ask
Search
Ask
Answereda year ago

Does a Thai E-VISA validity start from the issue date or the entry date?

Paul *******
asked Aug 14, 2025
12.8k
views
60
replies
10
likes
I’ve received my Thia E-VISA yesterday 13/08/25 i assumed it would start from the day I landed in Bangkok 18/09/25 not from yesterdays date . Have i assumed wrongly.
Answer summary
The confusion arises from the difference between visa validity and the permitted stay period. All Thai visas start their validity from the date of issuance rather than the entry date into Thailand. Upon entering Thailand, you will receive a stamp indicating the allowed duration of stay, which varies depending on the visa type. For example, a tourist visa typically allows a 60-day stay, while other visa types, like the Non-Immigrant visa, can allow for longer stays based on their specific terms.
60 repliesnewest first
28

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

Holger **************
Holger **************
Mein
Holger **************
Holger **************
I got my 5 year Visa 2 weeks ago ...start August 5

End August 4 2030
Holger **************
Holger **************
Yes you have...IT Starts at the day issued
Kevin ******
Kevin ******
If your visa was issued on
*****
/25 with a validity of 90 days, you must enter Thailand before
*****
/25, which is the 90th day from the beginning of the validity period. When you land in Bangkok on
*****
/25, immigration will stamp you in for your allowed stay and that countdown starts from
*****
/25, not from the issue date.
Wannikea *********
Wannikea *********
Once issued the visa has a use before/validity date. You have until that date to enter the country, and then you will be stamped in for however long the visa allows for. For most visas you have 90 days from date of issue to use/enter the country.
Micah ********
Micah ********
Some semantics here.

VISA: the ticket to get in to the Country

PERIOD OF STAY: How long you can stay on aforementioned visa.

The visa has a specific period in which you need to use it for entry, and allows a certain period of stay once used. Your stay starts on the day of entry, regardless of visa issue date.

Entering the country on 60-day visa gives you a 60-day "period of stay" starting on the day of entry.
Paul ***************
Paul ***************
Your passport get stamped on entry with the e visa you have obtained and than the days start counting . That was in my case .
Ralph ********
Ralph ********
@Ralph *******
there seems to be different answers.
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Ralph *******
You are confusing the 90-days VISA VALIDITY with the STAY PERMIT you receive when entering Thailand on this visa.

With a single entry tourist visa, the 90-days visa validity starts on the day of issue

When you enter on this visa, you will get stamped in for a stay permit of 60 days. The visa becomes invalid upon entry.

You can extend these 60-days stay permit for further 30 days on Immigration for 1900 THB

Hence is why many people think there is a 90-days tourist visa, but this is wrong.

A "visa" is used for entering a country. After the entry, you are in Thailand on a "admitted stay" and not on a "visa".

Only on multi-entry visa types, you can enter as many times as you want during the visa validity period.
Ralph ********
Ralph ********
@Nongnuch *******
🙏 thank you
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
@Ralph *******
that's because people say they have a visa, when they are already in Thailand. Whereas the visa has actually been used to enter and is finished. . They no longer have a visa but a permitted stay. It's all about understanding terminology.
Ralph ********
Ralph ********
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
@Ralph *******
There’s only one answer, but people are a bit mixed up with visa and stay. When a visa is issued it always gives you a frame to enter and get your approved stay. That’s the validity of your visa and the length of stay is specified. As an example a tourist visa is valid for three months and gives you a 60 days stay at any day within these three months.
Ann *****
Ann *****
From the date of issue
Mike **********
Mike **********
Yes 👍
Sabri ***************
Sabri ***************
I also received my DTV visa yesterday!
Wayne ********
Wayne ********
Yes
Jacquie ***********
Jacquie ***********
Just received our visa the same. You have until it expires to enter Thailand then with pur visa we get 90 days from entry
Pui *****
Pui *****
@Jacquie **********
not on a tourist visa. A tourist visa gets you admitted for a 60 day period. It has never been 90 days. You have 90 days from the issue date to enter on the visa, but are always stamped in for 60 days from the entry date.
Jacquie ***********
Jacquie ***********
@Pui ****
I'm not on a tourist visa I said same Info with date of issue . I said Our visa
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
@Pui ****
saying "our visa" relates to the visa the person writing the post has.
Jacquie ***********
Jacquie ***********
@Pui ****
I have the o visa
Pui *****
Pui *****
@Jacquie **********
by Our visa, do you actually mean O-A visa? Otherwise saying "our visa" similar to saying "your visa" doesn't show you have something different from a tourist visa.
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
The visa validity gives you a window of time to arrive. When you enter you get stamped in for the length of permitted stay.
Doug *******
Doug *******
@Lynnette ******
Thank you for a non-loquacious and fully accurate comment. 🤣
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Lynnette ******
“When you enter you get stamped in for the length of permitted stay” . . . . . .

I would put it differently.

“When you enter, you will get stamped in for a certain stay permit period which depends on the visa class”

*** on a tourist visa, you will get stamped in for 60 days

*** on a 90-days Non-Imm visa class, you will get stamped in for 90 days

*** on a DTV you will get stamped in for 180 days

Etc.
Lynnette *******
Lynnette *******
@Nongnuch *******
which is what I said. The permitted stay . . relevant to the visa they applied for.
Kevin ******
Kevin ******
@Lynnette ******
exactly. Short and concise.
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
But your permitted STAY starts upon ENTRY, so in other words you get the permitted stay at any day within the validation of your visa, also the very last.
John *****
John *****
No u. R right
Graham ******
Graham ******
@John ****
The Visa is valid from the date of issue, the permitted period of stay starts on entry to Thailand during the Visa validity
Jay *******
Jay *******
What visa did you get? You usually have 3 months to use it and then the actual stay time starts when you enter.
Paul *******
Paul *******
OP
@Jay ******
I got an E-visa , thanks for clearing that up.
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
@Paul ******
evisa is NOT visa type. You're just saying "I got a visa" and not saying which visa. Evisa is irrelevant
Jay *******
Jay *******
@Paul ******
like everyone has said, 90 days to enter and 60 days to stay. Your good
Paul *******
Paul *******
OP
@Brandon ***********
it’s a Thia E-visa, tourist TR, single entry .
Erez **********
Erez **********
@Jay ******
exactly!
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
Yes. All visas start from the date issued.
Valerie *********
Valerie *********
@Stuart ********
No, the Visa starts on the date it was issued, not when you arrive in Thailand. I know this to be true because my first 90 day visa was issued about a week before I arrived in Thailand and Immigration only gave me 90 days from the issue date. On the other hand, if you arrive on a 60 day tourist stay then it starts on the day of arrival.
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Valerie ********
Er, are you replying to the correct person?

There is no way (other than an error) that you were given 90 days on entry from the date the visa was issued. You would get 90 days from the day you arrive (For a Non O visa that is).

If you have a stamp that is 90 days from your visa issuing date then you need to get that stamp corrected.
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
@Nongnuch *******
I guess she’s left the building.😉
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
Valerie Herndon You are confusing the 90-days VISA VALIDITY with the STAY PERMIT you receive when entering Thailand on this visa.

With a single entry tourist visa, the 90-days visa validity starts on the day of issue

When you enter on this visa, you will get stamped in for a stay permit of 60 days. The visa becomes invalid upon entry.

You can extend these 60-days stay permit for further 30 days on Immigration for 1900 THB

Hence is why many people think there is a 90-days tourist visa, but this is wrong.

A "visa" is used for entering a country. After the entry, you are in Thailand on a "admitted stay" and not on a "visa".

Only on multi-entry visa types, you can enter as many times as you want during the visa validity period.
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Valerie ********
There is no such thing. A tourist visa is valid for 90 days from issue date, but when you enter you will get 60 days to stay.
Valerie *********
Valerie *********
@Stuart ********
I’m referring to a 90 day tourist visa.
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
@Valerie ********
In that case the IO has done a miscalculation. A Non O is valid for three months and you should get 90 days at any time within these three months.
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
@Valerie ********
The visa starts from the day it’s issued 90 days, but the stay 60 days starts the day you enter within these 90 days.
Valerie *********
Valerie *********
@Jan *****************
ok a Non O visa maybe different, a tourist visa is not. It starts at the date of issue. 👍🏻
Michael ***********
Michael ***********
@Stuart ********
Incorrect. A single-entry Tourist Visa starts when arriving into Thailand(90 day period before in which to arrive after Visa is issued). Not so w/Multi-Entry Tourist Visa..it begins once approved and issued
10
Paul *******
Paul *******
OP
@Michael **********
mine is a single entry visa .
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Michael **********
You are confusing readers . . . . .

A single entry tourist visa becomes INVALID for further use when you enter Thailand.

You are confusing the 3 months VISA VALIDITY with the STAY PERMIT you receive when entering Thailand on this visa.

A "visa" is used for entering a country. After the entry, you are in Thailand on a "admitted stay" and not on a "visa".

Only on multi-entry visa types, you can enter as many times as you want during the visa validity period.
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Michael **********
A visa is valid from the day it is issued. Depending on what visa you have determines for how long it’s valid for and how many days you would get on entry.

A SETV is valid for 90 days. That means you have 90 days to get to Thailand and use the visa.

Upon arrival (as long as it’s before the expiry date) you will get stamped in for the number of days that visa allows (60 for the tourist visa). That’s called an entry stamp. It’s not a visa. The visa is what you got from the consulate or embassy you applied to.

Using a SETV it’s irrelevant if you enter on day one the visa is valid from or day 90. You’ll get a 60 day stamp.

With a METV that’s valid for 6 months from the day of issue. In theory you could enter in day 180 and get 60 days but the whole idea of a METV over a SETV is the multiple entry part.

Both visas “clocks” start ticking from the moment of issue. One is valid for 90 days to use. The other is valid for 180 days to use.
Kim *********
Kim *********
@Michael **********
only 1 boring here and it's not Stuart
Wayne ********
Wayne ********
@Stuart ********
100% correct Stewart all of the posters that were saying you were incorrect were confusing the validity period Of the Visa versus the number of days your visa allows you to stay in Thailand once you arrive. Correctly said by you normally you have 90 days to use the visa. And that 90 days starts from the date the visa was issued. As you again correctly said. Then once you arrive, you can stay in Thailand for the number of days that your visa allows.
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
Michael A DeWalt Leave then. Nothing to stop you heading off and finding other pages to give out misinformation.
Michael ***********
Michael ***********
@Stuart ********
Whatever dude. You keep contradicting yourself while professing yourself as wise. You are getting downright boring w/your mini-novels as well
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
@Michael **********
That’s not correct. A single entry tourist visa gives you a 60 days stay within 90 days. A multiple entries tourist visa gives you several 60 days stay within 180 days. The validity of the visa itself always starts when it’s issued.
Steve *******
Steve *******
@Michael **********
You're confused!
@Stuart ********
is correct
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Michael **********
the visa validity period starts on the day of issue. The SETV visa is valid for use for 90 days, for only one single entry. You need to enter within the visa validity period. When you enter, you will get stamped in with a 60-days stay permit. And the visa will become invalid on entry
Michael ***********
Michael ***********
@Jan *****************
The original post wasn't speaking of 'validity'. It spoke of when the Visa was issued as the start of the Visa regarding the time frame of use. Thats how I interpreted its meaning anyways. Once the E-Visa is approved for a single-entry TV, you have 90 days to get into Thailand. Upon entry, your stamp will begin THAT day of entry for the 60 days. W/Multi-entry, it begins on the day of the Visa approval NOT when you actually arrive in Thailand. Happy now?

Activity

28 joined
Paul *******
Paul *******
Paul *******
Paul *******
Paul *******
Paul *******
28
people
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
...members60% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
How far in advance should I apply for the METV and when is it valid?
906899d
Can I enter Thailand just days before my E-Visa expires without issues?
3.5k6994mo
How long is my stay allowed with a Non-O visa issued recently in Thailand?
500185mo
What is the last valid day for my O-A visa in Thailand?
2.7k23257mo
Can I travel out of Thailand with a DTV visa without issues, and what happens after the first 6 months?
2.2k20101y
When does the validity of a Non-Immigrant O-A Retirement visa for Thailand start?
913362y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand on a Non-O visa for a retirement extension?
2.5k16292y
Is there a time limit for entering Thailand after receiving my DTV?
3.7k26382y
What should I know about my 90-day visa for Thailand, and why am I confused about its dates and duration?
11.5k921312y
What is the validity period for entering Thailand on a 58-day visa?
1.1k472y
Is there a recent change to the Multi-Entry Tourist Visa for Thailand?
2.3k16202y
How can my wife get a visa while I hold a retirement visa in Thailand?
1.5k5213y
What is a re-entry permit and what are its benefits for expats in Thailand?
2.2k13253y
How does a single entry TR visa stay period work with a re-entry permit in Thailand?
1.9k1773y
When does the 60-day tourist visa start: from issue date or entry date into Thailand?
746353y
How long is my Tourist TR visa valid for and when do I need to enter Thailand?
3.2k30174y
What are the details and conditions of the Single Entry Visa for Thailand?
4.5k36394y
Can I extend my single entry tourist visa for Thailand and how long do I have to stay?
1.8k12144y
When does a tourist visa for Thailand start: upon acceptance or arrival?
1.8k10214y
Does a 1-Year OA Multiple Entry Visa in Thailand Automatically Renew with Re-entry?
1.5k11114y
When does the clock start on the Thailand retirement non-OA visa: at embassy issuance or immigration entry?
2.7k18336y
When does a 60-day Thai tourist visa start: upon arrival or upon issue?
1.2k1017y
When extending my visa in Thailand, does the extension begin from the last day of my current visa or from the date of the new stamp?
3388y
How long does it take to get a retirement visa at the Thai consulate in Los Angeles?
6k56438y
Does a 60-day Thai visa expire 60 days from issuance or entry?
702269y

Resources

Need help with your Thai visa?