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

Thailand visa DTV visa visa on arrival visa processing expat immigration Ukrainian citizen visa application Ankara embassy Thailand immigration rules

Mar 13, 2025

a day ago

Денис **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, I have a problem with my DTV visa, I applied for it 3 weeks ago through the website, it was sent to Ankara embassy, ​​I am a Ukrainian citizen but now I am in Georgia but I have all the documents (like residence permit etc.) but the problem is it has been 3 weeks and the document pending status is still not completed and I am starting to worry as my flight is arriving in 2 weeks and I still don't know what to do. But the main question is, can I go to Thailand, get my visa on arrival, stay here until I get a response on my DTV visa (if I didn't get it in time before my flight) and then just re-enter Thailand with my DTV visa?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is concerned about the status of their pending DTV visa application submitted to the Ankara embassy while currently in Georgia. With a flight to Thailand in two weeks, they are considering entering Thailand on a visa on arrival if their DTV is not approved by then. Comments suggest that while technically required to remain in the application country, some have successfully entered Thailand on a standard visa exemption while waiting for their DTV approval, showing proof of the pending application. However, there are risks involved, and it's advised to maintain communication with the embassy.

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པདྨ་ *******************

I had this same issue recently. I was waiting for my DTV for a month after having to reapply. Rather than wait, I just returned to Thailand on a standard visa exemption. At the airport I showed them a printout of the page showing that my application was still pending. They were ok with that. After a couple weeks back in Thailand, my DTV was approved. Now I just have to leave and come back next month.

21 hours ago

Денис **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@པདྨ་ ******************

oh, ok, thank you, then i can stop worring about, but did you just print a screenshot of the page showing the pending status?

20 hours ago

པདྨ་ *******************

@Денис *********

Yep. I just printed a screenshot. No guarantees, but it worked for me. It doesn't seem like a big deal to just come on a visa exemption or whatever you are eligible for. Then if your DTV is approved, you just leave and come back.

20 hours ago

Денис **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@པདྨ་ ******************

thank you then, you helped a lot

20 hours ago

Reply to

Денис **********

Darren *********

Several people have had the same issue of not planning far enough ahead and actually having their visa before their travel date. What you are talking about is what they have been doing waiting in country until they get approval then border bounce to switch visas.

The risk is in the embassy wants you to come in for some reason you are SOL.

But since you are already in a different country it isn’t that much extra risk.

a day ago

Денис **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Well, I just emailed them this morning and I'm not sure when the answer will come. I read on the forums yesterday and found out that the embassy in Ankara takes a very long time to do everything and there were cases when people waited for two months. It's a pity I didn't know this before I applied for a visa. But now I'm just trying to consider all the options.

So in theory, I can do this, just leave Thailand and come back only with the issued visa to activate it?

a day ago

Brandon ************

@Денис *********

Yes. It does happen and people don't have any issues. If the embassy issues the visa, you will be able to use it

a day ago

Денис **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

Thank you. you calmed me down a little

a day ago

John **********

@Денис *********

the problem will be if the embassy wants to verify you are still in the country you applied from or if they want to call you in for interview. Thai embassies don't expect you to travel in advance of a visa application being completed, they treat the application in the same way as previously in that they treat it exactly the same as if you physically handed over your passport

21 hours ago

Reply to

John **********

Brandon ************

Technically, you are required to remain in the country while your visa is processed. If you were to travel to Thailand, and if the embassy still issues your visa, it would still be valid. You would just have to exit Thailand in order to use it, since you cannot activate it inside of Thailand.

Have you tried contacting the embassy to follow-up on your application?

a day ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

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