Where to Apply for METV Abroad: Vietnam, Indonesia (2026)

You apply for a Thailand multiple-entry tourist visa (METV) from outside Thailand, through the official e-Visa portal, at the Thai mission that covers the country where you are at the moment you submit. The portal calls this your "current location". If you are not in your own country, the two places we recommend are Vietnam (the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City or the embassy in Hanoi) and Indonesia (the embassy in Jakarta).

How the location rule works

The e-Visa portal at thaievisa.go.th sends your application to a mission based on where you are. Its own wording is that your current location is "a country in which you remain at the time that you lodge an application". It also states that you can apply only if you are currently not in Thailand and in a country where e-Visa services are available.

So the question "where should I apply" is really a question about where you will physically be on the day you submit. You do not need to travel to a Thai embassy in person for the passport: the Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City states that the application is online and that no in-person passport submission is required.

A few Thai missions publish their own extra rules for METV. Warsaw's published requirements, for example, include a Polish residence card, and Los Angeles asks for bank statements showing at least 2,000 USD in each of three months. That is why we do not suggest picking a random country. We file from missions where we know how the process works.

Countries we file from

Searching for "Thai tourist visa from Bali" or "METV from Vietnam" usually leads to forum posts from several years ago. Check any claim you read against the date and against what the mission itself publishes.

What you need to prepare

The portal's checklist for a tourist visa is shared across missions. Plan for:

• Passport valid for at least one year for multiple entry (six months for single entry).
• Photo taken within the last six months.
• Trip booking to Thailand and accommodation in Thailand.
• Financial evidence of no less than 20,000 THB, such as bank statements for the last three months or a sponsorship letter. This is the portal's general minimum, and a mission can ask for more.
• A document showing your current location. The portal's examples are a valid visa, proof of payment for airline tickets or proof of payment for accommodation. A stamp or visa from the country you are in, plus paid accommodation there, covers this well.

For multiple entry, the portal also says you need to show a genuine reason to visit Thailand on a regular basis. Think about that before you apply, and describe your plans honestly.

Missing a document is common. We help you assemble a full package that matches the consulate's current requirements. We do not produce fake documents.

Why not DTV, and why not from inside Thailand

DTV. Since 31 August 2026, the DTV is accepted only from a mission in the country where you are a citizen or a permanent resident. The Ho Chi Minh City consulate published this in its announcement of 28 August 2026. In Ho Chi Minh City it is open only to foreigners with a Temporary or Permanent Residence Card. A tourist standing in Vietnam or Indonesia cannot file a DTV there. Our full explanation is in the DTV home-country rule article. We still handle DTV applications from your country of citizenship or permanent residence, from 8,000 THB plus the consular fee (for example, $340 in Ho Chi Minh City).

Inside Thailand. The portal states that you can apply only if you are currently not in Thailand. There is no way to switch a tourist stay into an METV from within the country. The route is a short trip abroad to file, then entry with the visa in hand.

If you only need up to 30 days, you may not need a visa at all. We compare every option in visa exemption, SETV, METV or DTV.

Step-by-step plan for your trip

1. Choose the country. Vietnam or Indonesia for most clients. We confirm the mission's current requirements and fee before you pay.
2. Prepare the package. Passport, photo, bank statements, trip booking and accommodation for Thailand. We check it before you fly.
3. Fly to the country and settle in. Book accommodation that you can document, and keep your tickets and receipts. They support your current-location document.
4. We submit through e-Visa. Your location has to be that country at the time of submission.
5. Wait about 7 working days. In our practice that is the typical time in the country of application. Ho Chi Minh City's own page quotes 5 working days.
6. Receive the visa and enter Thailand. According to Thaiger, the free TDAC arrival card is submitted no earlier than three days before arrival.
7. Plan your entries and extensions. METV is valid for 6 months and allows 60 days per entry. Immigration can extend a stay once, by up to 30 days. Each new entry requires you to leave Thailand first. We build this schedule with you.

Keep your travel pattern reasonable. According to Thaiger (14 July 2026), immigration reviews the full history of a passport.

For the full rules of the visa, see our METV guide. For the cost side, see METV cost in 2026.

FAQ

Can I apply for METV while I am in Thailand?

No. The portal says you can apply only if you are currently not in Thailand. You need to be abroad, in a country where e-Visa services are available.

Do I need to be a resident of Vietnam or Indonesia?

The portal asks for a document showing your current location, such as a valid visa or proof of paid tickets and accommodation. It does not ask for a residence permit. We regularly file for clients who are not residents there. Other missions can have stricter rules, so check before choosing another country.

How long does it take?

Ho Chi Minh City's official page quotes 5 working days. In our practice it is around 7 working days in the country of application. For Hanoi and Jakarta we confirm timing for your case.

How much does it cost?

The consular fee in Ho Chi Minh City is $200. Other missions set their own amount, and we confirm it before you pay. Our service starts from $300, paid in full in advance, and the consular fee is separate.

Can I apply at the consulate in Bali?

As far as we know, the honorary consulate in Bali does not issue visas, so applications from Indonesia go through Jakarta. You can stay in Bali and we handle the filing.

What happens if the application is refused?

We file again for free. Our work is not charged twice, but the consular fee is paid again.

Plan your application with us

We prepare the document package, submit it through e-Visa, help with the trip (where to stay and how long to wait), and build your entry and extension plan, all under a written contract. Get Thai Visa is run by Thai Law Services, with an office in Bangkok, and the process takes around 7 working days in the country of application. Use the consultation button on this page to tell us where you are and when you want to be in Thailand.