Sometimes, foreigners find it confusing on how to differentiate the visa expiration date from visa validity. Today, we discuss about the meaning of visa expiration date and how is it different from the validity of visa.

Visa expiration date is shown on the visa and it generally means that the visa is valid. Depending on the foreigner’s nationality, visas can be issued for any number of entries, from as little as one entry to as many as multiple or unlimited entries, for the same purpose of travel. When the visa is issued from multiple entries, it can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for the same purpose of traveling.

On the other hand, visa validity is the time period from the visa issuance date to visa expiration date as shown on the visa. For example, if you are a foreigner who travels frequently as a tourist with a multiple entry visa, you do not have to apply for a new visa each time you want to travel to Thailand. The visa validity is the length of time you are permitted to travel to a port-of-entry in Thailand to request permission of the immigration officer to permit you to enter Thailand. However, the visa does not guarantee entry to Thailand. Each time you arrive at the port-of-entry like at Suvarnabhumi airport, an immigration officer decides whether to allow you to enter and how long you can stay. Note that only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter Thailand.

Eventually, the visa expiration date should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay (permit of stay) in Thailand, given to you by the immigration officer at port-of-entry. The visa expiration date has nothing to do with your permit of stay in Thailand for any given visit.

As the Thailand Visa and Immigration rules and governing laws tend to change from time to time, it is better to seek the help of English speaking Thai Visa Experts. For your visa application needs, contact MSNA for further assistance.