How long can I stay in Thailand with a METV visa?

If I have to go back and forth between Malaysia and Thailand every week on an METV then will I be stopped and is there a quota for how many entries I can do with a 6 month METV?

Unfortunately whilst technically longer stays with re entry are possible. The policies are being enforced differently by different IO. So nothing is a certainty.

I have used it for years ,this yea again.

Never had any issue at all .

They can see I come to holiday every year and go home for over 6 months ever year

60 day stamps

After arriving go to your nearest immigration office to inquire about when they will allow you to extend the 60 day stamp, all immigration offices have different timelines

Arrive 60 days, immigration pay ฿1,900 for a 30 day extension get 90 days in country

Border bounce

Arrive get 60 day stamp go to immigration pay ฿1,900 for a 30 day extension get 90 days in country

In the last week of your visa expiration date do a border bounce returning before the expiration date

Get stamped in for 60 days go to immigration pay ฿1,900 for a 30 day extension

You can get nearly 9 months out of the 6 month METV, if you plan correctly

good luck

All in theory upto 6months or more.

2024 and 2025 i had and have METV for 145 days.

On arrival Aug 2025 taken aside 1st time ever in 17 yrs, told 145 days too long, not legal lol.

Almost not let in, told not allowed to do visa run this yr.

Only reason was let in was that was polite and didnot argue the I/O supervisor illogical words.

So theory and life in LOS is 2 diffrent things.TIT.

Dont put Pattaya in tdac. That started the whole being put in a room with senior female I/O.

My usual travel pattern used to be 60 days Thailand, 60 days home country, 3 trips a year.

Obviously, with only six months validity, the third trip couldn’t be done?

Has anyone applied for a second METV after the 6 months was up?….. or would they let you enter on Visa free for a third trip of 60 days?

With Thailand's Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV), you get a 6-month validity from issuance, allowing unlimited entries, with each stay granting up to 60 days, extendable once by 30 days at immigration for a total of around 9 months if strategically used, requiring a border run or re-entry every 60-90 days within the 6-month visa period.

Key Details:

Visa Validity: 6 months from the date it's issued, not when you enter Thailand.

Length of Stay per Entry: Up to 60 days.

Extension: Each 60-day stay can be extended by 30 days at a Thai Immigration office (fee applies), for a total of 90 days per entry period.

Entries: You can enter Thailand multiple times within the 6-month visa validity.

How it Works (Example):

Get METV: Visa issued, valid for 6 months.

Enter Thailand (Day 1): Get a 60-day stamp.

Extend (Optional): Extend for 30 days at Immigration (90 days total).

Exit & Re-enter: Leave Thailand (e.g., by air or land) before your stamp expires and re-enter to get another 60-day stamp.

Repeat: Continue this process until the 6-month visa validity ends.

This strategy allows you to stay in Thailand for roughly 9 months (60 days + 30-day extension) before needing a new visa, as long as you re-enter before the 6-month visa expires.

Almost 9 months, if immigration allows it.

Every time you are granted entry to Thailand during the validity of your visa, you will receive a 60-day entry stamp. Because the visa is valid for 6 months, that means you can leave and return 3 times, getting to almost 9 months.

60 days on entry + 30 day extension. Leave and return

60 days on entry + 30 day extension. Leave just before the visa the embassy sent you expires (will be less than the extension in your passport) and return

60 days on entry + 30 day extension.

If immigration lets you in all 3 times, you'll get almost 9 months. There have been reports of people being interrogated at the airport even with an METV, since it's still a tourist entry and tourists are not meant to spend 9 months continuously in Thailand.