Might seem like a silly question, but wanted to ask anyway. While the DTV is the prime choice for long terms stays, can a METV visa be suitable for someone who plans to live in Thailand about 3 weeks out of the month, and return the following month? I know its validity is for 60 days and can be extended to an additional 30 days. Would someone have difficulty entering Thailand frequently?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The METV (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa) can allow stays in Thailand for 60 days at a time, extendable by 30 days, but it is not an ideal solution for frequent long-term living as it is only valid for 6 months and re-entry may raise suspicions with immigration authorities. While some travelers have reported being able to use the METV for extended periods through careful planning, it is generally advisable for a more stable long-term stay to consider other visa options like the DTV for digital nomads, retirement visas for those over 50, or marriage visas if applicable.
Im currently on METV, have left and re entered 7 times.in the last 7 months with no problems. Each time you enter Thailand you will get 60(+30) during the validity of the visa.
I think that idea will start to look suspicious on your 3rd or certainly 4th attempt. Also, the METV is only valid for 6 months so you won’t be able to try that year round. After it expires you will need to find another entry method and they’re going to question why you keep coming back every month after already having an METV.
Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong. But I have read many times on different FB groups before that immigration starts to frown on people coming back in 3 or more times even though it technically is a “multiple” entry visa. It seems they usually do let you in a 3rd time but it often comes with a warning. Don’t know of any cases where people have used it to come in 4,5,6…..+ times
Just for the record I am currently on an METV and I did two 60 + 30 day stays with no problems whatsoever. So it does seem to be a very good option for a 6 month stay. I’m going back to my country soon where I do plan to stay 6 months or longer and then hopefully come back next winter on another METV and do the same thing.
that will only work for 6-9 months. and then the visa will end. what is your plan afterwards? you cannot get METV after METV after METV… if you want to stay longterm then the DTV is indeed the best option going forward… ED also works for a few years… LTR is very difficult to get. Elite is a ripoff… so you may marry your thai gf before your options run out 😜
The DTV is not the prime choice for long term stays, the DTV is designed for digital nomads who want to work remotely from Thailand or for those that wish to pursue a soft power activity such as Muay Thai or Thai Cooking, it gets you stamped in for 180 days per entry. The METV is a 6 month multiple entry tourist visa that gets you stamped in for 60 days per entry, but you're not going to be able to use back to back METVs to spend the majority of your time in Thailand. Given you will to all intents and purposes be living in Thailand then I'd suggest you look for the correct visa to do so, if over 50 a retirement visa, if married to a Thai a marriage visa, if neither applies look at the Thai Privilege visa. If you have another purpose of being in Thailand, say for work, then you need a visa that allows you to hold a work permit
You can. I am currently on an METV. I did two 60 + 30 stays with a one week break in between. Heading back to my country soon. So I won’t be able to test that 9 month theory.
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