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What does the "Visa must be used by" date mean for a Multiple Entry Visa in Thailand?

Thailand Visa RulesMultiple Entry VisaVisa UsageVisa ValidityVisa ExpirationEntry Requirements
Jan 31, 2023
2 years ago
Pat ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have applied for the 6 months Multiple Entry VISA and they approved approved it. Due to late approvement (after my flight to Thailand) I have NOT used it until now (entered with the 30 day entry stamp back in November).

I am coming back to Thailand in February and I don't understand the meaning of the "Visa must be used by" Date.

What does it exactly mean?

1. I have to leave the country latest by that date (For example if I entered Thailand 1 month prior with this Visa)

OR

2. It's the last date I can use the VISA to ENTER Thailand. So let's say I enter on 31. March and use the VISA I can still use the full 6 months of this multiple entry VISA and stay for example until September)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The "Visa must be used by" date indicates the last day you can enter Thailand with your Multiple Entry Visa (METV). This does not mean you must leave Thailand by that date, but rather it is the final day you can use the visa to gain entry. Once entered, you will receive a 60-day stamp, which can be extended for an additional 30 days at a Thai immigration office for a fee. It's important to utilize the visa for entry before this expiration date to get the maximum benefit.
Tod *********
And on that note this near train wreck of a thread is DONE

Pay attention everyone, an METV is a 6 month multi-entry tourist visa and that 6 months starts running down the second they issue the visa, SO get it as CLOSE to the time you're winging your way here as you can.

Otherwise you're going to burn the validity of that visa down and shorten the actual time you can be in country on it (as both
@Pat ***
 and
@Paul *******
 found out the hard way)

Good luck one and all (y)
2 years ago
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Phil *******
If you are doing multi entry border bounces to a local country you may want to investigate a multi entry visa to that country..
2 years ago
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James ********
And each METV multiple entry tourist visa entry can be extended for 30 days at your local Thai immigration office for 1900 Thai baht.
2 years ago
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Pat ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 That means, for example on my first entry, I can extend the 60 days to 90 days instead of doing a border run? - or it can only be extended by 30 days after the "Must be used by" Date?
2 years ago
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James ********
@Pat ***
 to get longer time and if your METV is still valid, then you will have to leave Thailand and reenter Thailand to get a New 60 day stamp.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Pat ***
 you do not have to get your 30 day extension before the date on the visa. You can get it even after the visa has expired.
2 years ago
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James ********
@Pat ***
 you can get a 30 day extension of stay at Thai immigration office for 1900 Thai baht... EACH time you enter Thailand with the METV multiple entry tourist visa you get 60 days STAMP
2 years ago
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James ********
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Martin *******
You can enter any number of times up until the 2 April.

If you enter on 31 March then you will be given a 60 day entry, the visa expires on 2 April so that is it done, all you get is those 60 days.
2 years ago
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James ********
@Martin ******
 plus one 30 day extension of stay at Thai immigration office.
2 years ago
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James ********
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Ellie *******
FYI.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
"Visa must be used by" date is as is said, the last day you can use that visa, ie, the last day you can enter Thailand using that visa and getting stamped for 60 days.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
nope you're not gonna get the full 6 months out of the visa 😕

I think you misunderstand how that visa actually works

The visa is VALID for ENTRY for 6 months from the date of issue

(in your case from 5 Oct 2022 - 2 Apr 2023)

Every entry gets you stamped in for 60 days
2 years ago
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Paul ********
@Tod ********
 I misunderstood this ☹️ I applied for same visa in August 2022 and had it approved same month.. when I was due to come in October. I thought I was being smart by getting it early but think I've done myself out of some months.. I thought it would be valid for 6 months from the date I entered (October)..

I guess going forward for next few months I will just have to do border bounce, get 45 days on arrival and extend a further 30 days.

I believe there are no limits to the amount of times I do this in a year... correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Paul *******
 if you got an METV issued in Aug it's good until Feb so at least take the 60 day entry stamps from it you CAN get, and then extend that last one that you do just before the visa runs out by 30 days to get the most you can.

You can get TWO free visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year (Jan 1 to Dec 31) and technically there is no limit to them by air but you're not gonna live here on back to back visa exempt entries & extensions because they'll pull you aside when you go to stamp in and ask wth you're doing 😮
2 years ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
2 - ANY way you do it you're not gonna get 6 months of anything out of that visa 🙁

You can stamp in with it in Feb and get 60 days

Then you can exit/re-enter just before that visa expires (april 2nd) and get ANOTHER 60 day stamp,

and

you can extend that stamp once for 30 days at the immigration office

Then you're done on it.
2 years ago
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Pat ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Ok, perfect. Yeah, that makes sence. I was just not sure how to interpret it. But now it's clear.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Pat ***
 I certainly would get as many entries and 60 day stays as you can out of it, I mean that visa in american is 200USD so I hate to see it go to waste for you.

Use it for the 60 day entry when you come in Feb, then bounce one time just before the 2nd of april to get that final 60 days and extend that for 30 days, that's almost FIVE months in country 🙂
2 years ago
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Pat ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Ah yeah. That's actually a good idea on how to still make the most out of the VISA 🙏
2 years ago
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Pat ****
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Tod *********
1 - It does not mean you have to leave the country by the must be used by. It means that is the final date you can ENTER the country to get stamped in for 60 days

Even if you entered on April 2nd you'd get stamped in for the 60 days that visa allows you
2 years ago
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Pat ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Ahh yeah, that makes sence. Now I understand. Ok, then it makes more sence to get the 45 day entry stamp and extend it for 30 days. Thanks a lot for your explanation.
2 years ago
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Philipp ***********
@Pat ***
 it still makes more sense to use the visa, you will get 60 days per entry instead of 45 and can extend it another 30. Total 90 days.
2 years ago
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Philipp ***********
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