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What happens if I'm approved for the STV after entering Thailand on a visa exemption with a 30-day stamp?

Thai Visa RulesSpecial Tourist Visa (STV)Visa ExemptionVisa Status ChangeImmigration Procedures
Sep 30, 2022
3 years ago
Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
What happens if you get approved for the STV (evisa) after you've arrived on visa exempt? Just got the email and already got stamped in with 30 days. Does my STV 90day automatically cancel or does it mean that I have 90 days as opposed to the 30 I got stamped in with? Many thanks!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
After being approved for the Special Tourist Visa (STV) while already in Thailand on a visa exemption, your STV does not retroactively cancel or change the initial 30-day stamp you received upon entry. Instead, you should keep the email confirmation of your STV approval, as it serves as your visa. When the 30 days are close to expiring, you need to exit and re-enter Thailand—either by air or land—and present the STV approval email for a new stamp allowing you to stay for the full 90 days granted by the STV.
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Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Thank you for your response, it's the 90-day Special Tourist Visa.
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Anna-Maria ***
I posted this on another thread about someone who didn't get their eVisa in time as well

There are only TWO consulates in Canada that participate in the eVisa program; Ottawa and Vancouver

Contact them thru their f/b page
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3 years ago
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Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Yeah, we'll have to send Ottawa an email. That's where we applied. Thank you :)
3 years ago
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James ********
@Anna-Maria ***
 Ottawa cannot help you now. Just follow the advice given to you.
3 years ago
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James ********
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Tod *********
nope, doesn't cancel, you print out the PDF file they emailed you when they said you're approved <- because that IS your visa (there's no sticker)

then when your 30 days runs down, you exit/re-enter the country (by air OR land) show that PDF print out and you'll get stamped in on the STV.

Just curious are you talking about the 9 month Special Tourist Visa (STV), the one that requires proof of insurance, proof of lodging for 90 days etc or are you talking about a Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) where you get in to the country for 60 days and you can extend it once while you're here for 30 more days?
3 years ago
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James ********
@Tod ********
 the OP had submitted this in post review...and was referred to the Thai Embassy or Consulate in Canada.

Hi everyone, does anyone have a contact at the Thai embassy in Ottawa, Canada by any chance? I applied for an STV visa a couple of weeks ago and just received a notice that my application was rejected because I didn't hyphenate my name (in fact, when I uploaded my passport it uploaded that way, so I figured it would be ok) 🙁 ! I leave on September 28th for Bangkok and it takes about 15 days for them to review the application which leaves me with no time to apply for another visa. I worked so hard to put this application together and took time off work just to be rejected for something so ridiculous. I appreciate any contact you can give me so that my application can be reconsidered. Thank you ❤️❤️
3 years ago
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Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 So, they actually never reconsidered me, despite all the begging and explaining with screenshots. My above inquiry is for my boyfriend, I'm inquiring on his behalf. We arrived last night on 30-day visa exempt, he woke up to an email approving his Special Tourist Visa this morning and now we're wondering what to do, does he actually get the 90 days in the end?
3 years ago
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James ********
@Anna-Maria ***
 did he apply for the TOURIST VISA to stay in Thailand for a total of 90 days?

OR did he apply for the STV SPECIAL TOURIST VISA giving him up to 270 days stay in Thailand?
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Anna-Maria ***
 The PROGRAM expires today, the VISA if issued is still good for as long as it says on the PDF eVisa
3 years ago
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Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Got it, thanks. So he can use his visa exempt 30 days, and then has to leave and come back to Thailand before December 27th 2022 in order to activate the STV visa, correct?
3 years ago
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James ********
@Anna-Maria ***
 he can also get one 30 day extension of stay in Thailand ... Then bounce out and re-enter showing the Thai immigration officer the STV visa to enter Thailand
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Anna-Maria ***
 Glad we got that sorted (y) Good luck with you getting yours straightened out 🙂 message then on F/B and see if they answer you
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Anna-Maria ***
 totally correct, as long as he exits/re-enters on or before the Dec 27th 2022 date <- the expiration date of the STV he'll get stamped in for 90 days when he comes back in (y)
3 years ago
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Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
@James *******
 Many thanks! I appreciate the help! 🙂
3 years ago
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Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 STV special tourist visa, the one that expires this month.
3 years ago
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James ********
@Anna-Maria ***
 he now has 30 day STAMP to stay ..he can get one 30 day extension of stay at Thai immigration office for 1900 Thai baht... Then bounce out of Thailand AND re-enter Thailand before the end of the 3 months that the STV visa is valid to get the 90 days on arrival into the stay... which hopefully can be extended two more times inside Thailand at your local Thai immigration office for a total of 270 days.

Print out the STV visa he received by email when he does the border run. To show the Thai immigration officer on re-entry
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Anna-Maria ***
 all that means is that you can't BUY an STV anymore at the thai conuslates, not that STVs that were issued are no good 😕

They're valid for entry as long as it says on the PDF (which is 3 months from the date they're issued)

Look at the PDF eVIsa and see the two dates (issued and must enter before) You have to ENTER the country on or before that date to use the STV
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Anna-Maria ***
 There's no way to use it once you're IN the country. you use it to ENTER on, so if you're already here, you have to exit/re-enter and present that PDF when you stamp back in so that they stamp you in on that visa and you get the 90 days
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Anna-Maria ***
 he will have to print out the PDF, then EXIT and re-enter the country by air or land to activate the special tourist visa
3 years ago
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Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 even if the STV expires this month?
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Anna-Maria ***
 isn't an STV valid for 90 days from the date it's issued?

What is the issue date and the "valid until", "must enter before" or "must be used by" date
3 years ago
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Anna-Maria ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
3 years ago
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Anna-Maria ****
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