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Will I lose 6 months of my DTV visa validity if I enter Thailand after its issuance?
Feb 10, 2026
3 months ago
Arj *****
ORIGINAL POSTERDTV valid from August 1 2025 untill 31 july 2030
Entered Thailand in feb 8 2026 for the first time wit dtv
Stamp until aug 6 2026
Question now is will i lose 6 months of dtv ??coz my validity is until 31 july 2030 only !!
Entered Thailand in feb 8 2026 for the first time wit dtv
Stamp until aug 6 2026
Question now is will i lose 6 months of dtv ??coz my validity is until 31 july 2030 only !!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the validity of a DTV visa issued from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2030. The questioner entered Thailand for the first time on February 8, 2026, seeking clarification on whether they would lose 6 months of validity due to the gap between the visa issuance and their entry date. Responses indicate that the visa validity begins upon issuance, and without entering during that time, the validity period would indeed be shortened by those months. Users highlight that regardless of the stamp duration, if the visa is issued but not activated by entry, that time is effectively lost.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Benjamin *********
They should put an IQ test to get a visa.
David ***********
why worry about something so banal, so far away in the future..
Mai Pen Rai..
it's six o´clock, time for a beer... or a GT... likely both.
Good evening.
Mai Pen Rai..
it's six o´clock, time for a beer... or a GT... likely both.
Good evening.
Tod *********
The VISA burns validity whether you're in thailand or not, the second they send the approval notice that visa starts running down
SO if you got it back in August 1st of 2025 but didn't enter thailand until Feb 8th 2026 yes, you burned the 6 months validity down on that visa NOT being here 😕
The time from Aug 1st to Feb 8 is gone. 😛
SO if you got it back in August 1st of 2025 but didn't enter thailand until Feb 8th 2026 yes, you burned the 6 months validity down on that visa NOT being here 😕
The time from Aug 1st to Feb 8 is gone. 😛
Karl *******
If you didn't want to lose that time, why did you apply for it in August last year for an arrival 6 months later? You could have gone last August.
John *********
Some folk should be banned from entering on the grounds of stupidity 🙄
Sasa **************
@John ********
Hahaha yep... This is Facebook after all, average IQ is much lower than Reddit :)))Arj *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ********
hoping u could elaborateReply to
Arj *****
Reply
Ivan *********
Why are you so stupid
Arj *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ivan ********
pls be respectfulJustin ********
This is the best way to answer
*********************************************
add 179 to your date of entryNick *******
Yes you lost the 6 months - the end date is the end date
Peter *********
Did they not ask you for a plane ticket to thailand when you applied? They usually do this to see that you intend to enter thailand within the next 3 months and you say you plan to come in 6 months they will tell you to applly closer to that time...
Dany ********
yes
Waqar ********
Countdown starts from the day embassy issues you visa as clarified by
@Elías *******
.. so you wasted initial 6 months by not visiting.Sabine *********
@Waqar *******
I second this. This is why one get normally a visa shortly before going to that country and not months or years before.Reply to
Sabine *********
Reply
Ryan *******
That is the 180 reminded to border hop or go to immigration and pay 1900baht for an extension for 180 days. I believe your visa is valid you just need to leave the country and renter. Basically you need to leave Thailand 2 times per years for atleast 6 days out of country
Dylan *******
Umm, what? Your DTV is valid until 31 July 2030. That means, any time you enter Thailand on or before that date, you are stamped in for 6 months' continuous stay. It's as simple as that.
You could technically enter Thailand on 31 July 2030, and be granted 6 months.
You could technically enter Thailand on 31 July 2030, and be granted 6 months.
Ivan ************
@Dy***
"You could technically enter Thailand on 31 July 2030, and be granted 6 months." - this remains to be seen. Every other 5 year visa, the stamp can't go beyond the expiry date of the visa.Elías ********
@Dylan ******
Right, but I think the OP is asking about the time "wasted" from August to February, assuming this is his first ever entry. If that's the case, those months are effectively wasted already.David *******
@Elías *******
it was his choice to waste those monthsElías ********
@David ******
absolutelyReply to
Elías ********
Reply
Anonymous ******************
Dude, don’t overthink too much. Just enjoy your time here!
John **********
Your dtv will cease to be valid for entry from the date you provided but if you enter that day or earlier you should get stamped in for 180 days
Ivan ************
@Jo**
this is not a sure thing. Every other Thai 5 year multi-entry visa, the stamp can not go beyond the expiry of the visa. Maybe DTV is the one that is different, but I'd doubt it. I would not suggest people rely on this, I'd plan on it being done on the expiry date.Reply to
Ivan ************
Reply
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