What does my METV validity mean for my arrival and stay in Thailand?

@Donna ***********

Yes if you enter Thailand before the visa itself expires you’re still able to get another 60 days stamp or permission to stay and can also apply for a 30 days extension. (Time of your visa and the stamp or stay it gives you upon entry is two different things).

@Donna ***********

All visas start from the day of issue. For a single entry tourist visa it doesn’t make a difference as long as you enter before the valid date.

With the METV you lose “time value” as it starts ticking from issue.

With planning you can squeeze almost 9 months from that visa with extensions or bounces.

@Donna ***********

no. 19th September is the last you can ENTER Thailand. You then get a fresh 60 days stamp.

If you would enter on last validity day, you can technically stay another 90 days. 60 says plus 1 extension. But after that need to leave Thailand.

So in your case almost until Christmas if you plan your last entry close to visa validity expiry. You essentially can get close to 9 months IF you enter Thailand shortly after the visa is issued.

For the future: 4 weeks in advance is plenty time to apply visa,

Visa validity: the timeframe you can enter Thailand borders.

Entry stamp: the last day you have to exit OR get a 30 day extension.

@Donna ***********

A single entry tourist visa is valid 90 days after its issued and gives you a 60 days stay one time upon arrival within these 90 days. A METV is valid for 180 days and give a 60 days stay each time you enter within these 180 days.