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Can I use my DTV Visa for a short trip to Thailand, or should I apply for a tourist visa on arrival?

DTV Visa Tourist Visa Visa Regulations Muay Thai Training Thailand Immigration Entry Requirements

Mar 6, 2025

a year ago

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone,  

I have a quick question about visa rules for Thailand. I currently hold a DTV Visa for Muay Thai training, but I’m planning a short trip to Thailand for 2 weeks (mainly for Songkran in Chiang Mai). After that, I’ll return to my current country of residence and come back to Thailand in 4 months to use my DTV Visa for a longer stay.  

My question is:  

- Can I still get the on arrival tourist Visa for this short 2-week trip and save my DTV Visa for later, or will having both visas cause issues at immigration?  

- Or should I just use my DTV Visa for the short trip and re-enter Thailand with it later?  

I want to avoid any complications with immigration or visa rules. If anyone has experience with this or knows the regulations, I’d really appreciate your advice!  

Thanks in advance!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around the question of whether to use a DTV Visa for a short trip to Thailand or to apply for a tourist visa on arrival. The majority of commenters advise using the DTV Visa, emphasizing that it offers flexibility with multiple entries and a 180-day stay per entry. They clarify that the DTV Visa is valid for multiple uses within its 5-year validity period and there is no provision for holding multiple visas simultaneously. Based on their experiences, entering Thailand with the DTV for a short duration has not posed any problems at immigration.

DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Greg *******

@Jeremy ****

what’s so funny boomers ?

a year ago

Rio ******

You can enter and reenter as many times as you want within 5 years. What's the point in trying to preserve your DTV visa?

a year ago

David *******

I arrived in September for 2 weeks for a last minute holiday with a DTV, no questions asked at Suvarnabhumi airport by Immigration when I showed them....I then came back end of November to start my course in December, showed DTV and again, no questions asked.

a year ago

Jared *********

It sounds like you possibly have a misunderstanding of the DTV...

The 5 year clock has already started on your DTV from the day it was issued. When you enter Thailand for the first time is irrelevant for this.

You can enter Thailand as many times as you want during the 5 year validity.

Each time you enter, you receive a 180 day entry stamp. You can enter as many times as you want.

And finally, you can not have multiple visas at once. Now that you have the DTV, then this is what is used when you enter Thailand

a year ago

Peter ******

They may ask why you haven't been in Thailand doing Muay Thai training ?

a year ago

Wesley ********

Your DTV is valid. No reason not to use it

a year ago

Stellar *******

Use DTV. I used my DTV for entering Thailand for 5 days. It is no problem. Whenever you entered, it will restart 180 days.

a year ago

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

It will be DTV. You can't cumulate visas or exemptions under a visa.