How does the six-month tourist visa work for entering and leaving Thailand every sixty days?

Jun 17, 2024
5 months ago
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello all…. I’m about to apply for a six month tourist visa in the UK. As it is necessary to leave the country every sixty days, does this mean that if I left the country and returned just before it expired, that I would be stamped in for another sixty days…..? (Essentially giving me eight months).Also, if the visa isn’t issued until after I have arrived in Thailand, would I just need to leave the country and return again I order to activate the visa….? Thanks in advance….
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires about the mechanics of the six-month tourist visa (METV) in Thailand, specifically regarding exiting and re-entering the country to extend their stay. Responses confirm that upon leaving and returning before the visa expires, one can receive another sixty-day stamp. The discussion also clarifies the importance of obtaining the METV prior to arrival in Thailand and providing evidence of onward travel, which is crucial for visa approval. Overall, the interaction emphasizes understanding the visa application process and regulations for extending stays in Thailand.
James ********
@Tod ********
posted this... and it's important to follow his Advice..

ATTN; MEMBERS

6 Month METV <- Multi-Entry Tourist Visa

I think we <-(as in you people applying for the METV) are confusing a few things.

First off NO thai consulate in S/E Asia will sell the METV to anyone who doesn't have legal residence in that country <- as in you live legally in that country where you're applying for the METV. This means most tourists cannot get an METV in Asia, period end of story. You get the 6 month METV from the thai consulate in your country BEFORE you wing your way here :)

Now as far as the onward travel recommendation;

There is APPLYING for the 6 month METV visa at a thai consulate in your country <- it's at this point where we recommend you show onward travel (out and back) within 60 days of your planned arrival.

This is ONLY to get the visa issued because of this warning they have on the eVisa website.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀 . 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿.

Then there is USING the visa once it's issued. Now once you get the visa issued there is NOTHING making you use that onward travel you showed to get the visa approved.

Once you have the PDF issued or the visa sticker stuck in you can show up here, get the 60 days, take the 30 day extension if you want and you are free to bounce out and back by any means you want to.

We tell people to show onward travel within the number of days you will stamp IN to thailand on that visa because in the consulate's eyes there is no guarantee you will get the 30 day extension,

AND

to show you have a "genuine reason" for them to issue the visa.

Whether you do it or not, is up to you,

BUT

we are done letting posts on the group by people asking what to do, what worked for them, etc about the METV and onward travel. :( :/

MEET the requirements and you will get the visa, don't meet them, especially in the eVisa situation - don't show them you have a 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 for the METV and you could end up with a single entry tourist visa. They clearly state you lose the difference in fee (200USD for METV and 40USD for a single entry so you'd lose 160USD)

One final thing to keep in mind is a 6 month METV starts running down the 6 months the date it's issued NOT the date you enter thailand on that visa :O SO get that visa as close to when you're coming here as you can or you lose time on it not being here

Good luck to each and every one of you applying for the METV
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
Thanks for posting this….
James ********
Yes and Yes...

And if you have already entered Thailand and you receive the email with the approved Evisa in it for the METV multiple entry tourist visa . simply leave Thailand and reenter... show the Evisa to the Thai Immigration Officer who greets you on arrival... make sure 60 days STAMP is placed in your passport.

Print out several copies of the Evisa email.

Please use the search 🔎 tool top of this forum page...

ENTER ... METV

CLICK on it and all posts about getting the METV multiple entry tourist visa will pop up to read the posts about it.
Steve *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
Thanks again James… Greatly appreciated…!
James ********
James ********
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