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Can you be in Thailand when your DTV visa gets approved, or must you be outside the country?

DTV Visa Visa Application Process Immigration Rules Thailand Visa Regulations Visa Approval Timing

Jan 14, 2026

4 months ago

Fiona ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Question about DTV timing:

I heard that when the DTV visa gets approved, you must not be in Thailand at that moment, not only when applying. I also saw a reel where someone claimed they got a 1-year Thailand ban because they were in Thailand during the approval.

Does anyone here have reliable info or real experience with this? Otherwise, if it doesn’t get approved in time before my flight, my plan would be to enter on a tourist visa and do a short exit and re-entry once the DTV is approved. Thanks!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The consensus among commenters is that you must be outside Thailand both when applying for the DTV visa and when it gets approved. Remaining in the consulate's jurisdiction until your application is processed is essential. Violating this rule risks application cancellation. While there is mention of a one-year ban in relation to an individual overstaying their visa, it is primarily attributed to misunderstandings about visa activation requirements, not simply being in Thailand during approval.

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Bao***

Correct - you must be outside Thailand both when applying AND when the DTV is approved. It's technically an entry visa. This is the right thing to do. ☝️

The 1-year ban story sounds off though. Bans are usually for things like overstays or illegal work, not application timing issues. Most likely their app just got rejected. It’s a visa condition issue, not an immigration crime by itself.

4 months ago

A. ************

@Bao***

the 1-year ban was a moronic YouTuber who applied outside of Thailand, came back into Thailand while his application was processing, his re-entry wasn't detected so he got approved....but the idiot stayed in Thailand thinking he was good because the DTV got approved. The issue was he was in Thailand under the visa (he is American so probably VOA) he came in under while his application was still processing, and not the DTV. This caused him to go into significant overstay which got him the 1-year ban. He should have left and returned to activate the DTV.

4 months ago

Reply to

A. ************

James ********

You are to stay in the Country where you submitted your DTV Visa Application UNTIL the decision is known. Don't leave !

4 months ago

Toni *******

He got 1year ban because he got DTV while in thailand, but never activated it. He thought its automatic, and he ended up overstaying for a very long time.

4 months ago

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

I suspect that the one year ban you are referring to is likely caused by someone getting their visa issued while they were in Thailand and they never entered using it which resulted in them overstaying their visa exemption or whatever.

People have made the mistake of assuming the visa is automatically applied but they are still required to enter and be stamped in under it. An overstay of 90 days or more but not exceeding a year will get you a 1 year ban (so long as you fly out on your own and pay the fine).

4 months ago

Ian **********

You do not get a one-year ban, but you get your visa cancelled

4 months ago

Jef ********

It was two different things…. His visa was approved while in Thailand , and he assumed his visa would take over so he over stayed 120 days in which he got a 1 year ban for

4 months ago

Reply to

Jef ********

Dany ********

my friend was invited to an interview in germany. most likely because they saw his travel history in the system and that he isnt in germany while applying.

so, yes. chances are that your application would be denied.

4 months ago

John **********

It's not that you can't be in Thailand, it's that you must be in the location covered by the consulate you apply through and remain there until the process completes

4 months ago

Waqar ********

Avoid going inside Thailand at all cost after applying, before approval.

4 months ago

Ryan ********

You must remain in the consulate's jurisdiction until you are approved. Period.

4 months ago

Tapan ********

As per rules:

1. Can be applied only when you are out of Thailand.

2. Need to stay in the place where it's applied from till processing is completed. If breach is detected then the application stands the chance of being cancelled.

4 months ago

Reply to

Tapan ********

Should I apply for the DTV visa before coming to Thailand or while I am there?

18 comments

4 months ago

Can I travel back to Thailand while waiting for my DTV application approval?

20 comments

4 months ago

Will I get rejected if I apply for DTV and return to Thailand before my interview date is confirmed?

10 comments

6 months ago