This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Is the new 3-month METV from the Thai Consulate in Milan legitimate?
Thai VisaMETV (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa)SETV (Single Entry Tourist Visa)Visa ValidityThai Consulate MilanVisa Application Requirements
Mar 25, 2018
8 years ago
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERFYI: a friend has just arrived from Italy and she showed me her passport with a brand new METV with 3 months validity from the date of issue (mid March). It costs 30 euro + show a bank statement with minimum 600 euro and that's it. I've never heard and seen a METV like that but it's true, issued at the Thai consulate in Milan and the sticker has also a new graphic and colors. So it seems that the old SETV doesn't exist anymore at least in the Thai Consulate of Milan, replaced by this new 3 months validity METV.
It would be interesting if other Thai Consulates issue this new visa too. Any infos about it?
It would be interesting if other Thai Consulates issue this new visa too. Any infos about it?
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user reported observing a new 3-month Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) issued at the Thai Consulate in Milan, replacing the old Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV). The visa offers multiple entries with a 3-month validity and requires a bank statement showing a minimum of 600 euros, costing 30 euros. Users are discussing its validity, requirements, and whether such a visa type is available at other consulates. Several comments question the legitimacy of this visa, given the lack of official confirmation from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and suggest it may be a mistake.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Thai Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Tod *********
Totally strange and I believe it's totally a one off (or a mistake). There is nothing I can find at the MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) the gov't agency that RUNS all the thai consulates where they even have this visa available. I'd say it's a fluke. BUT let's see if any more surface.
Ron *******
The visa is only valid for 3 months. The 'Multiple' is a mistake.
Joe ***********
My prediction - if an attempt is made to get another 60 days with a border bounce - it will be denied - regardless of how its stamped with the M. The 90 days validity and granting another 60 days will just not compute with the Border I/O... Especially if a 30 day Extension is bought.
Ron *******
If it is a new visa, they have simply lost millions of baht in extension and visa renewal fees. Considering the fact they was whinging about how much visa exempt cost them in lost revenue (7.1 billion baht was the quote) I'm finding it hard to believe they would come out with this visa 😊
Ron *******
Wether that can or can't refuse a visa if it's a mistake, I wouldn't comment on.
Tod *********
@R**
, right, all I'm I'm saying the passport stamping officers at the immigration desks will see it's a TR visa and know that gets a person stamped in for 60 days. They have no discretion on that or the fact the visa has an M. They can't change a visa. That visa is a multi-entry tourist visa that's valid for 90 days.
Ron *******
There screen certainly does show that information Tod. If I fly into any airport other than in Bangkok, and even at times into Don Mueang where they are not familiar with a TE visa, they call up a screen that lists visas and how long each visa needs to be stamped in for.
Tod *********
@Ron ******
, Their screen doesn't show any of that. All it shows is they entered on a tourist visa on xyz date. Visas are issued by the MFA and it's certainly a real visa, Now because it's a tourist visa it gets the holder stamped in for 60 days, and because it's a multi-entry it gets them stamped in every entry for 60 days for as long as the visa is valid.
The immigration officer stamping them in has no discretion as far as how many entries to give etc. They either let them in on the visa or they don't, but if they do let them in they'd have to stamp them for 60 days, AND have to honor the M in the of the entries..
Ron *******
I personally think it would be picked up on if you tried to use it as multiple. I think it would show when they look at there screens to check the type of visa and how long they should be stamping you in for.
Tod *********
It might be a mistake from the consulate BUT it is a valid multi-entry tourist visa valid for 90 days.
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI just read somewhere else that the graphic and colors of the sticker for all kind of visas changed few months ago. But the point of my post is still there: the issue of a METV with 3 months validity at the same cost and requirements of a SETV.
Tod *********
I stand humbly corrected :O You are correct (y)
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERPlease pay more attention on the sticker. It's totally new for graphic and colors and there's no more the price written on it. It really looks something new. BTW: there's no sign at all of the word "USED" on the sticker either with a stamp or with a pen by hand.
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERSo did also the IO in Suvarnabhumi airport make a mistake not stamping "USED" on the visa sticker? My friend could now extend this visa in May and then go out and re-enter before June 18 and get 60 more days extendable for 30 more. So in total with this visa she could stay up to mid September (6 months) and it costed only 30 euro + showing a bank statement of a minimum 600 euro. I don't declare anything else, that's why I posted here the pics in order to know if somebody has any knowledge of this kind of visa. Maybe in the near future we'll see an official statement about it from the MFA and/or Thai Immigration.
Tony *********
They don't always stamp USED on the visa.
Sometimes just a pen mark by hand
Sometimes just a pen mark by hand
Reply to
Tony *********
Reply
David **********
Rather than declare this a new type of visa, without any other proof, it seems to be a mistake either in the date, or in the single/multiple part.
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERand pic of the stamp she got from the IO at BKK airport
Johnsuma ******
is it an April fish ?
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERNot at all, I'll take a pic of the sticker and post it asap.
Reply to
Enri **********
Reply
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERAs I already written, it was a big surprise for me too and that's why I asked my friend to show me her passport. Then i saw the sticker and it confirmed what she told me earlier. Anyway I'll try later to go to her place and take the pic of the sticker.
Tod *********
sure hope it's not a TRANSIT visa :O
Transit visas only gets you stamped into the country for 30 days max, are valid 90 days and are sold as a single or multiple entry. :O :/
Transit visas only gets you stamped into the country for 30 days max, are valid 90 days and are sold as a single or multiple entry. :O :/
@En**
, did your friend get stamped in for 60 or 30 days?Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERShe got stamped 60 days and without the "USED" stamp on the sticker because it's a METV and not a SETV.
Reply to
Enri **********
Reply
Joe ***********
Without a clear photo of the sticker in the passport it is just not believable because every introduction of a new visa there has been an introductory news release and there is nothing on this.
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERYes u right, this is what i knew until yesterday before seeing the sticker. I'll take a pic and post it asap.
Reply to
Enri **********
Reply
Tod *********
Please post a picture because since Nov 13 2015 the MFA went to either 3 month SETV <- single entry tourist visa or a 6 month METV.
Jeremy ********
Interesting
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI'll post the pic of this visa asap, but I just want to remind that Im talking of a new METV with just 3 months validity and with the same cost and requirements of a SETV.
BTW: my friend will be back to Italy beginning of May and she applied for a normal SETV but she got this new METV. She also was very surprised as she comes to Thailand every year since the '90s.
BTW: my friend will be back to Italy beginning of May and she applied for a normal SETV but she got this new METV. She also was very surprised as she comes to Thailand every year since the '90s.
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERAs far as i know before today the stickers of a SETV and a METV are exactly the same for graphic and colors. Just the dates and the letters S or M change.
Paul *********
From my personal experience with a METV issued in England when stamped into Thailand they marked 1,2,3 with date stamp beside each entry, and on the 3rd entry marked the visa as USED.
Those visas where valid for 180 days from issue.
Those visas where valid for 180 days from issue.
Steve *******
@Pa**
The METV has only been avaliable since November 2015, you would have had double or triple entry TVs before that. Not the same visa you can get nowPaul *********
@Peter ******
was a few years ago since I used a multiple entry tourist visa so I could have it wrong with what’s available today.Peter ***************
Tod Daniels That was my experience with non-immigrant visas, but apparently Paul Gibbons is having a different experience with the METV – unless he had triple entry visas and is mixing them with multiple.
Tod *********
@Peter ******
It is a MULTI entry meaning you can come in and otu all you want during the validity of the visa (6 months) and get stamped in for 60 days each time.Steve *******
@Peter ******
They used to mark each entry with the old double and triple entry visasPeter ***************
Strange. It's not really multiple entry then, just triple entry.
Reply to
Peter ***************
Reply
Stan **********
As Peter says they may have run out of SETV stickers . To get a METV in the UK , you need to show proof of £5000 in your account for 6 months.
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI saw the sticker, it's clearly written Multiple and she was stamped 2 months by the IO in Suvarnabhumi airport and there's no stamp "USED" on the sticker. Once again even graphic and colors of the sticker are completely new.
Peter ***************
Sounds like a mistake, but it could make sense - in other words they would issue only one kind of tourist visa but alter the duration. Maybe they had run out of the SETV stickers.
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERYes we know that since more than 2 years. Im talking now about a new METV with 3 months validity which it allows to stay up to 6 months if used properly. Its cost and requirements are the same of a SETV.
Paul *********
METV are normally only issued in your home nation. And good for 3 entries.
And if used correctly you can get nearly 9 months out of it.
And if used correctly you can get nearly 9 months out of it.
Steve *******
Paul Gibbons METVs are good for not only 3 but multiple entries, hence the name
Peter ***************
You can go out and in as often as you like with METV, but people usually do 3 entries, the last being just before the visa expires.
Reply to
Peter ***************
Reply
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERIt was a big surprise for me too, that's why i asked her to show me her passport. Anyway I'll ask to take a pic of the sticker asap and I'll post it.
Marco *********
If it is true, it sounds very interesting. Hope you post a photo of this visa as soon as you can
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERWith that visa she can do in/out until mid June and if she'll enter just before the last day of validity she will get other 2 months stay permit extendable of 30 days. So in total she can stay until mid September (6 months).
Enri **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI saw the sticker and it's clearly written TR and Multiple in their related sections. Even the graphic and colors are different from the usual ones. I'll ask my friend to take a pic of the visa and I'll post it asap.
Marco *********
It should be helpfull if you can post a photo of this visa, it sounds strange, even because 30 euros is the cost of Single Entry Tourist Visa that has validity of 90 days (you have 90 days to enter the Country from the day you apply your visa, but when you enter you receive a 60 day stamp) in Italy, while the Multi Entry one costs 150 euros and have a validity of 6 months.
Reply to
Marco *********
Reply
15 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
2 years ago
7 comments
2 years ago
16 comments
2 years ago
7 comments
2 years ago
14 comments
3 years ago
6 comments
3 years ago
20 comments
3 years ago
27 comments
3 years ago
7 comments
3 years ago
8 comments
4 years ago
2 comments
5 years ago
2 comments
6 years ago
9 comments
7 years ago
19 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
10 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
13 comments
8 years ago
18 comments
8 years ago
49 comments
9 years ago
10 comments
9 years ago
51 comments
9 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.