When does the 5-year DTV visa window start—upon visa issuance or arrival in Thailand?

@Jack *******

but you said like all other visas obtained it off Thailand. Is DTV the exception? Because I know the two I mentioned don't start on issue, but upon entry

@Tony *********

all visas issued outside Thailand have a start date of when they are issued. No exceptions. For example a single entry tourist visa has a validity of 90 days that starts the day it was issued. That means you have 90 days to use it. Doesn’t matter when you enter in those dates. Same as a DTV the 5 years starts the day the visa is issued by the consulate. Basic stuff really with regards to Thai visas

@Jack *******

not true. They have a validity date range (usually 90 days from issue). If no entry by the end date, the visa expires unused. The time of the length of the visa starts upon entry. 60 days for TV, 90 for non-o. Hence I believe (but don't know for sure since DTV is a multi-entry visa). That the 5 year clock starts ticking upon 1st entry. But I know from experience the other two visa types work as I describe and time starts upon entry.

@Tony *********

a DTV gives 180 days on entry. 5 years is the validity of the visa starting the day it was issued. Not sure why that’s so hard for you to understand. You’re really not an all star contributor. You’ll be blocked soon if you continue to post false information and can’t follow the conversation

@Jack *******

we disagree on your statement that all visa types start upon issue which is not true. A 60 day TV issued Jan 1 is valid to be be used until near end of March. Arrival on Feb 1 is when the 60 days stay, not Jan 1.

@Tony *********

that's wrong statement. TR visa valid 90 days from issue, in your example 1 Jan to 1 Mar. On entry visa becomes used and you get a 60 day stamp, visa validity don't have any relation to permitted stay. That's exactly how all Thai visas work. METV has 6 months validity, and you get same 60 day stamp on each entry inside validity frame, even you enter on last day of visa validity