Hi all,

I plan to come to Thailand on a double entry tourist visa from the embassy in London. My question is when does the visa become effective? From date of issue or date of entry into the Kingdom? Also am I correct in believing that a double entry can potentially give me 180 days in Thailand, including a couple of immigration visits and border runs?

Thanks in advance for any information regarding this.

Date of issue.

It will also have a date which it must be used by. Any entry you make on the visa must be done before this expiry date.

Your permission to stay starts when you arrive in the country, so if you enter one day before the visa expires, you get a 60 permission to stay.

Valid from date of issue.

Your 60 days will run from the actual dates of entry, both of which must be made before the 'Use Before' date marked on your visa..

So the closer you practically can get your visa issue to your date of travel the better; particularly if you want to get the full benefit of a 30 day in country extension on the first 60 day entry followed by your second entry which must be made before your visa's 'Use Before' date.

Edited June 15, 201412 yr by digitalchromakey

When you arrive in Thailand you get a small stamp that gives you 60 days...on your double entry Tourist Visa there is a date that you have to return to Thailand by that date for your 2nd part of the double entry...so when you get your 1st 30 day extension ...you will get another small stamp I believe extending your visa another 30 days...but might be over the date on your double entry Tourist Visa...so you have to pay attention to that date more than the 30 day extension date...

Thanks for the info guys Does anyone know the time period between the date of issue here in the UK, and the use by date on which I would have to have made my 2nd entry by?

Thanks for the info guys Does anyone know the time period between the date of issue here in the UK, and the use by date on which I would have to have made my 2nd entry by?

Double Entry Tourist Visa issued by the Thai Embassy in London has a 6 month validity period (there will be 6 months from date of issue to the 'Use Before' Date).