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Does a Thai E-VISA validity start from the issue date or the entry date?
Aug 14, 2025
9 months ago
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI’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.
TLDR : 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.
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Holger **************
Mein
Holger **************
I got my 5 year Visa 2 weeks ago ...start August 5
End August 4 2030
End August 4 2030
Holger **************
Yes you have...IT Starts at the day issued
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 *********
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 ********
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.
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 ***************
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 *******
there seems to be different answers.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 ********
@Nongnuch *******
🙏 thank youReply to
Ralph ********
Reply
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.Reply to
Ralph ********
Reply
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.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Ann *****
From the date of issue
Mike **********
Yes 👍
Sabri ***************
I also received my DTV visa yesterday!
Wayne ********
Yes
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 *****
@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 ***********
@Pui ****
I'm not on a tourist visa I said same Info with date of issue . I said Our visaPui *****
@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 *******
@Pui ****
saying "our visa" relates to the visa the person writing the post has.Jacquie ***********
@Pui ****
I have the o visaReply to
Jacquie ***********
Reply
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 *******
@Lynnette ******
Thank you for a non-loquacious and fully accurate comment. 🤣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 *******
@Nongnuch *******
which is what I said. The permitted stay . . relevant to the visa they applied for.Reply to
Lynnette *******
Reply
Kevin ******
@Lynnette ******
exactly. Short and concise.Reply to
Kevin ******
Reply
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 *****
No u. R right
Graham ******
@John ****
The Visa is valid from the date of issue, the permitted period of stay starts on entry to Thailand during the Visa validityReply to
Graham ******
Reply
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 *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jay ******
I got an E-visa , thanks for clearing that up.Brandon ************
@Paul ******
evisa is NOT visa type. You're just saying "I got a visa" and not saying which visa. Evisa is irrelevantPaul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
it’s a Thia E-visa, tourist TR, single entry .Jay *******
@Paul ******
like everyone has said, 90 days to enter and 60 days to stay. Your goodReply to
Jay *******
Reply
Erez **********
@Jay ******
exactly!Reply to
Erez **********
Reply
Stuart *********
Yes. All visas start from the date issued.
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 *********
@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.
Valerie *********
@Stuart ********
I’m referring to a 90 day tourist visa.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.
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.
Jan ******************
@Nongnuch *******
I guess she’s left the building.😉Nongnuch ********
@Jan *****************
yes she didStuart *********
@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.Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
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.Valerie *********
@Jan *****************
ok a Non O visa maybe different, a tourist visa is not. It starts at the date of issue. 👍🏻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.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
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 issuedPaul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Michael **********
mine is a single entry visa .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 *********
@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.
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.Michael ***********
@Stuart ********
Whatever dude. You keep contradicting yourself while professing yourself as wise. You are getting downright boring w/your mini-novels as wellKim *********
@Michael **********
only 1 boring here and it's not StuartStuart *********
Michael A DeWalt Leave then. Nothing to stop you heading off and finding other pages to give out misinformation.
Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
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.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?Steve *******
@Michael **********
You're confused! @Stuart ********
is correctNongnuch ********
@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 entryReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
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