Answereda year ago
What is the process and timeline for obtaining a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) in Thailand?
Just a quick heads up for those applying for the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV ) aware . I have just received my approval letter from the Thai embassy in London today (14 November ) .
For those interested in timescales I applied on the 27 October with an arrival date into BKK of the 26 November . (Somehow I managed to fill in the application form with no referrals back to me for correction Perhaps I’m an over thinker ! )
I did ask previously wait times for this visa on these forums but nobody was able to give me any answers . So just a bit of real time experience information for those interested .
For those interested in timescales I applied on the 27 October with an arrival date into BKK of the 26 November . (Somehow I managed to fill in the application form with no referrals back to me for correction Perhaps I’m an over thinker ! )
I did ask previously wait times for this visa on these forums but nobody was able to give me any answers . So just a bit of real time experience information for those interested .
Answer summary
A user shares their successful experience applying for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) from the Thai embassy in London, receiving their approval letter shortly after applying. They detail their application timeline, mention queries about required documents, and encourage discussions on visa experiences, indicating that such real-time accounts are valuable for others navigating the visa process.
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IsaanT*******
I thought you could do eVisa with no need to go to an embassy?
Kim *********
IsaanThai5754 what gave you that impression? I see nothing mentioned about "having to go to an embassy"
Brian ********
OPYes that’s right. I applied through the e visa portal of the Thai embassy in London . I don’t think I said ( or implied) that a visit to the embassy was required
Hanna **************
Honestly real time experience reports like this are so needed for anxious overthinkers like myself! I have just completed my own visa process, also on Nov 14 btw (but in Berlin), and during the process it is reading about experiences of others and how long which stage was taking is what kept me relaively sane and calm. So, thank you for this post!
Brian ********
OPMy pleasure Hanna ( as one overthinker to another ) I derived from others that it was around 7 to 10 days before flight to BKK so although anxious I was telling myself to remain calm . But I can’t describe my immense relief to open that email approval . This is exactly why I made the initial post , to allay fears .
Jimi ************
This is for 6 months? What was the price?
Brian ********
OPFrom memory approximately £160
J **************
I just lost 5 minutes of my life reading this
Brian ********
OPI am sorry you feel this way ,and I apologise if you feel I have wasted your time , but we all have to make life choices ( unfortunately some of the choices we make are not always the wisest! )
Steven ******
You must be a really slow reader.
Ian *********
You have 3 months to enter BKK, then your visa starts. Then within 60 days, you have to exit BKK, unless you apply for extension at immigration.
Michael ********
@Ian ********
wrong info mateJohn **********
@Ian ********
the METV starts the moment its issued
Adam ********
Can I ask, does the visa start from the approval date or are you able to specify a date for the 6 months to start.
I ask as I am planning on travelling in January for a month and then again in May for a month
I ask as I am planning on travelling in January for a month and then again in May for a month
Brian ********
OPTBH i was just glad to get it !
Nongnuch ********
@Adam *******
he applied early, which is okay, but they should have issued the visa by November 24, two days before his flight date. The 6-month visa validity starts on the day of issue, so he lost 12 days of visa validity . . . sadly, the only option to communicate with the embassy is by email, and one should ask them to postpone an METV approval until 2 or 3 days before the intended flight to Thailand, to get the optimum out of a METVChristian **********
The METV is activated at the moment it is issued. Not upon your arrival in Thailand. The clock starts ticking once the visa is approved, making it prudent to time the submission of the visa application to as close to your departure as possible.
Brian ********
OPI’m afraid I can’t answer that because it seems as though there is no facility to enter into any sort of dialogue in the application process . I would hazard a guess that your flight arrival date is the trigger point for the start date ( but that is my assumption) . My start date was within a week of my arrival date . I arrive on
*****
/25 the start date of my visa was *****
/25 .Nongnuch ********
@Brian *******
the start date was NOT the issue date? This means you lost only 7 days (19th to 26th)Brian ********
OPCorrect
John **********
@Adam *******
the METV validity starts the day it is issued so its good for 6 months from that dateChristian **********
Graeme Mort This is not quite accurate. The visa is active immediately upon approval, not upon entry.
Umer **************
When they asked for accommodation booking did you provided a booking for your whole stay for your up and coming visit? Also bank statements did they ask for 3 months? If so how did you upload multiple documents or was the statement all in 1 file
Brian ********
OPI just put in my first stay ( there were too many to list ) . I took a photo (just) of my three statements and it was accepted
Nongnuch ********
@Brian *******
you applied early, which is okay, but they should have issued the visa by November 24, two days before your flight date. The 6-month visa validity starts on the day of issue, so you lost 12 days of visa validity . . (day of issue was 14.11., and until the 26th is means 12 days are lost)Christian **********
@Umer *************
Three months of statements in one fileActivity
14 joined14
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