tod ********
excellent post and very informative. Thank you.
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
@Amor****
, do you know if you can enter the country on the "Enter Before" date stamped on the visa itself or does it have to be before that date??
Mark *******
Mark *******
I did enter on the date listed at Mae Sot once and they gave me a "hmmmmm...." but let me in.
Jeff ******
Jeff ******
@Tod ********
Indeed, very good news for me. Thanks for the clarification.
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
@Amor****
, (y) (y) (y) Thanx,that should be a relief for
@Je**
.
Amornrat **********
Amornrat **********
it should say ON/BEFORE, means it is OK to enter on the same day, before midnight.
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
@Ellie ******
, That's what we're tryin' to find out :O Can you enter ON that date and still get stamped in or is the visa expired. That's why I tagged Amornrat because they have a visa run company. ;)
Ellie *******
Ellie *******
I don't know what is the source of this photo, but your photo says '"ENTER BEFORE" date is the last day you can use your visa to seek entry into Thailand.'

Is this mean that the info in the photo is still not clear?
Jeff ******
Jeff ******
I have a question about the Enter Before date. Somewhere I read or heard that you must actually enter BEFORE that date not up to and including. So, you would have to enter by August 30, 2016 in the sample posted. So, which is it - you can enter August 31 or no later than August 30?
Jeff ******
Jeff ******
Tod Daniels Yes, I have saved this post and will report back. My plan is to just see what they do. Worst case, I get the 30 day visa exemption.
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
@Je**
, Well, you'll certainly be able to let us know one way or the other on the 23rd of Oct ;)
Jeff ******
Jeff ******
Thanks. It might seem I am just being pedantic, but actually I have a multiple entry tourist visa with a Enter Before date of October 23, 2017. I have a flight to China that will leave China October 22 but arrive in Chiang Mai around 1:00 am October 23, so I am actually quite interested in finding out the answer. So, if anyone knows for sure, I would love to hear.
Tod *********
Tod *********
OP
I always took it to mean you needed to enter BEFORE the "enter before" date because on that date the visa wasn't valid anymore.

I don't know really.
Johnny **********
Johnny **********
Agreed Tod Daniels , we will use in my travel agency to help explain
Marcus ******
Marcus ******
AWESOME INFORMATION! thanks!
Zachery **********
Zachery **********
nice

Activity

15 joined
Tod *********
Tod *********
Tod *********
Tod *********
Tod *********
Tod *********
15
people
Thai Visa Advice
Thai Visa Advice
...members40% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
What is the validity period for my 60-day single entry Thailand visa?
2.2k182818h
What do the 'valid from' and 'valid until' dates mean on a Thailand 60-day tourist visa?
1k3222mo
What are the validity dates on a 60-day tourist visa for Thailand, and when do I need to enter the country?
2.7k21342mo
What are the options for British passport holders to extend their stay in Thailand beyond the initial 60-day visa-free period?
7.7k69822mo
Can I apply for a tourist visa for Thailand before leaving the UK for my trip?
1.2k6205mo
Can I pay for a visa extension online before arriving in Thailand?
10.2k591856mo
Can I re-enter Thailand on a visa-exempt basis after a long stay and visa runs?
6.2k161597mo
How can I stay in Thailand as a tourist for 3 months?
10.3k801239mo
Why was I given a 60-day stamp upon entry despite having an e-visa for 87 days?
8.9k511581y
Can I Enter Thailand on a Tourist Visa for 3 Months with an Extension?
400121y
Is there a limit on the number of days I can spend in Thailand each year?
1.6k1361y
What is the validity period for entering Thailand on a 58-day visa?
1.1k472y
Do I need to show a flight out of Thailand upon arrival on a Canadian Exempt Visa and can I do a border run?
3.1k3242y
What is a re-entry permit and what are its benefits for expats in Thailand?
2.2k13253y
Can I extend my visa exempt status and then enter Thailand on a 60-day tourist evisa before it expires?
1k4113y
Can I enter Thailand using a visa exempt stamp and save my tourist e-visa for a later entry?
1.2k7104y
What are the details and conditions of the Single Entry Visa for Thailand?
4.5k36394y
Do I need to obtain a visa before arriving in Thailand or can I extend my stay after the 30-day exemption?
2.4k16274y
Do I need to show proof of funds when entering Thailand on a tourist visa?
9.4k92575y
Do I need to file a TM30 for a 60-day tourist visa upon entering Thailand?
3k21336y
When does the clock start on the Thailand retirement non-OA visa: at embassy issuance or immigration entry?
2.7k18336y
Can I enter Thailand on the last day of my multiple-entry visa validity?
542227y
When will my tourist visa be stamped if I apply on October 5th and pick it up on October 8th?
738458y
Can I re-enter Thailand from Laos and get another 30-day extension on my visa?
1.2k1029y
Can you enter Southern Thailand by ferry with a tourist visa issued in Penang?
1.6k1489y

Resources

Need help with your Thai visa?