How long can I wait to use my approved visa for Thailand?

Thai visa validity visa approval timeline NON-O visa METV OA visa immigration rules Thailand

Sep 22, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Once a visa has been approved, how long can I wait to use it?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Once a visa is approved, most visas are valid for 90 days from the date of issue, and you must enter Thailand before this date. However, there are exceptions, like the METV, which is valid for 6 months, and the OA visa, valid for one year. Applying too early for these longer-duration visas may waste allowable time on your visa.

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Otto *********

You can use it by entering Thailand until the last date of the visas validity.

2 years ago

Paul ********

???? Date on Visa, Just Saying

2 years ago

Stuart *********

As Brandon says most are valid for 90 days. No issue applying early for one of those to “check it off the list”. As long as you enter by the valid until date you’d be stamped in for the number of days that visa allows.

However you wouldn’t want to apply too early for something like the METV (valid for 6 months) or OA (valid for one year) because you’d be wasting days from the time it’s issued. Timing border bounces right with those two visas you can get nearly 9 months or two years respectively.

2 years ago

Curtis *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

what are the requirements for a METV visa?

2 years ago

Stuart *********

@Curt's *****

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2 years ago

Curtis *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

if I go the simpler route an get a SETV, then later decide to visit a neighboring country, it’s possible to get approval to leave and renter anyway isn’t it?

2 years ago

Stuart *********

@Curt's *****

Do you mean within the validity of your existing entry date (from the SETV) or when you’re nearing the end of the allowed to stay date?

2 years ago

Curtis *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

I mean in the middle of the 60 days.

2 years ago

Stuart *********

@Curt's *****

I believe it may be possible to apply for a reentry permit on a tourist visa, but it’s going to cost you 1,000 baht and all that would do is keep the initial 60 day entry stamp “alive”. Considering that if you left and returned you’d get a visa exempt entry for 45 days for free it would seem pointless.

2 years ago

Curtis *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

right. Got ya

2 years ago

Stuart *********

Not cheap. I believe around £150

2 years ago

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Stuart *********

Brandon ************