METV visa from Australia: foreign nationals can apply, the official word

[lordblackader]

I chatted tonight online with the Thai Honorary Consular General for Brisbane who just happens to be an old friend, on the subject of foreign nationals applying for a multi-entry tourist visa in Australia.

The official answer (and he agreed to go on the record) is that some can apply and obtain an METV from the Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne consulates.

He sent me the form without giving me an official list of which people from which countries can, but the general gist is that those from western english speaking countries can apply in Australia for the METV.

A list of more restrictive countries need to apply from the embassy in Canberra, I'm not 100% sure what that means, but it does confirm it's possible .

[JayBird]

Interesting... I guess that would mean Canada, US and UK can do that. Their web site suggests the same as well. Can you PM me the forms?

[Yme]

Since the METV was announced its been possible for foreign nationals with a valid visa for another country to apply. I'm not sure that there is anything new here. If you are an American or Canadian, etc., with a valid visa for being in Australia or another country then you can apply for a METV.

If you are in another country on a visa exempt or short-term tourist visa you can apply, but its likely to be refused if you've simply flown into a second country from Thailand for the purpose of applying for a METV, as that's simply a border hop over a longer distance. If it was as easy as this then everyone would just go to Cambodia, Laos or Singapore on short-stay or visa exempt entries and do the same there.

[ubonjoe]

Since the METV was announced its been possible for foreign nationals with a valid visa for another country to apply. I'm not sure that there is anything new here. If you are an American or Canadian, etc., with a valid visa for being in Australia or another country then you can apply for a METV.

If you are in another country on a visa exempt or short-term tourist visa you can apply, but its likely to be refused if you've simply flown into a second country from Thailand for the purpose of applying for a METV, as that's simply a border hop over a longer distance. If it was as easy as this then everyone would just go to Cambodia, Laos or Singapore on short-stay or visa exempt entries and do the same there.

If you look at the requirements on most Thai embassy and consulate websites you will see that they require a person to a citizen or resident of the country where they a located to apply for the METV.

The embassies in Australia, Canada and the US do not have the residency requirement. There may be others but I have not seen them.

[williamgeorgeallen]

as a business owner in thailand i had high hopes for these long term tourist visas to help business and tourism as a whole. when they were announced i figured there would just be a requirement to show enough funds or income to last for 6 months to get the visa. everyone wins, tourist gets an extended stay in ferang heaven and thailand gets their money. but no, it has be done in such a way many people wont bother and they will just stick to their short holidays. TAT goes on and on about trying to increase tourism. #### just give tourists 60 days on entry, that would at least be a start.

[JackThompson]

I would bet the TAT folks would love to see easier visas, but there are other considerations / bureaucracies involved. I know the standard line is that the changes are to stop illegal working - hence 'show us the money' - but I believe there is a national-security factor in play here. Perhaps the security-infrastructure in place to screen visitors to Australia is considered a 'trusted and reliable' screening mechanism.

I just looked up Air-Asia to Perth - only about B4000 each way if you plan a few months ahead, so the cost-difference as compared to nearby SETVs is minimal.

[chainarong]

as a business owner in thailand i had high hopes for these long term tourist visas to help business and tourism as a whole. when they were announced i figured there would just be a requirement to show enough funds or income to last for 6 months to get the visa. everyone wins, tourist gets an extended stay in ferang heaven and thailand gets their money. but no, it has be done in such a way many people wont bother and they will just stick to their short holidays. TAT goes on and on about trying to increase tourism. #### just give tourists 60 days on entry, that would at least be a start.

You are right, freeing up certain areas would reduce drag, however it is agreements reached between countries that are the snag , not many Thai's are admitted into OZ on a 30 day arrival card. When you look into other countries immigration they apply the same rules, Thailand isn't a loner in this regard, for Aussies the best place now is Singapore with all new agreements and hassle free, only problem 2 expensive.

[Poppadom]

As someone from a non English speaking EU member country, holding a one year validity evisitor visa to Australia and having more than sufficient funds, I find that quite discriminatory...