Can I travel to Cambodia to apply for a DTV visa and return to Thailand before it's approved?

Jan 12, 2025
3 days ago
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can I leave thailand to cambodja apply for dtv go back to thailand and when it's approved go back to cambodja?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The question revolves around the possibility of leaving Thailand to Cambodia to apply for a DTV visa, then returning to Thailand while waiting for its approval. The community responses largely advise against this, suggesting that applicants should apply for their visas from within Thailand or wait in Cambodia until the application is approved to minimize risks.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Lee ********
Why is this question posted again and again , if your not a resident or citizen then you need to follow the visa policy
Kina **********
no... please stay and wait until your application approval

don't risk pay visa fee two times
Alistair **********
If you can wait in the country, I had to submit extra docs and wait a few more days which was a bit unnerving as has to extend hotel and flights. Just got approved and my flights in 3 days now 😅
Anonymous ******************
Nope
Julien ****
Technically you can. There is no rules that say otherwise and people have successfully done it but I would not take the risk.
John *******
@Julien ***
Most embassies say you have to be in country when you apply. Many people try to argue that “applying” ends when you hit submit, when more likely “apply” covers the entire time from hitting submit to receiving a result. Several embassies have made it clearer that this is the case (Netherlands).
Julien ****
@John ******
Thanks. This is the first Embassy that I see that explicitly says it.
Luit *****************
@Julien ***
Bucharest, Romania also states exactly the same, making it plausibele it is just generic text from MFA.

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John *******
@Julien ***
- I have seen one or two others, but didn’t save. However, this embassy says “has the authority…”. We can assume this means the authority that is given to them by either the MoFA specially or the Thai government. If this is the authority granted to them, is it reasonable to say this would be the same authority given to each/every Thai embassy? Furthermore, on the flip side, have you seen any embassy explicitly state one can leave? Have we not seen some individuals on here have to fly back to the country they applied in and several others get canceled because they left?
Julien ****
@John ******
I have seen many cases of guys leaving their country of application while the application was being processed. Many were successful at re-entering the country. But I think that this is a flow in their rules and it is currently being addressed and enforced.
Luit *****************
@Julien ***
Just compare it to speeding in most countries.

A lot of people drive to fast and most of them do not get fined.

This is about the same, most will get away with this violation of the rules, and everybody has to decide if it is worth the risk.

Remember also that immigration has the information needed to see you did ignore those rules even after some time.

I don't expect them to do those kind of checks however.

Thai government tries to register every step of foreigners, but does not really use the info I think
John *******
@Julien ***
I believe if most of the cases you reference, the embassy doesn’t know that people are entering back into Thailand early or if they are aware, turning a blind eye.
Julien ****
@John ******
Send me a proof then.
John *******
Ronnie ***************
NO
Wannikea *********
3 months in the group, *sigh*
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
thanks for the great input, yeah it's a bit new everything to me, nothing is really clear. I think it's better to ask the to be queit. No need to be rude.
Wannikea *********
@Patrik ******
it wasn't input, that would be a *gasp* it was an output sigh. Playing the "rude" card on me to absolve yourself of sheer laziness, and initiative? The answer to this question asked multiple times every frikken day is actually quite clear whether you read the lines or between them..
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
don't comment and add to the post then? It's 5 years of my life? And I don't want take any risk? I not seen anything do any similar and things change all the time?
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks alot for clearing everything out
@John ******
@Tod ********
@Will ***********
Dont gonna take any risks here. I save money and minimize the risk of geting rejected. Siam reap seems as a more fun destination than phnom penh. Have angkor wat. Off topic but where would you apply to have the best type of vacation. Phnom peng or siem reap? Anyone been there?
Tod *********
@Patrik ******
there is no thai consulate in Siem Reap, you can be ANYWHERE in cambodia and apply thru the thai consulate in Phnom Penh

You go to cambodia, log in to the eVisa system, upload your visa/entry stamp as proof you're in the country, upload your hotel booking as proof of where you're staying, upload the required documents for the category you're applying for, pay online and wait it out

They were following pretty close to 5 working days for approval IF they don't have to email you and ask for more documents
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
got it. I can go to siem reap and apply through Phnom penh ( no other option anyway ) I don't have to be in Phnom penh but have to be in cambodja until is approved or rejected. Correct?
Tod *********
@Patrik ******
you can be anywhere inside Cambodia and apply

and

you can travel any where in that country while you wait it out to get approved or rejected
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
I understand I can fly to Siem reap but on the applying form I just select Phnom penh. Quick question the upload of entry stamp can it be just a picture or a pdf file?
Tod *********
@Patrik ******
you don't select anything, the second you tell the system your current location is Cambodia it auto fills in Phnom Penh Thai Consulate.

take a photo of the WHOLE passport page with the visa on arrival and the entry stamp, not just close ups of the visa/stamp.
Tod *********
nope, you go to cambodia, you log in and apply for the visa online thru the eVisa web portal, you pay and then you WAIT in Cambodia until the visa is approved.
James ********
Stay in Cambodia until you have the decision for your DTV Visa Application.
James ********
@Tod ********
Correct ✅
Will ************
No
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Will ***********
are you 100%? Cause im pretty sure I read about someone that did the exact same thing. Might been a different country. Will try to find the post to make sure I not missed anything
John *******
@Patrik ******
Technically, you are supposed to stay in the country where you are applying, for the entire process. Many have disregarded this and gone back to Thailand while waiting, and have been fine. That being said, there is always the chance that they learn you have left, ask for an interview, etc. if they “catch” you, it will be canceled. Cambodia takes 10 business days. Since you don’t work in Thailand, why not just stay until visa is ready?
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
10 days is that standard? I heard some get just 4-5 working day. In ho chi min a guy got the approval after just 3 days. I guess this must vary from person to person and from embassy to embassy?
John *******
@Patrik ******
HoChiMinh timeframe is 5 business days. Phnom Penh is 10 business days. Each embassy has a set timeframe that they usually adhere to.
Cissi *********
@Patrik ******
the processing time in Vietnam is estimated to 5 working days if the application is complete (longer if they need to ask you to submit additional documentation).

The processing time in Cambodia is 10 working days (not incl. the day of submission). The processing time resets if they need to ask you to submit additional documentation.
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
Just cause I miss my girlfriend 😅
John *******
@Patrik ******
Take her with you :)
Patrik *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
i would but she works as well at a new job And don't have vacation
Will ************
@Patrik ******
well you can just hope they don’t ask for a copy of EVERY page if your passport once you’ve cleared off elsewhere or call you in for interview