Can I travel to Thailand while my DTV visa application is still pending?

Question

Hello everyone, I’d really appreciate your advice on my DTV (Medical Soft Power) application.

I submitted my application online last Friday evening via the Thai Embassy in Hanoi. On Monday noon I received an email asking for additional documents — specifically my doctor’s ID. After contacting the hospital, they provided me with my doctor’s Thailand Medical Council ID on Tuesday morning. I also prepared a cover letter and attached both the hospital’s official doctor profile URL and the PDF version. I resubmitted everything before noon on Tuesday. By that evening, my application status changed to “Pending Approval,” and it has stayed the same until now (Thursday, 1:20 pm).

I’ve already bought a ticket to fly to Thailand tomorrow afternoon. If the status does not move by then, I will likely be stuck through the weekend.

👉 My questions:

• Is it possible to leave Vietnam while the application is still pending, since the e-visa will be sent by email once approved?

• If it’s not approved by tomorrow, should I extend my hotel booking and change my flight? Or is it fine to proceed with my travel plan?

Appreciate your friendly advice or experiences 🙏

Just to add: my passport allows me 14 days visa-free entry to Thailand. I’m considering flying in first, and then once my DTV e-visa is approved, doing a border run to re-enter with it.

Update  :

I’m very happy to share an update 🙏

I just received my DTV (Medical Soft Power) approval email this afternoon at 2:46 pm!

I really appreciate all your advice and encouragement — it gave me the confidence to wait patiently and make the right decision.

This group is such a valuable community, thank you all for sharing your experience and guidance. 💙

Ask Thailand · Answer

A user sought advice on their pending DTV (Medical Soft Power) visa application, expressing concern about traveling to Thailand before approval. After receiving advice to remain in Vietnam until approval due to potential complications, they eventually shared an update that their visa was approved the same afternoon.

James ******** · Answer

Stay in Vietnam until you have the decision...Good Luck 🍀

Kurt ************* · Answer

mine is on pending approval too :D

Sai *********** · Answer

Hi everyone, I’m very happy to share an update 🙏

I just received my DTV (Medical Soft Power) approval email this afternoon at 2:46 pm!

I really appreciate all your advice and encouragement, it gave me the confidence to wait patiently and make the right decision.

This group is such a valuable community, thank you all for sharing your experience and guidance. 💙

Doug ******** · Answer

Stay.  This gets a lot harder if you get a rejection because you left early.   Just stay.

Liza ******** · Answer

I would suggest staying - extend your hotel and rebook your flight - pick an option that allows you to rebook without penalty (Air Asia for all its points of stress lets you do this pretty easily).  If all is well your visa should come along soon - once it is approved you have to enter the country again to activate it - so if you leave and it is approved the next few days after you will need another trip - my DTV was approved in Hanoi in 9 working days a few weeks ago as a reference point.

John ********** · Answer

Stay where you are. Do not travel to Thailand or you risk your application being rejected. They can call you in for interview or ask to see every page in your passport to confirm you are still in the location you applied from

Wannikea ********* · Answer

Pretty foolish of you to expect a turn around time of a week, when the stated processing time is 5-10 business days.

Can I travel to Thailand while my DTV visa application is still pending?

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