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How quickly can UK citizens obtain a 60-day tourist e-visa for Thailand and what are the differences between this and visa exemption?

60-day tourist visaE-visaVisa exemptionThailand visa rulesUK citizens visa processVisa application processThai embassy/consulateVisa timelinesImmigration updates
Jun 26, 2024
5 months ago
Ricky ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
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.
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TLDR : 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.
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
5 months ago
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William ******
Exactly
5 months ago
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Michael ***********
Did u need R/T ticket to apply for the METV visa?
5 months ago
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Graham ******
@Michael **********
 different Embassies/Consulates have different requirements, where is your country of residence?
5 months ago
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Michael ***********
@Graham *****
 U S
5 months ago
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John ********
@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.
5 months ago
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Graham ******
@John *******
 RTE London requires 3 tickets, UK to Thailand, exit Thailand within 60 days then a re-entry to Thailand to justify a METV
5 months ago
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John ********
@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.
5 months ago
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Graham ******
@John *******
 I did not say return, I said exit Thailand
5 months ago
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John ********
@Graham *****
 So any proof that you've got to say exiting before on on day sixty.
5 months ago
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John ********
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John ********
The difference is, visa exempts are free. Visas applied for you have to pay for.
5 months ago
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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.
5 months ago
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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.
5 months ago
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John ********
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Jade *******
Anyone in the USA done this yet?? 👀
5 months ago
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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.
5 months ago
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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)
5 months ago
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Jade *******
@Bob *******
 and how long of a visa? Is there a benefit to this over visa in arrival?
5 months ago
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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.
5 months ago
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Jade *******
@Bob *******
 I understand, thanks for info!
5 months ago
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Jade *******
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Tim ***********
My online 60 day visa took 3 weeks to get approved
5 months ago
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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
5 months ago
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Sean *********
Yes, I found the website and plan on going that route myself. Washington DC Embassy is over my geographical area.
5 months ago
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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.
5 months ago
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Terary **********
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Andrew **********
Party time
5 months ago
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Josephine-Charlotte *************
If UK nationality lives outside UK. Can UK passport holder apply this e-visa? I wonder since it's online
5 months ago
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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?
5 months ago
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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.
5 months ago
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Henrik *****
If that ever happends
5 months ago
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Henrik *****
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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.
5 months ago
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Gordon *******
Very quick, mine took 6 days a month ago
5 months ago
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Ed ********
When will the 60 day visa exempt start
5 months ago
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Henrik *****
Never.
5 months ago
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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.
5 months ago
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Ed ********
@Henrik ****
 Is it not coming now???
5 months ago
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Kevin ******
@Ed *******
 we think so but nothing is official until we see it in The Royal Gazette.
5 months ago
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Ed ********
@Kevin *****
 thanks so its possible, to never come at all.
5 months ago
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Kevin ******
@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.
5 months ago
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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 days
5 months ago
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Kevin ******
@Ayoub ********
 yeah July 1 seems unlikely now. We just have to wait.
5 months ago
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Ed ********
@Kevin *****
 as long as it happens will be good
5 months ago
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Kevin ******
@Ed *******
 yes exactly
5 months ago
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Kevin ******
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Graham ******
@Ed *******
 Nobody knows
5 months ago
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Ed ********
@Graham *****
 thankyou
5 months ago
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Ed ********
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Peter *********
My 6month tourist visa was approved in 3 days
5 months ago
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Ian ********
@Peter ********
 mine too
5 months ago
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Ian ********
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Tin **********
How much ka
5 months ago
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Matteo ***********
What has this anything to do with VISA exemption, e-visa TR has always been 60 days
5 months ago
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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
5 months ago
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Steve *******
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Aake **********
Of course it is 60 days if you apply for a tourist visa, nothing new it should not be confused with visa exemtion
5 months ago
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Ricky ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@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.
5 months ago
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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?
5 months ago
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Ricky ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ********
 Yes
5 months ago
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Ricky ******
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Henrik *****
No queuing when applying online for a 60 day touristvisa, then no need to go to Immigration for a extension.
5 months ago
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Aake **********
@Ricky *****
 You should not underestimate your fellow human beings, most people can actually read and understand written text
5 months ago
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Iain ******
@Aake *********
5 months ago
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Iain ******
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Christopher ********
Most are e-visas and only online. Typically it's always within 24 hours. 😊
5 months ago
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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.
5 months ago
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Neil ****
@Henrik ****
 applied online last year Approved within the week
5 months ago
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Henrik *****
But you how long time before departure, did you apply.

That’s a very important criterion.
5 months ago
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Henrik *****
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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.
5 months ago
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James *********
@Christopher *******
5 months ago
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James *********
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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.
5 months ago
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Ricky ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Exactly. Very good point.
5 months ago
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Ricky ******
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Phill *****
Did you goto thai embassy for this? Or apply online?
5 months ago
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Steve *******
@Phill ****
 You can only apply online in the UK
5 months ago
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Ricky ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@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.
5 months ago
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Graham ******
@Phill ****
 It's only eVisa now
****************************
5 months ago
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Josephine-Charlotte *************
@Graham *****
Graham Seal If UK nationality lives outside UK. Can UK passport holder apply this e-visa? I wonder since it's online
5 months ago
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Graham ******
@Josephine-Charlotte ************
 Go to the website and answer the questions honestly and it will tell you how to peoceed
5 months ago
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Graham ******
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Phill *****
@Graham *****
 ahh okay...then can I get an 30 day extension to add onto the 2 month?
5 months ago
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Ricky ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phill ****
 In Thailand, yes.
5 months ago
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Ricky ******
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