I tried searching the forum to find the answer to this question but couldn't find it. I am planning on getting a 3 entry tourist visa. I have read that you should apply for the visa a week before you fly to Thailand as the visa is valid from the day of issue. I plan on paying the 1900 Bhat at the end of the 1st 60 days to get a 30 day extension. Say for example my 1st entry visa runs out on the 25th July and I apply for the 30 day extension on the 15th July, will my 30 day extension start from the 15th July or 25th July.

25th

25th

Thanks for the info. One thing I think they should change is when you apply for the original 2 or 3 entry visa, why doesn't the visa start from the day you arrive in Thailand and not the day you get the visa from the embassy. This would stop people having to wait until the last week before you leave to get the visa.

The visa is good to use the day you get it. You have to check what the "used by date" is on the visa. Your third entry must be on or before the used by date.

25th

Thanks for the info. One thing I think they should change is when you apply for the original 2 or 3 entry visa, why doesn't the visa start from the day you arrive in Thailand and not the day you get the visa from the embassy. This would stop people having to wait until the last week before you leave to get the visa.

Because they could not include an expiration date on the visa in that case so most travelers would not have a clue. Not to mention the headache it would cause at immigration counters.

25th

Thanks for the info. One thing I think they should change is when you apply for the original 2 or 3 entry visa, why doesn't the visa start from the day you arrive in Thailand and not the day you get the visa from the embassy. This would stop people having to wait until the last week before you leave to get the visa.

Your 60 days start from the day you enter Thailand. The same for each of the 3 entries.

Your visa also has an "enter before" field, in which they will write or stamp a date. This date means that ALL your entries have to be done BEFORE that date.

Since normally the "enter before" date is exactly 6 months after the issue date (for a triple entry applied for in your home country), you will have to get your visa as close as possible before your departure date, or else you will not be able to stay until the last day of your extension on the 2nd entry.

25th

Thanks for the info. One thing I think they should change is when you apply for the original 2 or 3 entry visa, why doesn't the visa start from the day you arrive in Thailand and not the day you get the visa from the embassy. This would stop people having to wait until the last week before you leave to get the visa.

Because they could not include an expiration date on the visa in that case so most travelers would not have a clue. Not to mention the headache it would cause at immigration counters.

When they stamp your passport on entry to Thailand they could also stamp an expiration date which would be 6 months away if you applied for tourist visa with 3 entries. Surely this would solve the problem and then you could get your visa 2 -3 weeks before you leave and you wouldn't loose any visa time.

So a new stamp have to be set for every visitor. They have to do that for re-entry permits and how many errors are made - if they had to do this for every traveler they would need correction counters on very corner. If you plan to remain for a long period you are expected to qualify for extensions of stay rather than require visas so they are not designed to provide maximum stay but allow easy use and return for a normal tourist trip of a month or so.