New 6 Month Visa For Thailand Tourists

Thailand has confirmed a new six-month multiple entry tourist visa for the country will be available from November 2015.

The new Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) is exclusive for tourists and does not allow the visitor to work in the country.

The government is also imposing some specific rules for the granting of the visa –

• The visitors must have a passport, identity certificate or other official travel documents that are not damaged or altered in any way and with an expiration date of at least six months from the date of entering Thailand

• A completed and signed visa application form

• A 4 cm x 6cm photograph of the visitor – photocopies or copies from vending machines are not acceptable

• A valid return ticket from outside of Thailand

Extending a tourist visa for Thailand

The visa is valid for six months for entering Thailand two or three times or three months for a single entry.

This allows a traveller to stay in Thailand for a maximum of 60 days from the date of each entry to the country, so to keep the visa open, tourists must leave and re-enter the country every 60 days.

Stays can be extended by filing an application with the Office of Immigration Bureau located on Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210.

The office can be called on 0-2141-9889 or more information is available online.

Extensions will be granted by an immigration officer and are not automatic.

Visas must cost 5000 baht and must be paid for in Thai currency on arrival in the country. The fee is not refundable.

“The intention is to promote Thailand as a regular short break destination for tourists,” said Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.

The METV is thought to be a method of kick-starting tourism in Thailand after a drop in visitors following last year’s military coup and a series of terrorist outrages targetting tourists.

Thai visa applications online

Visa on arrival applications can also be completed online. Thai immigration has posted a YouTube video explaining the process in English with Chinese subtitles.