Thailand 60 Day Visa (SETV) and 6 Months Multiple Entry Visa (METV)

-- Last Updated on June 22, 2022 by Jonesy

Planning a trip to Thailand and considering what’s the best travel visa to obtain? There are a number of options that depend on where you’re from and the length of stay planned.

Thailand tourist visa types covered here include – 60-day single entry (SETV) and 6 month multiple entry visa (METV). There is no longer a double entry. For rules regarding visa exemption (countries that can receive 90, 30, or 15 days without a visa) see this article.

When seeking tourist visa information for Thailand stay as up-to-date as much possible before your trip. Regulations change fast here or regulations become strictly enforced that were not previously.

Single Entry Thai Visa (SETV) 60 Days

The SETV is given to various countries that wish to visit Thailand for the purpose of tourism for a period of 60 days. This can be extended for 30 days if required.

This visa type has to be applied for at a Thai Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand, which could be a neighbouring country (i.e, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia) if you’re not staying in your home country. Some countries have access to applying online and do not have to go to a Thai Embassy or Consulate.

Requirements Needed At Thai Embassy or Consulate

• Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months and at least 2 pages left within the passport for the visa and border control stamps.
• A completed form that can be downloaded or completed at your chosen Embassy or Consulate.
• Supply two passport pictures.
• Photocopy of your passport main photo page and last stamp and/or visa into the country, although this depends on where you apply. For example, in the UK (UK passport holder) you’ll just take a passport, passport pictures and fee, whereas in Vientiane as a non Loathian resident you will need photocopies, which can be done outside and this is the same for most Thai Consulates neighbouring Thailand.
• The fee. In the UK it’s 35 GBP, Ho Chi Minh 40 USD, Malaysia 150 RM and Laos 1000 THB which gives you an idea of the approximate cost for whichever country you’re applying from.
• Evidence of travel (air/bus ticket to and from Thailand) and finances of (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family). This can be requested and is Thai regulations, however, it has never been requested from me personally.

Validity – When To Apply

From the date of issue, a SETV can be used anytime before the enter before the date shown on the visa, which will be 3 months. You can apply 3 months before travel (maximum) or the day before travelling (minimum). Make sure you enter before the ‘Enter Before’ date shown on the visa.

In my home country and maybe yours, the visa is given on that day of attending the Embassy or Consulate (it was before we started doing the application online, that is). If applying at any of Thailand’s neighbouring countries you’re likely to attend and apply in the morning then collect the visa the next day (check for each Consulate/Embassy).

6 Months Multiple Entry (METV)

The Thailand multiple-entry tourist visa replaces the old triple entry tourist visa. There are more specific and strict requirements, although flexibility is given in terms of being able to enter and leave Thailand as many times as you wish once the visa is activated (entered Thailand).

The METV has to be applied for in your home country unless you have residency within other countries and has to be done in-person to receive it that day, within an hour (UK). Applying via post within the UK requires the passport holder to apply at the London Thai Embassy and not a Consulate. Check with your own Thai Consulate/Embassy for application rules whether applying in person or via post.

You still have to leave Thailand every 60 days or request a 30 day extension at a Thai immigration office, giving you 90 days x 3. Extensions can be done every 60 days allowing a person to spend the good part of 9 months in Thailand if they get the dates correct.

Requirements

• Bank statements showing £5000 or more in the account continuously for 6 months per person. If a joint account with a couple traveling the amount is £10’000.

• A letter from your employer stating how long you’ve worked for them and they know of your land.

Or

• If your self employed, proof of this is required. For UK citizens the proof is a SA100 HMRC tax return for the latest tax year. For other countries, I imagine it’s something similar from your government tax office.

Or

• If you are retired, at any age, and receiving a private pension, a copy of this pension is required.

• If any children are travelling a copy of the child’s birth certificate is required with the parent’s name on the certificate.

• Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months and at least 2 pages left within the passport for the visa and border control stamps.

• A completed form that can be downloaded or completed at your chosen Embassy or Consulate. Also, supply two passport pictures.

• The fee.

• Evidence of travel (air/bus ticket to and from Thailand) and finances of (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family). This can be requested and is Thai regulations, however, it has never been requested from me personally.

• Confirmation of where you plan to stay when arriving in Thailand. If staying with a friend or family members they state the requirement of a utility bill from the person you’re staying with. Any concerns about this, contact your Consulate.

Requirements and Consulates

It has been known for some time that one consulate can be stricter than another. The best approach if you have concerns is to contact the office you intend to make the application.

Validity – When To Apply

The validity of the METV is 6 months from issue which means you must enter before the ‘Enter Before’ date shown. The enter before date is important because the last possible entrance for 60 days has to be used when entering the day before the end before date.

To get the maximum stay out of a METV you need to apply and begin using it as soon as possible. Two of the three 60 day exit stamps could possibly be extended for 30 days at a Thai immigration office although your last entry must be no later than the ‘Enter Before’ date.

Examples Of Getting The Most Out Of Your METV

An example of nearly 9 months. Stamped in with your first 60 days (then exit and return), now another 60 days (exit and return), another 60 days (exit and return before ‘Enter Before’ date) then apply at the Thai immigration office for an extension.

Above you left the country 3 times and extended once at immigration.

Another example of nearly 9 months. Stamped in with your first 60 days (Thai immigration extension 30 days), 90 days used so far (exit and return), now another 60 days (Thai immigration extension 30 days) 180 days used, so it will be very close to your ‘Enter Before’ expiring, you will need to leave before the extension expires, (exit and return) now you have your last 60 days + a possible 30 day Thai immigration extension.

Above you left the country twice and extended 3 times at immigration.

There are many scenarios that a person can make the visa work better for themselves depending on how often they want to leave. Another example of nearly 6 months would be extending the first 60 days at immigration for 30 days, exit after that 30-day extension and come back with 60 days, then extend 30 again, then head home after spending six months in Thailand after only exiting once and extending twice.

Don’t Meet The METV Requirements and or Want To Visit for 5 or 6 Months

Not all tourists need a METV, even if they end up staying for the good part of 6 months. If you apply for a single entry and extend for 3 months, that’s 90 days (approx 3 months). Go and spend some time in neighbouring countries, visit the Thai Consulate there and get another SETV for 60 days and extend for 30.

If staying for 5 months get a SETV + 30 day extension then exit and return via a land or airport border. If you’re one of 19 ‘G7 or bilateral agreement countries’ you will get 30 days visa exemption (see if your country is allowed 30 and not 15 or visa on arrival rules apply) and now you can extend the exemption for 30 days which equals approximately 5 months.

Back to Back Visas

Update: Let’s see how these work out while many are required to apply online. I can’t see back-to-backs being acceptable while applying online.

When I first visited Thailand it was easy to cross the border and come back with 90 and continue doing this. Those days are long gone.

What I am led to believe and have seen the consequences of people I know doing more than this is, 3 seems to be the rule. Not getting the proper visa and crossing the border on visa exemptions for 30 days is the biggest clampdown regarding back-to-backs.

One person I know of got stopped with two many back-to-backs and it was allowed in for 90 days and spent 3 months in Cambodia and the Philippines. Another got stopped at Myanmar airport border, was made to book a flight out of Thailand in 7 days, and had a red ink note stating he must leave in 7 days and return with a NON-O visa.

A visa agency I know in Penang said 2 or 3 SETV’s is the max there.

I will keep this page updated as much as possible and also provide other sources that are also updated regularly.

Related

• Applying for a Thailand Tourist Visa Online Guide
• Thailand Tourist Visa Exemption 90 or 30 Days
• 30 Day Tourist Visa Extension
• Thailand Travel Visa Guides for Tourists