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When does the Thai visa validity start - upon approval or based on travel dates?

Thai Visa Visa Validity Non-O Visa Visa Application Process Travel Dates Expat Advice

Aug 23, 2025

2 days ago

Karim ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone, I need some advice about the Thai visa.

I applied for a visa back in August ( in Paris ) but my trip is only from December 13 (I already included my flight ticket and hotel bookings for those dates in my application).

Since the application was made more than 3 months before my trip, I’m worried that if the visa is approved, it will start from the date of approval and may not cover my travel period in December.

Has anyone experienced this situation? Do they issue the visa starting from the approval date, or do they take into account the travel dates shown in the application?

Thanks a lot for your help!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user is seeking clarification on whether their Thai visa will start from the approval date or based on the travel dates they provided in their application. They applied for the visa in Paris for a trip starting in December but are concerned about the long processing time, which could lead to the visa validity overlapping their actual travel dates. Community members offer insights on how Thai visa validity usually works, indicating that it often considers the travel dates specified in the application.

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Henrik *****

You could be lucky that some Thai Embassies grant visa's based on arrival date, not the application date.

In that case you won't get the visa until about a week before arriving in Thailand.

14 hours ago

Kim *********

@Lynnette ******

no. The visa is valid to the date specified in "visa must be used by" - which for example the non o is 1 year. The permission to stay is 3 months.

18 hours ago

David **********

You have 90 days to use it. When I got my visa I did not book any flights just used some available flights and times.

Once visa was approved then I booked actual flights.

a day ago

Kim *********

@David *********

no - it can be used until the date specified in "visa must be used by". The permission to stay is another matter.

18 hours ago

David **********

@Kim ********

correct till expiration which is typically 90 days from issuance

17 hours ago

Kim *********

@David *********

oh really? well for non o you have 1 year to use it

16 hours ago

David **********

@Kim ********

I guess it depends what your visa says. For a minute you had me second guessing. Mine was 90 days

16 hours ago

Reply to

David **********

Karim ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@David *********

Yes, I understand, but in France (at the Thai Embassy in Paris) you must submit your actual flight ticket and hotel reservation when applying for the visa. You cannot just provide tentative dates or sample flights.

a day ago

David **********

@Karim *****

Wow! That sucks.

a day ago

Reply to

David **********

Dca *****

as the Thai Embassy in Paris from field reports here in this Facebook Group and other Groups and Forums is known to be one of the slowest to process any Thai E–Visa Application among all of the 94 Thai Embassies/Thai Consulates around the world, the OP should be fine for a Non–O E–Visa as the validity of Single Entry Non–O or Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) E–Visa's is usually 90 Days and factor in over a full month for E–Visa Processing at the Thai Embassy in Paris and planned Entry Date into Thailand around 13 December 2025

a day ago

Narong *******

Why did u apply so early?2 months in advance is more then sufficient 🤔

2 days ago

Doug ********

@Narong ******

because he didn't know... obviously...

21 hours ago

Reply to

Doug ********

Dca *****

2 days ago

Jodie *******

Most visa start from the date you asked for it to start. Did you have an entry date ?

2 days ago

Graham ******

@Jodie ******

No they don't, all visas are valid from the date of issue and up to the expiry date of 90 days or 6months for tourist visas and 90 days for Non-O visas.

2 days ago

Kim *********

@Graham *****

ahh not so - a non o visa is valid to the date specified in "must be used by" which is 1 year. 90 days is the permission to stay length. Other visa's have the same field I suppose. But I am only familiar with the non o.

18 hours ago

Graham ******

@Kim ********

show me a Non-O with a 12 month validity

13 hours ago

Kim *********

@Graham *****

all right - it might have been changed though - you are always right 👍 ps I looked again - I had multiple entries and that's not available anymore. So 3 months it is 👍 Sorry for thinking I was right 😔

12 hours ago

Reply to

Kim *********

Karim ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jodie ******

The flight ticket I submitted in the visa application is for December 13th

2 days ago

Reply to

Karim ******

Max *************

Why were you in such a hurry to apply for the visa?

2 days ago

Karim ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Max ************

I didn’t know that it was better to apply closer to the travel date. I thought applying early was safer

2 days ago

Henrik *****

Read the Thai Embassy website before applying for any visa.

14 hours ago

Reply to

Henrik *****

Jan ******************

You receive the permitted stay granted by your visa at any time you enter during its validity period. The validity of your visa and the duration of stay it entitles you to are two separate things.

2 days ago

Karim ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jan *****************

From what I understand, a Thai visa is valid for 3 months. So if, for example, it was issued on September 1st, it would be valid only until December 1st.

But my trip starts on December 13th, which means I wouldn’t be able to enter Thailand anymore, even if I haven’t used the visa?

2 days ago

Henrik *****

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14 hours ago

Kim *********

@Karim *****

no - the visa is valid to the date specified in "visa must be used by" which for the non o for example is 1 year and gives you 3 months permission to stay. So look at your visa and see when it expires.

18 hours ago

Jan ******************

@Karim *****

yes, unfortunately that is correct because you have applied too early and should simply just apply for a new visa. How long do you want to stay and what passport do you have?

2 days ago

Karim ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jan *****************

15 days, Algerian passport

Ok so if my current visa doesn’t cover my travel dates, I will just reapply a few weeks before my trip in December, thank you

2 days ago

Jan ******************

@Karim *****

yes, unfortunately you’re not entitled to visa exemption nor visa on arrival. It’s recommended to apply around 6 weeks before you intend to travel.

2 days ago

Reply to

Jan ******************

Lynnette *******

@Karim *****

the visa is valid for 3 months from being issued to you. You must enter within the 3 months it's valid for. You will then be stamped in for whatever duration it's for.

2 days ago

John **********

@Karim *****

all depends on the date of issue

2 days ago

Reply to

John **********

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