Answered2 years ago
How quickly can UK citizens obtain a 60-day tourist e-visa for Thailand and what are the differences between this and visa exemption?
For those no wishing to wait for 60 days visa exempt to begin, my 60 day visa application (via London) was approved in 1 day.
Answer summary
A user shared their experience of obtaining a 60-day tourist visa for Thailand through an online application, which was approved in just one day. The discussion revealed various insights regarding the application process for UK citizens, clarification between e-visas and visa exemptions, and the common processing time for different types of visas. The community provided advice on the cost and necessary documentation for applying, while there was also speculative discussion on the potential implementation of a 60-day visa exemption starting July 1.
71 repliesnewest first
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John *********
You can apply for it, but you can not use it until it is posted in the Thai national gazette which should be soon, if you travel before it’s 30days
William ******
Exactly
Michael ***********
Did u need R/T ticket to apply for the METV visa?
Graham ******
@Michael **********
different Embassies/Consulates have different requirements, where is your country of residence?Michael ***********
@Graham *****
U SJohn ********
@Graham *****
Would I be right in assuming your from the UK and if so do you know if you have to provide evidence of a return ticket when you apply for a METV from London? If you want to utilise a METV to the best, ie., nine months, a return ticket, unless you buy one that gives you the option of date change, you gonna lose a fair bit of money. In times gone buy, I used to buy one year open returns, but sadly no airlines offer this anymore.John ********
@Graham *****
So any proof that you've got to say exiting before on on day sixty.Graham ******
@John *******
I did not say return, I said exit ThailandJohn ********
@Graham *****
Don't understand, if you have a METV., that gives you that you can get a thirty day extension on your first entry into the country, so if you've got to buy a sixty day return ticket to get an METV., that means, if you utilise the visa to its maximum then the return part of your airticket is useless unless you return to your own country after the first 60 days of your visa.Graham ******
@John *******
RTE London requires 3 tickets, UK to Thailand, exit Thailand within 60 days then a re-entry to Thailand to justify a METVJohn ********
The difference is, visa exempts are free. Visas applied for you have to pay for.
Tom *********
@John *******
If you can't afford the cost of the visa and need to save such a small amount you might need to rethink your trip.John ********
@Tom ********
Rethink my trip? What makes you think I'm referring to myself? Did I say I can't afford a visa? Thailand's full of farangs who think there experts on anything & everything. When I'm in Thailand the last thing I'd be doing is being a keyboard warrior on FB. Better things to do than spend my time on here, when I'm there.
Jade *******
Anyone in the USA done this yet?? 👀
Mike ********
@Jade ******
I've done it quiet a few times and usually got approved within 3 day's Once I was disapproved cause my middle name wasn't completely spelled out only my intal went through so make sure you have your full middle name spelled out. I had to redo and pay again $40.
Bob ********
@Jade ******
I did with an e-visa and it took about 48 hours to hit my inbox out of the LA office (that was a few months ago)Jade *******
@Bob *******
and how long of a visa? Is there a benefit to this over visa in arrival?Jade *******
@Bob *******
I understand, thanks for info!Bob ********
@Jade ******
its a 60 day when you do an E, that might change since its looking like the 30 day might change to a 60 (it hasnt happened yet). You dont get a visa on arrival you get 30 days stay with no visa required and you can extend once there. I had a 34 day stay booked but I didnt want to bother with spending an afternoon in immigration so I did it on line in advance, was super easy. Just presented the print out of it when I arrived and got a 60 day stamp.
Tim ***********
My online 60 day visa took 3 weeks to get approved
Lisa ***************************
That’s different to what they are saying will be 60 day visa exempt .. ours was approved quickly too last year but completely different to visa exempt
Sean *********
Yes, I found the website and plan on going that route myself. Washington DC Embassy is over my geographical area.
Terary **********
@Sean ********
I am in the process of applying for my METV from Washington DC. Normally it's painless, less than 2 weeks... This time they're asking for me to submit and resubmit various documents. I recommend you allow at least 3 weeks.
Andrew **********
Party time
Josephine-Charlotte *************
If UK nationality lives outside UK. Can UK passport holder apply this e-visa? I wonder since it's online
Carlo *******
Is the the 6-month multiple entry tourist visa that in effect means you can stay for 8 month as long as you leave and return every 60 days?
Kevin ******
I think many ppl are misinterpreting the OP’s comment. He is saying he got his 60 day tourist visa in one day. He’s not saying that he has a 60 day visa exemption. No one will apply for that as the 60 day visa exemption will be stamped into one’s passport upon arrival at an international airport in Thailand.
Henrik *****
If that ever happends
Colin *********************
I have just done the same as didn’t want the uncertainty of whether the 60 days will kick in before July 1st. Approved in just over a day from UK.
Gordon *******
Very quick, mine took 6 days a month ago
Ed ********
When will the 60 day visa exempt start
Henrik *****
Never.
Henrik *****
A 1300 Baht 60 days visa excempt applyed for online in the country you have residency, is the the only difference..
So no idea in making a trip to Thailand depend of changing of the rules.
So no idea in making a trip to Thailand depend of changing of the rules.
Ed ********
@Henrik ****
Is it not coming now???Kevin ******
@Ayoub ********
yeah July 1 seems unlikely now. We just have to wait.
Ayoub *********
@Kevin *****
the immigration man told me yesterday that it’s in effect from the 1st of July he even told me to wait until then and go for a border run then come back and I’ll get 60 days and not 30 daysKevin ******
@Ed *******
yes exactlyEd ********
@Kevin *****
as long as it happens will be goodKevin ******
@Ed *******
yeah a bit of a waiting game. I have heard July 1, but that is just around the corner. I have also heard September. Though these local sources are more in the know than me, it’s still speculation I think.Ed ********
@Kevin *****
thanks so its possible, to never come at all.Kevin ******
@Ed *******
we think so but nothing is official until we see it in The Royal Gazette.Graham ******
@Ed *******
Nobody knowsEd ********
@Graham *****
thankyou
Peter *********
My 6month tourist visa was approved in 3 days
Ian ********
@Peter ********
mine too
Tin **********
How much ka
Matteo ***********
What has this anything to do with VISA exemption, e-visa TR has always been 60 days
Steve *******
@Matteo **********
The OP is merely pointing out that for UK Citizens the 60 days Tourist evisa is usually issued within 1-2 days rather than waiting for the 60 days visa exempt to be implemented
Aake **********
Of course it is 60 days if you apply for a tourist visa, nothing new it should not be confused with visa exemtion
Ricky ******
OP@Aake *********
Yes, nothing new, but maybe of interest to those visiting Thailand for the first time who don't want to waste time and effort queuing at immigration for extensions after 30 days.
Mark *********
@Ricky *****
so if I have the e-visa for 60 days am I still able to got to immigration for a 30 day extension?Ricky ******
OP@Mark ********
YesHenrik *****
No queuing when applying online for a 60 day touristvisa, then no need to go to Immigration for a extension.
Aake **********
@Ricky *****
You should not underestimate your fellow human beings, most people can actually read and understand written text
Iain ******
Christopher ********
Most are e-visas and only online. Typically it's always within 24 hours. 😊
Henrik *****
It also depend on when you apply, if you apply 3 month before departure, you will wait at least 2 ½ month for the visa, since many embassies process the application by the departure date.
Neil ****
@Henrik ****
applied online last year Approved within the weekHenrik *****
But you how long time before departure, did you apply.
That’s a very important criterion.
That’s a very important criterion.
Christopher ********
I do the metv twice a year every year and the rule is to apply within 90 days of departure. I always get it within 24 hours.
James *********
Brandon ************
@Christopher *******
that's not true at all. It's completely dependant on which embassy or consulate you are using. London is known as one of the fastest, but there are some that are known to take at least a month or 2-3 months to process even a tourist visa application.Ricky ******
OP@Brandon ***********
Exactly. Very good point.
Phill *****
Did you goto thai embassy for this? Or apply online?
Steve *******
@Phill ****
You can only apply online in the UKRicky ******
OP@Phill ****
Online E Visa. £30 fee. Haven't booked a return/onward flight. I have had the same visas before in recent years, so maybe that makes it a bit quicker, but it's always been within a week to approve.Graham ******
@Phill ****
It's only eVisa now ****************************
Josephine-Charlotte *************
@Graham *****
Graham Seal If UK nationality lives outside UK. Can UK passport holder apply this e-visa? I wonder since it's onlineGraham ******
@Josephine-Charlotte ************
Go to the website and answer the questions honestly and it will tell you how to peoceedPhill *****
@Graham *****
ahh okay...then can I get an 30 day extension to add onto the 2 month?Ricky ******
OP@Phill ****
In Thailand, yes.Activity
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