What should I do if I haven't received my Thai tourist visa before arriving in Bangkok?

Dec 28, 2023
a year ago
Zac *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi there! I’ve applied for a 60 day tourist visa on the 22nd of December. I’m flying to Bangkok in a couple of hours but haven’t had the visa approved yet. Any ideas on how to go about immigration when I arrive? Thanks in advance!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
If you haven't received your 60-day tourist visa before arriving in Bangkok, you will likely be granted a visa exemption for 30 days on arrival, depending on your nationality (e.g., UK). This exemption can be extended for an additional 30 days at a local immigration office for a fee of 1,900 Thai baht. Once you receive your approved tourist visa (SETV), you can activate it by briefly leaving Thailand and re-entering with the approval email.
James ********
So you left it a week before you fly to Thailand to apply for the SETV single entry tourist visa...

As you are arriving VERY soon and without the Thai tourist visa....

I assume that you have a passport from the UK.

You will be stamped in for 30 days on arrival into Thailand...

AND that can be extended for 30 days one time at your local Thai Immigration office for 1900 Thai baht.

WHEN you have received the Evisa email with the approved SETV single entry tourist visa, you can activate it by leaving Thailand and re-enter... showing the Thai Immigration Officer a copy of the email you received with the Evisa.

PRINT OUT the Evisa email...

Be prepared for questions from your airline if you don't have Return tickets departing Thailand within the 30 Days of your arrival into Thailand.
Zac *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
thanks James! I was already on a 60 day tourist visa but had to return home for a family emergency on dec 22nd. This application was so last minute as it wasn’t possible to re-apply for the 60 day visa whilst I was still in Thailand.
Zac *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Would purchasing an onward ticket to show I would be leaving Thailand within the next 30 days solve this issue?
James ********
I believe that the OP has the answers needed for his question.

We wish you success in your return to Thailand.

Comments Closed
James ********
@Zac ********
Yes.... cheap one way ticket to Phnom Penh from Don Mueang airport.

Google is your friend.
Zac *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I unfortunately did not. I had asked around but was told at the time that a re-entry permit was not going to be possible to purchase.
James ********
@Zac ********
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James ********
@Zac ********
it is available at the airport for 1,000 Thai baht/ 1,200 Thai baht if the Thai Immigration Officer prepares the application for you.
Zac *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I arrived in Thailand on the 60 day tourist visa on nov 29th 2023. Prior to that I entered Thailand on a visa exemption in February 1st 2023 and left march 17 2023
James ********
@Zac ********
I wish that you had purchased a single re-entry permit before you left THAILAND. That would have preserved the 60 day ending date of your arrival of November 29th.
James ********
I assume that you did not buy a re-entry permit before you departed Thailand on December 22nd ???
James ********
@Zac ********
Hmmmm 🤔

That presents another issue....

When did you enter Thailand with your prior SETV single entry tourist visa?

Have you been in Thailand prior to that SETV during 2023 ?
James ********
When you apply for the 30 days extension of stay at your local Thai Immigration office .. THESE are the common found requirements for the One time 30 day extension. Be sure to have a TM30 address registration on file with Thai Immigration.
Coady *******
Well you'll get a visa exemption at the airport. Probably 30 days depending on your country, and then you can go to the immigration office and apply for a 30 day extension
Coady *******
@Zac ********
I believe James below me commented more on that. He is more knowledgable than I am about these things
Zac *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Coady ******
thanks for your reply! I’m just wondering if there’s any way to use the 60 day visa if it ends up getting approved after I get my passport stamped in Bangkok tomorrow. Or if it might be of any use to show the immigration officer in Bangkok the visa application at all?
James ********
@Zac ********
read my reply. Showing the Thai Immigration Officer that you have applied for a Thai Visa Will be useless.
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