Answereda year ago
Can you apply for the DTV visa while in Thailand, or must it be done from abroad?
I saw a post earlier that you can't apply for the DTV while already in Thailand, but must apply outside the country. Is this true?
Answer summary
Yes, you cannot apply for the DTV visa while already in Thailand; you must apply from a location outside of the country, typically at a Thai embassy or consulate. Although the application process can be conducted online, the visa must be activated upon re-entering Thailand from abroad. Several comments confirm this requirement, providing insights on the DTV application process and potential challenges faced by applicants.
34 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Roy ******
Yes.
Julia *********
OPThe more answers I get about this visa, the more confused it get 🙃 how does thailand know i have 500k thb if I dont have a thai bank account? Im a 100% disabled veteran and I dont see an option for disability income. Im also a full-time student using my GI Bill, do i just click student? How long will the visa be good for for me to enter the country? If I am approved then do I have a certain time frame to enter otherwise the visa becomes invalid?
John **********
@Julia ********
There is no option to get a DTV for disability but you can get one for medical treatment if you need that regularly. You would need to show a treatment plan of at least 6 months signed off by a recognised doctor at a Thai hospital. You can also sign up for any other approved soft power activity for a minimum of 6 months
Jan ******************
@Julia ********
To fulfill the financial requirements, you will need to provide evidence of funds amounting to 500,000 THB in a bank account. Regarding the visa validity, it is issued for a period of five years with a permitted stay of 180 days per entry within this timeframe.
T ****************
It’s an ENTRY visa so, of course, duh !
Phirom *******
Yes.
Clare **********
DTV is getting very difficult now, luckily we had the money in a Thai bank account for DTV & attended two classes & paid up for a further 2 on return to Thailand.We went to Vietnam to apply for the DTV visa online the process is very easy but they will ask for lots of information …. the cooking school license, ID taliban of the owner of the property & proof of attending at least two classes before applying for the visa, we had a Bangkok bank account with our seasoned money for 3 months prior to applying for the DTV, but on return to Thailand they closed it down?!! As DTV is no longer considered a long term visa!! This was Bangkok bank So we had to transfer our savings to a different bank, all good now. My husband is 50 in 12 months so we are seriously considering changing to a retirement visa as the DTV Visa just seems not very safe, despite us not using agents & using our own savings from Uk & also attending the classes which we enjoy & the school is amazing btw …but the lessons are not cheap & you have to attend at least 2-3 per month at nearly 1500 per lesson.
Clare **********
Our main reason is because we will be changing from the DTV 5 year visa to a retirement visa, as we stay in Thailand long term now but have had to transfer to another bank as the DTV is not recognized as a long term visa despite being a 5 year visa! As you have to leave every 180 days. You don’t need a bank account for the DTV only for the retirement visa.
Clare **********
You don’t need a bank account for the DTV.
We were very lucky we got our bank account a year ago when there were no restrictions & anyone could open one we have been to Thailand many times but now they have stopped all bank accounts except for only for retirement visas.
We were very lucky we got our bank account a year ago when there were no restrictions & anyone could open one we have been to Thailand many times but now they have stopped all bank accounts except for only for retirement visas.
Julia *********
OP@Clare *********
how will the Thai embassy know you have at least 500k thb if you dont have a thai bank account? Do I just show bank statements from my american bank and then they convert it to see how much it is worth?
Jack ********
@Julia ********
yesT ****************
@Clare *********
This is incorrect infoJulia *********
OP@Clare *********
how do you get a thai bank account if you're not even in the country? And im not interested in a n education visa because i have remote income. Im not sure if I am understanding this right. In order for me to have remote income DTV, I need to somehow get a thai bank account, leave thailand, let that money sit for 3 months, and then apply for a DTV and hope that my approval doesnt take long?
Elías ********
@Julia ********
No. In order to apply, you just need to prove you have the money, but it can be at an account at any country.
Guy ********
Yes
Clare **********
Yes exactly we applied for ours online in Vietnam took a few days to come through, then we went back to Thailand. We signed up for cooking classes before we went to Vietnam & had all the relevant documents to support it.
Clare **********
Cooking, Muay Thai & language school is excepted also.
Chang ******
@Clare *********
with cooking class we get visa ? Not language school or thai boxing ? 🤔
Lor ******
@Clare *********
please share cooking 🧑🍳 classes informationClare **********
@Lor *****
we signed up with Ban sauan cooking school koh Chang. We attended two classes before applying for visa & booked two further on return, the immigration will ask for documentation eg photos of you attending the classes & the document of the cooking school owner their ID & reference so you will need this to apply for visa online & also show the immigration a print out copy of the information.Lor ******
@Clare *********
thanksFrank-Steven ***********
Officially, yes. Practically: yes and no. Since application process is fully electronic on
*****************************
you might technically be able to apply while in Thailand. However, you cannot change to a DTV within Thailand, so you would have to arrive from abroad in order to acticate it, anyways.
Stephan ***********
@Frank-Steven **********
Yeah... and when the Embassy ask for proof of residency or ask to come in for an interview you are screwed. Don't give people stupid ideas...Frank-Steven ***********
@Stephan **********
Residency (and proof therof) should not change even when in Thailand (for a vacation) at the point of application. So, initiating an application on said website and selecting the Thai embassy or consulate correponding to your home country / country of residence should not cause any issues. Never heard of an interview required for DTV. But yes, when in doubt, short answer is yes: like every other visa, get it abroad, then use it to enter the country.Frank-Steven ***********
@John *********
Not how the internet works. 🙃 But I hear you.John **********
@Frank-Steven **********
you must be physically present in a country to use the consulate in that country, the fact its an evisa doesn't change thatElías ********
@Frank-Steven **********
If you've never heard of it, it's because you don't read the posts here in the group. Countless people have been demanded to either go to a in person interview, or to submit proof that you're at the country you say you are, including even selfie pictures with local stores or newspapers on the background + whole passport pages, to check that the exit or entry stamps match what you claimed.Stephan ***********
@Frank-Steven **********
If you search the group you'll find a lot of posts where people had to come in for an interview. Also you can find posts where the DTV was not accepted when people tried to re-enter to activate it. About the residency... I meant the address where you stay in the country where you apply... "officially". If you fake it while still staying in Thailand you're actually cheating, no? And some Embassies will ask anyway for copies of your entry stamp in their country... so... no chance. Best ist to play fair and clean...
Graham ******
The DTV, like some other Visas, can only be applied for from Thai Embassies and Consulates
David **********
Simply yes, it's true.
Stuart *********
Yes it’s true. You apply from the country you’re in (apart from Thailand) and wait until approval.
Julia *********
OP@Stuart ********
how long does approv take?
Andrew ******
@Julia ********
3 days in laos
Brandon ************
@Julia ********
Depends on the country you go to (and therefore the embassy you use). Anywhere from 1 week to 2 months.Activity
19 joined19
people
Related
24Can I apply for a Thai tourist visa or DTV visa while in Bali if I am a resident of Germany?
3.1k12701mo
Do Brit expats need to keep 500k THB for a month for the DTV visa and apply from home?
523151mo
Can I enter Thailand on a DTV visa with a one-way ticket for brief business travel?
1.3k12112mo
Can you apply for a DTV while holding a Thai Work Permit?
1k1063mo
What should I do after my DTV Workcation visa application was denied, and has anyone had success reapplying from another country?
23.9k1673705mo
What do I need to know about 90-day stay reporting for a DTV visa in Thailand?
4.3k43305mo
What are the best tips for applying for a DTV visa for Muay Thai training in Thailand?
3.5k31296mo
Can I apply for the DTV visa while in Oman for two days before flying to Germany?
603447mo
What happens if I can't get my 800k in a Thai bank for my Non-O retirement visa?
3.7k33308mo
Is it okay to delay submitting additional documents for my DTV visa while traveling to Thailand?
1.8k131810mo
Do they use the application date or approval date for the DTV visa in Thailand?
5792410mo
What are the key considerations for applying for a DTV or ED visa in Thailand?
63041y
Can you apply for a DTV visa while in Thailand?
2.3k11211y
Do I need to apply for my child's visa outside Thailand when I have a DTV visa?
1k6111y
What are the best practices for applying for a Thailand DTV visa from France or another country?
1.7k10161y
How often can I apply for a 3-month Non-O visa within a year from abroad?
2.3k14291y
Which Southeast Asian country or Thai embassy is best for applying for the DTV visa?
1.1k611y
Can I apply for both a DTV and a Non-O Visa simultaneously while in Thailand?
836562y
What are the steps to obtain a DTV visa from the USA for a retired expat in Thailand?
4k31382y
Where is the best country to apply for a DTV visa for Thailand?
1.5k972y
Can you switch from a work permit visa to a DTV while in Thailand, and is it necessary to leave the country?
660222y
Can I apply for a DTV visa before my Non-O visa expires?
933562y
What are the best methods to obtain a DTV visa while in Thailand?
1.5k8122y
How can I successfully apply for a DTV visa in Thailand?
1.4k1262y
Resources
Need help with your DTV visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served