Answereda year ago

Can I enter Thailand on a tourist visa while waiting for my DTV visa approval?

DTV visa visa application process tourist visa immigration Thailand expat help

Sao *******

asked Aug 7, 2025

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Hello everyone. I have a question. We are a family of three. My wife has had her DTV visa since early July. My daughter and I have applied for accompanying DTV visas. We are leaving on August 12 but still haven’t received a response regarding the visas. Can we enter the country with tourist visas and then, once we get the response for the DTV visas, leave and re-enter with the accompanying DTV visas?  

Thank you.🙏

Answer summary

A user inquired about the possibility of entering Thailand on a tourist visa while waiting for DTV visa approvals for themselves and their child, given their wife already has one. Responses confirmed that while it is possible to enter on a tourist visa and later switch to a DTV visa, there are risks involved, such as the potential rejection of the DTV application if authorities suspect the applicant is no longer in their original location. It is advised to remain where the application was filed until approval.

12 repliesnewest first

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Sao *******

Thank you so much everybody. It's already been 5 weeks of waiting. I think I'll have to postpone our flight.

a year ago

John **********

@Sao ******

that would be the sensible thing

a year ago

Sao *******

@John *********

I think so too. Even though I have dual nationality and a second passport! Thanks 🙏

a year ago

Kyle **********

@Sao ******

if I were you, I'd have mailed/called the embassy few days ago and pointing out the fact that you're supposed to leave soon. Most of the times they'd speed up the process. Obviously be very kind and courteous while talking to them

a year ago

John **********

@Sao ******

dual nationality makes no difference, your passports are linked

a year ago

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

If you search this group, there are lots of shared experiences for this situation.

The bottom line is yes, you can enter thailand on a visa exempt/tourist visa and then bounce out and back in again once your dtv is granted. However, it comes at a risk of your application being rejected if they find out. For eg you are asked for further documentations to prove youre still in country (scan of every page of your passport) or an in person interview. It is advised to stay where you are until the visa application is granted, leave at your own risk

a year ago

John **********

You're supposed to remain in the location you apply from until the process completes. They can ask for location information as a last step prior to issuing the visa

a year ago

Sao *******

@John *********

it is an e-visa which is sent by email after acceptance

a year ago

Wannikea *********

@Sao ******

what John was saying is, they can ask to see every page of your passport and proof of current location as a document request before they issue the visa.

a year ago

John **********

@Sao ******

they can ask to see every page of your passport to show you haven't stamped out of the country you applied in, they can call you in for interview where you have to show your passport, lots of things

a year ago

Sao *******

@Wannikea ********

What kind of proof of location?

a year ago

John **********

@Sao ******

yes I know that. Nevertheless thai consulates expect you to apply at the consulate where you are physically located and to remain in that location until the process completes. If you don't do that you risk the visa being rejected. Think of it in a similar way to before the concept of the evisa where you would physically hand over your passport. The only change is you get to keep possession of your passport

a year ago