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What is the processing time and application requirements for a single entry tourist visa at Thai consulates in Vientiane or Savannakhet?

Thailand Visa Single Entry Tourist Visa Visa Processing Time Consulate Applications Visa Fees Expat Immigration Issues

Mar 1, 2025

2 days ago

Jun *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

How long is processing time for single entry tourist visa application at Vientiane/Savannakhet consulates (and where is the shortest for that matter Laos or otherwise)?  Does it really take 10 ~ 15 days?  

Does one have to be the resident or national of the country at where you're filing the application from to be eligible for SETV (METV only?).  

Also, at what point do you have to pay up the application fee?  The applicant is in CM now where he will file online SE tourist visa application from.  It is assumed it takes at least two days to travel from CM to Vientiane via Thai-Lao friendship bridge.  Does that give the applicant enough time window to go make application fee payment at the embassy/consulate when he is called to pay up?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The processing time for a single entry tourist visa (SETV) at the Thai consulates in Vientiane and Savannakhet is generally reported to take about 2 working days after payment is made in cash. It's important to note that applicants do not need to be residents or nationals of the country where they are applying from; nearly anyone can obtain a SETV, provided there are no specific restrictions based on their nationality. The application fee is payable after the online application is submitted, when you present your application confirmation along with proof of entry into Laos (via visa or entry stamp) at the consulate. It should be noted that you cannot apply for the visa while inside Thailand.

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Tod *********

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗲/𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

It takes as long as it takes. BUT with that being said people are reporting, for easy visas like a single entry tourist visa they should be approved in 2 working days after they've paid the visa fee in CASH at the consulate

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗩 (𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗩 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆?).

SETV can be gotten by almost anyone whether they live in Lao or not. He needs to make sure he's not from a country with special processing time.

Only the METV requires you hold legal long term residence in the country where the thai consulate you're applying at is

𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼, 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲?

You GO to Lao, you apply online, you upload your proof that you're IN Lao (visa/entry stamp) you get the confirmation that you applied which you take to the thai consulate and pay in CASH for the visa

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗠 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗘 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺.

You can't apply for an eVisa INSIDE thailand, and you need to upload the proof you're IN Lao by your visa/entry stamp when you apply

They don't call you to 'pay up', you apply online, get a confirmation of you having applied and take THAT to the thai consulate in Vientiane to pay (from 9-11 on M-F closed holidays and weekends)

2 days ago

Jun *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks you always!

I suppose you have to make two trips to the embassy, once to pay up and another to receive the visa/passport?

Lastly, is it OK for the candidate to designate a monastery (temple) as a place to stay so long he can get "letter from whom you will be staying with and a signed copy of his/her ID" (abbot)?

BTW, can SETV be exntended (max 60 days?) ?

2 days ago

Tod *********

@Jun ******

you are not correct, you apply ONLINE, you get the confirmation and print that out, you go to the embassy and pay during the hours I mentioned, then you just wait IN Lao until you get the email stating the application is approved and you PRINT the attached PDF file because that is the visa.

So no, you go to the embassy ONE time to pay and then wait for the approval

Shouldn't have an issue showing where you're staying if you have that documentation.

Did you read the requirements for the tourist visa on the eVisa website

here

2 days ago

Jun *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I've questioned this myself but no one can explain why the monastic candidates can't/don't apply Non-Imm R outside Thailand. That's just how they do it and every foreign monks I know seem to have arrived in Thailand on tourist visa (as a lay person) and change to Non-Imm R locally.

I assume part of it is that you have to ordain first to become a monastic BEFORE you can apply for Non-Imm R. But then, those who became a fully-ordained monk and remained in robe for 10 years also leave Thailand when their Non-Imm R extension max out at 10 years (5 for those from Buddhist countries), return to Thailand on tourist visa and reapply Non-R locally.

Some reordain in Thailand to apply for Non-R even if they are already in robe because Thai Buddhist authorities doesn't always recognize the lineage they took ordination or the documents proving it.

Either way I don't think he has enough time to apply for Non-R locally for the monastery where he's staying does not have a preceptor and it takes time just to make appointment to invite one but also to collect signatures from provincial head monk, county head monk, National Office of Buddhism, etc etc.

2 days ago

Jun *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thank you always!

2 days ago

Reply to

Jun *******

James ********

@Jun ******

what is the passport nation of the applicant?

How long has the applicant been in Thailand in 2024, 2023.

2 days ago

Jun *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@James *******

I don't know the applicant directly so I don't know how long he has been staying in Thailand but I assume he is in Thailand now under 60 days visa waiver program (he has previously lived and worked in Thailand and has a bank account here).

He is a Japanese passport holder staying in a forest monastery in Chiang Mai and needs to leave Thailand in two weeks time, apply whatever visa he can get in Laos (preferably tourist) so he can come back and change that to Non-Immigrant R (Religion) after taking samanera ordination to become a novice monk.

An I correct to believe you can NOT apply for a visa inside Thailand when you arrived here visa free (visa exemption)?

2 days ago

James ********

@Jun ******

with his passport nation being Japanese ...he can enter Thailand Visa Exempt Entry...no visa needed. AND that can be extended for 30 days at the local Thai Immigration office for 1900 Thai baht.

I would recommend he use an experienced border run service company to take him to do the land border bounce and back on the same day.

Where in Thailand is he now?

2 days ago

Jun *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@James *******

They are aware that Japanese nationals can enter Thailand visa exempt but he has to leave and return to Thailand with a visa one way or the other tourist or otherwise.

Either way, does he really need an "experience border run service company" to do border run?

a day ago

James ********

@Jun ******

Yes ! I've discussed this with

@Tod ********

and he believes:

"he's foolish to try to bounce himself up there, he'll get hung at the border and have to stay in Lao 2 nights, then have to show he's flying back to Japan in 60 days when he comes back in"

Use an experienced border run service company. That will get him the New 60 day STAMP as Visa Exempt Entry.

There's several in Chiang Mai...

Google " Border Run service company Chiang Mai"

a day ago

Jun *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@James *******

Are you saying if he's denied entry at the border he can't come back in to Thailand via the same border checkpoint for two nights and not without a proof that you're leaving Thailand in 60 days even if he's allowed back in?

Does that mean it also negates any chance he has of successful Non-Imm R application after returning to Thailand and extend his stay beyond 60 days even if he's allowed back in? 😟

a day ago

James ********

@Jun ******

The experienced border run service company will not take him to the border and reenter Thailand with a new 60 day STAMP as Visa Exempt Entry UNLESS they know he will be successful in getting the stamp. They PRE-CLEAR him and his passport before they take him on the land border bounce. That's why they ask for his passport nation and recent history of staying in Thailand.

You have good advice ✅

Comments closed.

18 hours ago

Jun *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@James *******

He is a Japanese passport holder and is in a forest monastery in Southern Chiang Mai near Lamphun border (two hrs south of city of CM).

2 days ago

Tod *********

@Jun ******

well he ain't the first foreigner that forest temple has had there over the years, they know the process, so if they say he needs a "tourist visa" send him to Lao to get a tourist visa online thru the eVisa system like i outlined.

a day ago

Tod *********

@Jun ******

𝗔𝗺 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 (𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻)

Nope you are not correct with that 🙁

You can indeed apply for an in country visa at the immigration office from a visa exempt or a tourist visa entry IF you have enough time remaining on your current stamp to cover the under review period.

Although there might be some squirrelly thing about the in country Non-R visa I don't know about

Why doesn't the guy take the documentation to Lao and apply for the 90 day Non-R visa there? That would be an option

2 days ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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