What are the differences and advantages of the 60-day Tourist Visa versus the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) for staying in Thailand?

Thailand Visa METV SETV Tourist Visa Visa Extension Border Bounce Visa Rules

March 5, 2018

7 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

60 day tourist vs. METV? Trying to work out best option to maximise longest time in Thailand. I can't figure out the point of METV if you still need to extend after 60 days for additional 30, and then border bounce/fly to Thai consulate elsewhere. They seem so similar. Yet METV is £125 and SETV is £25. Help please, what am I missing? Thank you.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around the comparison between the 60-day Tourist Visa (SETV) and the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) in terms of maximizing time spent in Thailand. While the SETV costs £25 and allows a 60-day stay with a possible 30-day extension, the METV costs £125, offers 6 months of validity, and permits multiple 60-day entries through border runs, effectively allowing for nearly 9 months of stay. Comments clarify what a 'border bounce' entails and how it differs from obtaining a new visa, underlining the advantages of the METV for travelers looking to extend their stay without frequent trips to a consulate.

Tito *********

Is there still a country in Asia where you can get the tourist multi entry visa without being a resident in that country?

6 years ago

Tito *********

Thanks

@T**

. I’m regretting every day not getting the multi entry tourist visa before coming to Thailand. 🤦🏻‍♂️

6 years ago

Tod *********

No, none. The closest thai consulate that will sell a 6 month METV without you being a resident of that country is the thai consulate in Perth Australia. (an 8 hour flight from Bangkok)

6 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Jason ******

The only difference between having a METV is with that you can stamp out of Thailand and back in the same day Compared to SETV, you need to spend 2 days in another country and go to a Thai embassy and apply for a new Visa.

7 years ago

Tod *********

@Laura ****

, once you have the visa you don't need proof of onward travel to border bounce.

6 years ago

Laura *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Just going back to my post from a little while back, with a METV, do you need to have proof of leaving the country after 60 days when you border bounce, or can it be for 6 months later?

6 years ago

Tod *********

and one is good for unlimited entries during the 6 month period and the other is good for ONE entry during a 90 day period. ;)

7 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Frances ********

What is an METV please?

7 years ago

Frances ********

Thank you.

7 years ago

Tod *********

Tourist visas used to be sold as single, double or triple entry BUT on 13th Nov 2015 they did away with double and triple entry tourist visas and offered either a single entry or a multi-entry 6 month one.

7 years ago

Tod *********

METV <- Multi Entry Tourist Visa. It's a tourist visa that is valid for unlimited entries/exits to the country for 6 months from the date it's issued. You get them from the thai consulate in your country before you come here.

7 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

A single entry tourist visa is just that, you can come in ONCE for 60 day. You can extend it for 30 more but after that you go buy another visa at a thai consulate.

7 years ago

Tod *********

An METV is good for 6 months. Meaning you can almost wring 9 months of stay in thailand out of it (in 60 day increments)

You get the visa enter thailand get 60 days

when that's running out border bounce get 60 more

when that's running out border bounce get 60 more

just PRIOR to the "enter before" date on the visa itself you border bounce to get 60 more days and you extend that last entry by 30 days at the immigration office for 1900baht

60+60+60+60+30=270 <- almost 9 months

7 years ago

Tod *********

@Laura ****

, sorry, :/

A border-bounce is where you go to the border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in&out of another country and stamp right back into thailand. You do that to either get a visa exempt entry stamp OR to activate another entry on a multi-entry visa

A visa-run is where you go to a thai consulate in another country and BUY a visa for thailand.

7 years ago

Laura *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Just to be clear, when you say border bounce in this context.... you mean go to a different country, but you don't need to visit thai consulate?

7 years ago

Reply to

Laura *****

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