METV Thailand 2026: Multiple Entry Tourist Visa Guide
The Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) is a Thai tourist visa valid for 6 months. You can enter Thailand several times while it is valid, and each entry gives you up to 60 days. At the end of a stay you can ask Immigration for one 30-day extension, so one METV can keep you in Thailand for up to about 9 months. We show how below.
METV matters more now than it did a year ago. Since 15 September 2026, visa-free entry is limited to 30 days for many nationalities. And since 31 August 2026, the DTV can only be filed in the country where you are a citizen or permanent resident. For a tourist who needs more than 30 days, METV is often the practical option.
What METV is: key parameters
Officially the visa is called "Tourist Visa, multiple entries (validity 6 months)". The table collects the main parameters from the Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, the e-Visa portal and the Bangkok Immigration office.
| Parameter | METV |
|---|---|
| Validity | 6 months (a single-entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months) |
| Entries | Multiple, while the visa is valid |
| Stay per entry | Up to 60 days |
| Extension in Thailand | One per stay, up to 30 days, form TM.7, at the Immigration Bureau |
| Extension fee | Currently 1,900 THB (according to Thaiger, 15 September 2026) |
| Shorter extension | For citizens of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Nigeria and Uganda: no more than 7 days |
| Passport validity | At least 1 year (6 months for a single-entry visa) |
| Where to apply | Online through the e-Visa portal, from outside Thailand |
| Work | Prohibited |
| Consular fee | Set by each mission; USD 200 in Ho Chi Minh City |
Why METV matters in 2026
Two dated changes explain the interest in METV.
Visa exemption is now 30 days. According to the infographic published by the Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, the revised scheme took effect on 15 September 2026. Citizens of 60 countries and territories, including Germany, France, Israel, India and Indonesia, get 30 days. Russia, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, China and Laos also get 30 days under bilateral agreements. You can read the official consulate page or our comparison in visa exemption 30 days: what to choose.
The DTV now requires citizenship or permanent residence. From 31 August 2026, 00:00 Thai time, DTV applications at Thai missions worldwide need proof that you are a citizen or permanent resident of the country where you apply, plus a police clearance certificate. This comes from the consulate's announcement of 28 August 2026. Details are in our article on the DTV home-country rule.
A tourist visa is a different category. The e-Visa checklists for Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Jakarta ask for a document showing your current location (for example a valid visa, or proof of paid flights or accommodation), not for residence proof.
How "up to 9 months" works
The visa is valid for 6 months, and every entry you make while it is valid gives you 60 days, even if the visa itself expires during that stay. With a 30-day extension, each stay can last about 90 days. Three such stays, with the last entry made just before the visa expires, add up to about 270 days.
Here is an example for a visa issued on 1 January:
| Step | Date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 January | Visa issued, valid until 30 June. First entry: 60 days, until about 1 March |
| 2 | About 1 March | 30-day extension at Immigration, stay until about 31 March |
| 3 | By 31 March | Exit Thailand, for example a short trip to a neighbouring country, and enter again: 60 days, until about 30 May |
| 4 | About 30 May | Second extension, stay until about 29 June |
| 5 | By 29 June | Exit and enter again before the visa expires on 30 June: 60 days, until about 28 August |
| 6 | About 28 August | Third extension, stay until about 27 September |
Total: about 270 days in Thailand on one visa, with two exits and three extensions.
Keep these limits in mind:
- Each entry needs a prior exit from Thailand, and each extension is paid separately.
- The extension is at the officer's discretion. For citizens of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Nigeria and Uganda it is no more than 7 days.
- Immigration looks at your travel history. According to Thaiger (14 July 2026), officers now review the whole passport history, and extensions can be refused when a trip looks like a visa run. The immigration spokesperson said that people who travel once or twice a year have nothing to worry about.
Treat 9 months as the ceiling, and plan around 6 months plus the extensions you are sure to need.
METV documents
The e-Visa portal gives one checklist for the tourist visa. It is shared by all missions, and there is no separate METV list. Prepare:
- A passport valid for at least 1 year.
- A photo taken within the last 6 months.
- Proof of your trip to Thailand, such as flight bookings.
- Proof of accommodation in Thailand.
- Financial evidence of no less than 20,000 THB: bank statements for the last three months, or a sponsorship letter.
- For Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Jakarta: a document showing your current location, such as a valid visa or receipts for flights or accommodation.
The portal also states that a multiple-entry applicant should show a genuine reason to visit Thailand on a regular basis. A clear travel plan helps: when you will come, why, and where you will stay.
The 20,000 THB figure is the general minimum on the portal. Some missions ask for much more. For example, the embassy in Los Angeles (page updated 9 October 2023) asks for three months of statements with at least USD 2,000 per month. The Ho Chi Minh City page lists no amount. We check the current requirement of the specific mission before we file.
Where, when and how much
Only from outside Thailand. The portal says you can apply only if you are not in Thailand. You cannot convert a tourist entry into METV while standing in Bangkok. The mission is chosen by your current location, which the portal defines as the country where you stay at the moment you submit the application.
Missions differ. Some embassies, such as Los Angeles and Warsaw, require citizenship or residence for METV on their official pages. We regularly file METV for clients who are not residents of Vietnam or Indonesia, and we recommend those two countries: the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, the embassy in Hanoi and the embassy in Jakarta. We have also filed in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Malaysia. The full comparison is in where to apply for METV abroad.
Timing. The Ho Chi Minh City consulate states 5 working days (page updated 1 April 2025) and advises applying at least two weeks before you need the visa. Other missions are slower: the Vientiane embassy states 5 to 10 working days, and Los Angeles at least 15. With our service, the process takes about 7 working days in the country of filing.
Cost. The Ho Chi Minh City consulate lists USD 200 for METV and USD 40 for a single entry. Other missions charge in local currency. We break down the full cost in how much METV costs in 2026.
Rules during your stay
No work. Employment on a tourist visa is prohibited.
TDAC. Every foreigner must submit the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card, no earlier than 3 days before arrival, at tdac.immigration.go.th (according to Thaiger).
How we handle METV
Get Thai Visa is operated by Thai Law Services, with an office in Bangkok (Stecon Tower, Sukhumvit 21, meetings by appointment). We have been in business since 2022 and work under a written contract.
The METV service costs from USD 300, paid in full in advance. The consular fee is separate: USD 200 in Ho Chi Minh City, and we confirm the amount for other missions before you pay. The service includes:
- preparing the document package and filing it through e-Visa;
- help preparing missing documents: we help you assemble a complete package under the consulate's current requirements, and we do not produce forged documents;
- a plan of entries and extensions;
- help with the trip to file: where to stay and how long to wait.
If the application is refused, we resubmit for free. You pay only the consular fee again. If you are applying from your country of citizenship or permanent residence and need a DTV, we still do that too, from 8,000 THB (the consular fee is separate, USD 340 in Ho Chi Minh City). Our DTV requirements guide explains what the DTV needs.
We can file your METV from Vietnam or Indonesia in about 7 working days, from USD 300, with a plan of entries and extensions built around your dates.
FAQ
How long is an METV valid?
6 months from the issue date. Each entry gives up to 60 days of stay. A single-entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months.
Can I extend an METV in Thailand?
Yes. At Immigration you can request one extension of up to 30 days (form TM.7) for each stay. The fee is currently 1,900 THB. The officer decides, and citizens of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Nigeria and Uganda get no more than 7 days.
Can I apply for METV from inside Thailand?
No. The e-Visa portal accepts the application only if you are outside Thailand. File from the country where you are at the moment of submission.
How much money do I need on my account?
The e-Visa portal lists a general minimum of 20,000 THB, shown by bank statements for the last three months or a sponsorship letter. Individual missions can ask for more, so the exact amount depends on where you file. We confirm it before you pay.
Can I work on an METV?
No. Employment is prohibited on a tourist visa.
Is METV better than visa exemption?
It depends on how long you stay. Visa exemption now gives 30 days for many nationalities. METV gives up to 60 days per entry with an extension, over 6 months. The comparison of exemption, SETV, METV and DTV helps you choose.
Do I need to live in the country where I apply?
Some missions require residence or citizenship for METV. Vietnam and Indonesia ask for a document showing your current location, and we regularly file there for clients who are not residents. We confirm your mission's requirements before you pay.
