I just watched a YouTube video posted today from a visa agent in Pattaya, he stated that a maximum of 2 visa exempt entries in 1 calendar year into Thailand is law now and that anyone trying to re-enter more than twice on visa exempt in 1 calendar year will be refused entry at immigration, regardless, even if you have never applied for an extension or done border bounces before.

My friend is due to arrive from Australia on Wednesday, he has done 2 visa exempt entries this year and has always returned to Australia after each visit, his last entry in to Thailand was August this year.

Will he be denied entry this time, he is applying for a tourist visa today after hearing this news but he may not receive the visa in time for his departure flight from Australia this Wednesday?

Got my DTV in Sydney Australia yesterday. Lodged on 6 November explained that my existing visa expires 19 November.

Stayed at pending document check until 20 November. Got a email 21 November Approved.

No problems with the application. No additional documents. Got the DTV on the Softpower platform Thai Cooking classes with House of taste 6 months.

Thanks for the advise read on this forum.

Applied in Canberra/Australia on the 1st of November, and 21 days later I received it... I also think it was because I specified that I was travelling on the 1st of December.

They don't answer their phone too.

Hello everyone, on November 21st yesterday, I received my DTV visa in Vientiane, Laos. It only took me 5 working days from application to approval, which is amazing speed. On the same day, I successfully entered Thailand through Friendship Bridge with my DTV visa. Refusal of entry is only for frequent Border runners .not for DTV holders. I hope this information is helpful to everyone

Anyone applied for DTV in London with success?

I wanted to share a real-world update from my current stay in Thailand in case it’s helpful to anyone stressing about border runs. I’m married to a Thai (4 years now) and usually stay in the village at her home. My pattern is pretty simple: I come for about two months at a time, every six months or so. U.S. passport, long validity, nothing exotic.

This trip I planned a longer stay — around three months — splitting time between Koh Tao for diving, village time to work on the house, and a quick side trip to Laos for some ziplining and waterfalls. We use my wife’s online immigration account (tm30.immigration.go.th) to log my address every time, so immigration has had a complete record of my movements for years.

Here’s the part people worry about:

When I left Thailand for Laos, I had 2 days left on my original visa-exempt entry. Zero issues leaving. I did the visa on arrival at Chong Mek (not the e-visa — timing didn’t work), which did take up a full passport page. Stayed two nights in Laos. When I came back, Thai immigration stamped me in with a fresh 60-day exemption with no comments, no questions, no drama.

Despite all the fear-mongering (one attorney/agent even told me not to go), the reality was simple: If you’re not trying to live in Thailand indefinitely off back-to-back tourist exemptions, you’re probably fine. My travel pattern is normal, my stays are reasonable, and immigration treated it exactly that way.

Posting this for balance — the internet tends to amplify the horror stories, not the routine experiences that go smoothly.

-- Pic of me and my wife added for a bit of flex. And yes — before anyone says it — I’m fully aware I’m punching above my weight class. 😄

I currently have the below travel pattern in Thailand for the last 3 years. I have always used the 60 days visa exemption to enter because I come on holiday every time.

I come in October and stay less than 60 days, after this I go in my home country. I then come again end of January, I stay for less than 60 days and go home.

I have done this for the last 3 years, never overstaying, never coming in more than 2 times per year and never had any problems.

Considering the new rules, to continue doing this, do you think I need a DTV now? Or I can still use the 60 days visa exemption?

Many thanks.

I got my DTV 🥳🥳🥳

I wanted to share my experience in detail to help others.

I got a Workation DTV visa from Ho Chi Minh. If you go to Vietnam to apply be aware you need to apply to the embassy based on where you stay in Vietnam. I’ve attached the list as this is only available when you first apply.

My situation is a bit complicated as I have a few companies so I only told them about the two relevant ones. One I used as a sponsor that has high reserves and the other I pay myself a salary from. One mistake I made was thinking the 500,000 baht should be in the sponsors bank account. It must be in your personal account but when I got asked to evidence this in the additional documents they requested they accepted that I had transferred the money on the day. I wrote an explanation with my bank statement and it was fine.

One thing that makes the application hard is that the evidence for each request must be one single PDF. I used I love PDF to merge and compress my documents which worked brilliantly.

I wrote a very comprehensive document on my businesses with pictures, links and screenshots to really show that they are legitimate. I also merged the company registration document and accounts to show the business is bina fide. I still got asked to provide a Company overview showing details about its history, vision, mission, products, and achievements. I did this for both companies along with evidence of registration, directors etc.

I also got asked for:

Pictures of every page of my passport

My personal bank account 6 month statements

So put in as much as possible.

Also book somewhere online where so you can provide it as evidence of being in Vietnam and also your flight.

Good luck everyone it's still possible just put everything together maticulously.

Can someone tell me I’ve had 30 day extension and I will leave Thailand to do a visa run by land or by air ? And can this be done more than 1 time ?

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hello, about the renewal of a retirement extension. The letter from the bank can be made by any branch or only by the one where the account is located?