Timing of Initial Entry to Thailand on LTR Visa

[TurtleSF]

I am recently retired and applied for the LTR-WP visa. I have received my BOI endorsement letter and will now apply for the visa itself. I opted to get the visa in the US and will be applying via the E-Visa portal. 

 

I know that the endorsement letter is valid for 60 days, meaning that I need to apply for the LTR visa within that timeframe. My question: Once I receive the visa, do I need to make my initial entry into Thailand within that same 60 day window? I ask because the BOI process moved rather quickly and the date I was planning to go to Thailand is just outside the 60 days.

 

I assume that the LTR visa will be issued with a 5-year validity and it is multiple entry. I just wasn't sure if there were any timing constraints on the initial use or if I can enter at any time I want after it is issued. I appreciate any guidance.

 

 

[Tod Daniels]

Good question, I think you have to APPLY for the visa during that window and then once the consulate approves it and sends you the PDF (which IS your visa) you just print it and show it with your passport when you fly in (no matter when that is during the next 5 years) 

I would contact LTR on their f/b page because they usually are good about answering questions 

Dunno why you'd decide to get the LTR thru a thai consulate in the US (and pay more for it) AND then only get a PDF file <- which is your visa and re-entry permit for the next 10 years 😞 (meaning you print that out and present it every time you enter the country)  

You would be far better served to get the visa approved, come to thailand make the appt at the LTR office go and get the VISA, the 5 year entry stamp and the 5 year re-entry permit inked in to your passport 

Never the less, here's the f/b page of LTR 
https://www.facebook.com/LTRVisaThailand 

[Equatorial]

1 hour ago, Tod Daniels said:

You would be far better served to get the visa approved, come to thailand make the appt at the LTR office go and get the VISA, the 5 year entry stamp and the 5 year re-entry permit inked in to your passport 

 

I can see the advantages of decoupling the physical visa from the passport. Passports have to be renewed, they get lost, etc. Having a PDF gives you the ability to create the physical visa document at will. 

[frankstraube]

I am myself in the process of applying for the LTR-WP Visa, and it is easier to receive the visa in my country as a PDF with E-Visa.

 

Does the 5 years period begins the day the visa is issued at the embassy, or is it the first day you enter Thailand with your new visa (as for a Tourist visa) ?

 

Thx

[Tod Daniels]

1 hour ago, Equatorial said:

I can see the advantages of decoupling the physical visa from the passport.

IMHO there is almost NO advantage to having the eVisa via PDF, if you get a new passport you then need to carry the data page of the old passport along with the PDF that is the visa to get stamped in with the new passport 😞 
 

Where as if you have a hard stamp LTR from the office here, if you get a new passport you go get the LTR, the 5 year stamp and the 5 year multiple re-entry permit inked back in without much fan fare at all 🙂  

To each their own 

[Tod Daniels]

1 hour ago, frankstraube said:

Does the 5 years period begins the day the visa is issued at the embassy

The LTR visa is valid for 10 years,

The 5 year is the ENTRY STAMP you get when you show up here 

 

[TurtleSF]

I reached out to the LTR folks (thanks Tod) and this was there reply:   "After successfully collecting the visa from oversea, you can enter Thailand at any time as long as your LTR Visa still valid." So I should not have any issues. 

 

I appreciate the different perspectives on where to get the visa. Everyone is applying with their own unique circumstances and it is nice that they offer some flexibility. Maybe I will check back in here in a year or two to share some real world experience of having opted for the eVisa. In the meantime, I look forward to completing this last step and starting my retirement in Thailand.

[BrandonJT]

11 hours ago, frankstraube said:

I am myself in the process of applying for the LTR-WP Visa, and it is easier to receive the visa in my country as a PDF with E-Visa.

 

Does the 5 years period begins the day the visa is issued at the embassy, or is it the first day you enter Thailand with your new visa (as for a Tourist visa) ?

 

Thx

ALL visas are effective the date of issue.

[hotandsticky]

26 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

ALL visas are effective the date of issue.

 

 

Nope.

 

I have obtained visas with a future 'valid from' date.

[BrandonJT]

6 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Nope.

 

I have obtained visas with a future 'valid from' date.

Not credible in any way.  Either show proof or get out. ALL visas are effective as of the date issued by the embassy. Especially now that all embassies are uniformly using the e-visa platform.

[Caldera]

10 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Nope.

 

I have obtained visas with a future 'valid from' date.

 

Thai visas? When was that?

[Caldera]

7 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Not Thai......but it was the idiot @BrandonJT who stated ALL visas. Perhaps he will think before shooting his mouth off next time.

 

(My instances were with UK visas where you can request a future validity dates. I am not aware that is possible with Thailand visas)

 

In fairness, this is the "Thai Visas" forum and there's another one for other countries. What @BrandonJT wrote is certainly true for all Thai visas nowadays.

 

You're right about other countries, obviously. Schengen visas routinely are issued to start on the exact date that the applicant wants to enter. Closer to Thailand, the Vietnamese eVisa comes to mind; you can choose when it will be "valid from".

 

I remember that some (honorary) Thai consuls used to be "flexible" when they still issued handwritten visas. That's why I wasn't sure if you were referring to Thai visas years ago.

[DrJack54]

Flame post and reply removed.

Time for circuit breaker.

 

Yes some Visas are issued with a future entry date.

By way of example my often obtained tourist visas for Vietnam have an enter date well after date of application.

eVisa applications for Thailand different..

The enter  date is issue date. .

 

Good points from @Caldera above

 

[frankstraube]

When you get a 2 months (= visa length) thai Tourist visa, you have three months (= visa validity) to use it from the day it was issued. So the 2 months period begins from the day you enter Thailand, and not from the day it was issued.

 

So i thought it could be the same for the LTR visa, the 5 years period (length) would begin the first time you use it...

But then how long would be allowed before using it (validity) ? A few months would make sense, people cannot jump into a plane to Thailand the day they receive their LTR visa. 

 

[Equatorial]

13 hours ago, frankstraube said:

When you get a 2 months (= visa length) thai Tourist visa, you have three months (= visa validity) to use it from the day it was issued. So the 2 months period begins from the day you enter Thailand, and not from the day it was issued.

 

I believe the same is true for Non O. When the eVisa is issued by the consulate/embassy, you have 3 months to use it (i.e. to enter Thailand) from the date of issue.

 

You get to stay in Thailand for 90 days starting with the date of entry, rather than with the date when the visa was issued. 

[Presnock]

On 7/8/2025 at 6:38 AM, Tod Daniels said:

Good question, I think you have to APPLY for the visa during that window and then once the consulate approves it and sends you the PDF (which IS your visa) you just print it and show it with your passport when you fly in (no matter when that is during the next 5 years) 

I would contact LTR on their f/b page because they usually are good about answering questions 

Dunno why you'd decide to get the LTR thru a thai consulate in the US (and pay more for it) AND then only get a PDF file <- which is your visa and re-entry permit for the next 10 years 😞 (meaning you print that out and present it every time you enter the country)  

You would be far better served to get the visa approved, come to thailand make the appt at the LTR office go and get the VISA, the 5 year entry stamp and the 5 year re-entry permit inked in to your passport 

Never the less, here's the f/b page of LTR 
https://www.facebook.com/LTRVisaThailand 

agree with these comments.  I have earned that in order to ensure the most accurate response to any question on the LTR is to ask the BOI folks who have always been great in response!

[kimothai]

On 7/8/2025 at 6:38 AM, Tod Daniels said:

Good question, I think you have to APPLY for the visa during that window and then once the consulate approves it and sends you the PDF (which IS your visa) you just print it and show it with your passport when you fly in (no matter when that is during the next 5 years) 

I would contact LTR on their f/b page because they usually are good about answering questions 

Dunno why you'd decide to get the LTR thru a thai consulate in the US (and pay more for it) AND then only get a PDF file <- which is your visa and re-entry permit for the next 10 years 😞 (meaning you print that out and present it every time you enter the country)  

You would be far better served to get the visa approved, come to thailand make the appt at the LTR office go and get the VISA, the 5 year entry stamp and the 5 year re-entry permit inked in to your passport 

Never the less, here's the f/b page of LTR 
https://www.facebook.com/LTRVisaThailand 

I had a friend coincidentally was applying for the LTR (pensioner) at the same time I was (Aug/Sept of 2023).  I was living in Pattaya when I submitted the application, and he was living in Hawaii when he submitted the application.  His application was accepted while he was in Hawaii, and he chose to process/receive LTR visa in Bangkok (as I think you are suggesting).  At this point you have to re-submit some forms including the passport with "all" the latest entry stamps and then you can make appointment for processing at the BOI.  The problem is (and he didn't realize this at the time when he selected "Bangkok" to receive the visa) he didn't have the stamp for his entry into 
Thailand while he is still sitting in Hawaii.  He was concerned about having access to a scanner/computer to complete the process once he arrived in Thailand.  So, the solution we used was for my GF to pick him up at airport and bring him directly to Pattaya where I scanned and processed all the necessary documents (including passport with new entry stamp) and flied it for him.  It all worked out and we actually went to the BOI at the same time.  

So, in summary it is possible to come to Bangkok and not use the Consulate but be aware you will have to wait until you get to Thailand to do the final submission.  Personally, I think it would be much easier/simpler to do the whole process before you come to Thailand and pay the extra at the Consulate.  This was almost 2 years ago and maybe things have changed.  As they say: "Up to You".