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Can I apply for a work permit in Thailand if I hold a DTV visa and am invited to perform at an event?
Mar 26, 2026
a month ago
Amira *********
ORIGINAL POSTERDoes anyone know if we receive the DTV can we apply for a work permit if we are invited to perform at an event and they wish to pay us? Or if we have the DTV does that mean we cannot apply for a work permit? Thanks.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The DTV (Short-term Cultural Visa) does not allow for any form of paid or unpaid work in Thailand, including performing at events. To legally work in Thailand, you need to cancel the DTV and apply for a Non-B visa along with a work permit before starting any work. Multiple comments emphasize that working without the appropriate permit, even if the work is unpaid, can result in legal complications, including arrest and deportation. Therefore, if you wish to perform at an event, you must ensure you have the correct visa and work permit in place.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Amira *********
ORIGINAL POSTERConfused by this bit. Participate in so-called “Thai Soft Power Activities.” These activities include:
Muay Thai courses
Cooking courses
Long-term medical treatments
Sport training
Art or music festivals
Muay Thai courses
Cooking courses
Long-term medical treatments
Sport training
Art or music festivals
Amira *********
ORIGINAL POSTERWill have to contact directly to see how this Visa relates to Art or music festivals.
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Amira *********
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Bob **********
No
Peter ********
I'd be VERY careful if I were you about performing in Thailand. Big case happened a few months ago of a woman being a dj at an event. The police arrested her on stage and put her in a very dirty cell for a few days before deporting her... I don't know what channels you need to go through to get the okay to perform but I would triple check before you do. Apparently this DJ guy wasn't even being paid and still received a harsh treatment
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1Cui ******
As far as I know, a lot of people work in Thailand through DTV.Like bartenders, DJ.
So how you get paid is the key.
Just like how prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but in reality...
So some people's advice is just that - advice. Facts are different from advice.
So how you get paid is the key.
Just like how prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but in reality...
So some people's advice is just that - advice. Facts are different from advice.
Anonymous ******************
DTV does not allow you to work in Thailand in any capacity including volunteering. Check DTV conditions there are many. If you hold any type of visa in any country you should be aware of all the conditions. How do you know you are not breaking a condition now and would have your visa cancelled. 90 day reporting ,TM30 are examples. DTV is a long term visa it's not a tourist visa
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer 331 DTV is not a long term visa, it IS a touirist visa with a permitted stay of 180 days each time during the validity period.
Reply to
Luit *****************
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Robert *******
Non Immigrant B and work permit BEFORE you start to work in Thailand.
DTV is the wrong visa,.
DTV is the wrong visa,.
Amira *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert ******
thanks much.Reply to
Amira *********
Reply
Amira *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks all. Mainly looking at the DTV for "soft power" activities, as we study Thai herbalism, massage, and other modalities. And yet, I did see that performers at events and such could get the DTV. So wondering how that goes for work. But Greg Bewick answered my question.
Chris **********
You legally can't even volunteer at that event without a work permit
Frank-Steven ***********
No. No work permit based off of a DTV. And just to let you know, it does not matter if "they" pay you or not. Even people "perfoming" for free have been arrested and deported at times. Doing work in Thailand / for Thais is considered illegal work if paid or not.
Amira *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Frank-Steven **********
I am referring to performing at a festival where many overseas acts are booked. Every country has permits for overseas performers to work. I have been in Thailand and hosted an open mic that no Thai people would host as they didn't want to put up with the tourists. I accepted and asked for no pay, as I don't ever want to take work from locals. And always well supported the local musicians with large tips. But when a festival invites an overseas band to perform, they often pay them. With a permit to, of course. The main reason for applying for DTV for my partner and I is that we study there in massage and other cultural activities. Yet there is also a permission in the DTV for performers. So I wondered how it goes when a festival wants to pay. How do we get permission for that. I will inquire when I apply.Sean ******************
Amira MudWood if you are generating income for the event it’s performing technically. But a really longshot that’d you have an issue as even many headlining bands do not get official work visas
Ian **********
Amira MudWood Recently a female DJ was arrested in Pattaya even though she was not getting paid.
Kool *******
Amira MudWood the reference to preformers is referring to preformers that live here but preform out of the country, not preforming in Thailand.
Frank-Steven ***********
Amira MudWood Don't get me wrong. It is not my intend to discourage you. It was just a word of caution. In fact, only recently a DJ performing at a music festival (on Koh Lanta) for free was arrested. And as for open mic events, yes, I get it. We have them here in Chiang Mai, too. And I personally would totally agree that musicians playing a song or two for free should be totally acceptable. Then again, there is also a lot of Thai musicians that depend on the little income they make off of playing in bars. It is a complicated topic. I am not aware of such permits that you mentioned - but they may very well exist. Use good judgement.
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Frank-Steven ***********
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Luit *****************
@Frank-Steven **********
And work can be anything, my lawyer told me technically I could get in trouble when painting our house here because I am not married and the house is not on my name.If i were married it would be allowed because supporting wife is not seen as illegal work.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Luit ****************
It is easiest to think of it not from the money perspective, but from the perspective of: are you doing something that otherwise a Thai national could have done making income. Having said that, of course there is theory and then there is real life. I doubt much would happen if you helped your girlfriend paint the wall of the house that you share. But I have seen DJs playing music at venues for free getting arrested. In the end it always comes down to: did you "piss" someone off who called the authorities. They rarely act on their own initiative.Luit *****************
@Frank-Steven **********
Correct, that is also what my lawyer said, he also told that cases are known of people having a bad relation with neighbours where the neighbours told the authorities about such illegal work.Robert *******
@Luit ****************
Is that the same lawyer who tells that if you explain your wife the correct English grama, you are working as a teacher and need a work permit?Luit *****************
@Robert ******
My lawyer never told that, but it is a nice suggestion.The point in this is that in Thailand only marriage counts as a relation officially.
My lawyer told that the case with painting the house when it resulted in a lawsuit could end well for me because I have ususfruct clause for the house, which makes me responsible to keep the house in a good condition.
But all this is highly theoretical.
Reply to
Luit *****************
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Elías ********
Nope. You can't get a work permit under the DTV.
Breathtaking*************
Cancel DTV first then apply for WP. One visa at a time.
Greg ********
BreathtakingPineapple5225 The WP is not a visa.
Breathtaking*************
Reply to
Breathtaking*************
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DTV_Be*******
You can’t work in Thailand with a DTV, so you can’t get a work permit
Greg ******
You can’t get a work permit on a DTV and can’t legally work in Thailand with a DTV. You’ll need to apply for a Non-B visa and a work permit before working.
Greg ********
Cannot get a WP on a DTV Visa
Reply to
Greg ********
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