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What should I do if my multiple entry tourist visa hasn't arrived before my flight to Thailand?
Multiple Entry Tourist VisaVisa Application ProcessVisa ActivationTravel to ThailandImmigration IssuesVisa-Free Entry
Dec 21, 2025
4 months ago
Mariam ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERHey
I applied for a multiple entry tourist visa over 2 weeks ago and still haven’t heard back from the embassy. My flight is in 4 days and I do have 60 day visa free entry.
Does anyone know what happens if I just go without the visa and then the visa gets approved while I’m already in Thailand? Would I need to leave and re enter to activate it?
I applied for a multiple entry tourist visa over 2 weeks ago and still haven’t heard back from the embassy. My flight is in 4 days and I do have 60 day visa free entry.
Does anyone know what happens if I just go without the visa and then the visa gets approved while I’m already in Thailand? Would I need to leave and re enter to activate it?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has applied for a multiple entry tourist visa and is concerned about traveling to Thailand without it, as their flight is in 4 days. Responses indicate that if the visa is approved while the user is in Thailand, they will need to leave the country and re-enter to activate it. There are warnings about potential issues with the airline regarding onward tickets and suggestions to check with immigration upon arrival.
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Vaidas **********
It happened to me. Yes you will need to leave and enter again to activate it.
Rob *********
Make a note of your Visa Application and present it to the immigration officer, I am sure it will be sorted on arrival or you will be given 60 days visa exempt. I am sure they will acknowledge the fact you've applied for a visa ahead of travelling
Andreas *********
@Mariam **********
some embassies wait with issuing the METV until 2 or 3 days before the flight date you entered into the application. By this they intend to save for you as many days as possible of the visa validity, which is six months from the date of issueMartyn *******
If it doesn't arrive maybe visit immigration where you are staying and seeing what they say. Nothing lost nothing gained
Stuart *********
@Martyn ******
Immigration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (who issue visas from consulates and embassies) are completely separate government departments. Absolutely no point in trying to get that to work.Martyn *******
@Stuart ********
really, I think it's worth a try as I said nothing venturedStuart *********
@Martyn ******
I can guarantee you that immigration would never be able to help you with a visa issue from a consulate or embassy.Martyn *******
@Stuart ********
expert thenStuart *********
@Martyn ******
Well I work for immigration. I sort of know stuff.Peter ******
@Stuart ********
You feel no shame to work for the Immi. ?Stuart *********
@Peter *****
Why would I?Peter ******
@Stuart ********
Immi in TH has nothing to do with this.!Greg ***********
@Peter *****
that's what he said. Can't you read ?Peter ******
Greg AlexanderThank you Gred. Did you saw to who i did answer. See you what he did say and what i. Mai you can't understand the very smal differnses.? No.?
The Immi can help you and tell you what to do to fix the problem!
Mai you can not understand that. ;-)
The Immi can help you and tell you what to do to fix the problem!
Mai you can not understand that. ;-)
Reply to
Peter ******
Reply
Deepak *******
Any visa obtained outside Thailand must be activated while entering Thailand. That means you have to leave and enter again. However, in a rare occasion the Io still can deny you entry because you are supposed to wait in the country where you applied for the visa. But most of the time IOs don't care.
Carl ********
Same thing happened to me . I got an email at 16:59 saying my visa had been delayed , the embassy closed at 17:00. My flight was at 21.30 ! Visa was issued at 9:30 the following morning as they’d made a simple mistake and mis-read some of the info I had provided 🤬
As someone already said above , you have to leave Thailand and re-enter to activate it.
As someone already said above , you have to leave Thailand and re-enter to activate it.
Peter ******
@Carl *******
You can't not read? He is not in TH. :-)Adam ********
@Peter *****
do you realize how stupid you look when it’s you who isn’t reading things properly 😂Carl ********
What are you talking about ? You “can’t not” read the question? 🤡 Oh and it’s “she”by the way .
Reply to
Carl ********
Reply
Tom ********
They may not let you on the plane. It's the airlines responsibility to check your visa.
Graham ******
@Tom *******
the airline will only ask about a visa if your passport is not from one of the 93 countries that get visa exempt entry, they will not check otherwiseMariam ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tom *******
I’m traveling on a georgian passport so I have 60 days visa free entry to thailandTom ********
@Mariam **********
Ahh...that wasn't clearReply to
Tom ********
Reply
Stuart *********
You may have issues with your airline if you don’t have an onward ticket within the 60 days though. Some insist others don’t seem to care.
Mariam ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stuart ********
I do have an onward flight from Bangkok to Vietnam within the 60 daysGreg ***********
@Mariam **********
you will be fine as this is the onward travel proof for the airline in case they ask to see, and in case you need to fly visa-exempt. However as I wrote before, check your mailbox AND the Spam folders frequently, as many embassies wait until very close to your flight date before they issue the METVPeter ******
@Mariam **********
Then every thing is O.K.. !Reply to
Peter ******
Reply
Stuart *********
Yes. If approved it’s valid for 6 months so stay out your 60 days and then leave and re-enter to activate it.
Peter ******
@Stuart ********
Did you understand the question? I think not! Sorry.Greg ***********
@Peter *****
Stuart gave the correct advice. If the METV does not arrive before she is flying to Thailand, she needs to enter visa-exempt. She will get stamped in for 60 days. So when the METV arrives after she already entered, she can finish those first 60 days, exit and re-enter on the METV, as the re-entry will activate it. There is nothing wrong here, unless you criticize that he forgot to warn her that when she wants to fly visa-exempt, the airline can ask her for an onward travel proof out of Thailand within the first 60 days . .P.S. I just saw that Stuart mentioned the onward travel proof 2 hours earlier. This shows what good a moderator he isReply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Mariam ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stuart ********
🙏 thank you!Reply to
Mariam ***********
Reply
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