Answered4 months ago

What are the chances of getting approved for another METV after spending significant time in Thailand?

METV Tourist Visa Visa History Immigration Policy Thailand Entry Requirements Visa Approval Process

Richard *******

asked Jul 7, 2026

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Australian passport holder 65 years.

Having entered Thailand with a METV, I had used this Visa to enter Thailand 4 times in the last six months, two entries from Australia and two from the Philippines, approximately 58 in Thailand, minus exiting to visit Philippines for two weeks at a time twice.

No overstays, no border runs, no extensions.

On one entry the IO said I had spent more time in Thailand than my own country and should get a proper Visa, other 3 entries nothing was said.

My question is,

if I apply for a further METV. What are the chances that it would be approved, and could I be denied entry even though I have this visa approval?

Answer summary

An Australian passport holder shares their experience of frequently entering Thailand on a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) and questions the likelihood of obtaining another METV after staying almost 9 months in Thailand over the past year. Responses in the community emphasize that while it is theoretically possible to get approved for another METV, immigration officers may scrutinize past visa usage and deny entry if the applicant has spent excessive time in Thailand, potentially interpreting it as abuse of the tourist visa system. The final decision rests with the consulate for the visa application and the immigration officer upon entry.

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Greg ***********

while you theoretically could press almost 9 months out of a METV, it is only theoretically possible. An Immigration officer at the border would be looking at your total stay history, and if you spent more than 180 days in Thailand during the recent one-year period, he can deny entry. If he only pulls you aside for a last warning, you can call yourself lucky. So while theoretically you can get a METV every year, you are supposed to have been absent a minimum of 180 days OUTSIDE of Thailand after the most recent METV stay. Every extra day after the 180-days count can be interpreted as "abuse of the tourist visa system"

4 months ago

Richard ********

Greg Alexander Drivel.

"If you spent more than 180 days in Thailand during the recent one-year period, he can deny entry."

An IO can deny entry for many reasons, 180 days is not a rule it may be an unofficial guideline.

"You are supposed to have been absent a minimum of 180 days outside Thailand after the most recent METV stay."

Absolute nonsense.

"Every extra day after the 180-days count can be interpreted as abuse."

That's just your authoritarian opinion.

4 months ago

Greg ***********

Richard Parker in Facebook Visa Advice groups there have been a few reports of people who were on a METV who have been WARNED at the borders when that tried to enter a last time for another 60 days stay permit, shortly before the expiry of their METV, that anything over 180 days within a 12-months period would not be tolerated. Maybe you have missed those reports. The OP has just delivered another REPORT of the NEW scrutinity and approach of Immigration towards "abuse of touristic stays"

4 months ago

Greg ***********

Richard Parker I never said that the 180-days count is an official rule. An Immigration officer can arrive at an individual decision to deny entry when he checks your travel history and finds that you have been staying on "touristic entries" longer than 180 days within a rolling one-year period. I said he CAN, I never said this is an official rule or that the officer definitely WILL do that. However if he thinks that you are misusing the "tourist visa system" for a Longstay in Thailand, he can decide what he thinks to be the proper answer. And maybe you have missed something that was reported in the last few months from people who used the METV. The OP has just delivered another REPORT of the NEW scrutinity and approach of Immigration towards "abuse of touristic stays" . . .it doesn't matter if you have a tourist visa or have been entering visa-exempt: after a certain amount of touristic stay days, in the eyes of some Immigration officers, your personal limit is up. There is no guarantee even if you still hold a valid visa

4 months ago

John **********

Whether or not you get another METV will be up to the consulate you apply through, which depends on your location. That's completely independent of whether or not you will be allowed to enter Thailand, a visa only determines how long you will be allowed to enter for, if you are allowed to enter. The immigration officer you will stand in front of will look at your history over the last 12 to 18 months and if that shows you have spent approaching 150 days in Thailand during that period you are likely to at least be questioned, perhaps even denied entry.

4 months ago

Ant ***********

@John *********

This is the Answer !! ⬆️

4 months ago

Lee *********

Hello Richard! I have METV as well and entered Thailand 3 times, immigration officer advised me to follow my husband NON-O retirement, next time I enter Thailand again he said it will be

*****

chance

4 months ago