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Can I apply for the Destination Thailand Visa after my ED visa expires while in Vietnam?

Destination Thailand Visa Thailand Visa Rules ED Visa Visa Application Process Immigration procedures Expats in Thailand

Jun 23, 2025

3 days ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Need a quick DTV reality-check—anyone done this?

 • American, living in Bangkok on a single-entry ED visa (expires 23 July).

 • Flying to Ho Chi Minh City on 10 July.

 • Plan: apply online for the new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) while in Vietnam.

 • Funds: 500 k THB sitting in my Thai account for 6-plus months.

 • Run a legit U.S. real-estate business (remote work).

Key question:

If I exit Thailand on 10 July (before the ED visa expires) and let that visa die, can I still file for the DTV from Vietnam without any headaches when I re-enter Thailand? Or will immigration scream “problem” because my old ED visa auto-expired?

Thanks for any first-hand experience or tips!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An American living in Bangkok on a single-entry ED visa plans to fly to Vietnam and apply for a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV). There are concerns about whether exiting Thailand before the ED visa expires and applying from Vietnam will cause immigration issues upon re-entry. Community members advise that the ED visa will automatically cancel upon departure without a re-entry permit and confirm it's fine to apply for the DTV from Vietnam. They recommend properly informing and canceling the ED visa at an immigration office before leaving, to avoid any potential issues later.

DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

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Muay *************

Be careful I think there are rules about canceling ed visas properly

Make sure you check it out for sure

2 days ago

Anonymous ******************

You need to cancel the ED visa properly first. I am in the process of doing it now for the second time. You can just leave without cancelling it (I had a mate who did that last year) but it can be a problem if you go to immigration in country to try and extend one of your 180 day stays. It won’t stop you from getting your DTV or from getting into the country though. My mate who didn’t do it properly is on a work permit now and it’s all fine but they did put up a small fuss about him not doing it properly. More of an annoyance for not following the procedure they like, rather than a black mark or anything.

2 days ago

David ********

Once you leave if you visa is not got a reentry stamp it's cancelled automatic. Just apply for the DTV on your first day out