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Do I have to book my flights and accommodation in advance for my visa application to Thailand?
DTV VisaThailand Visa ApplicationTravel PlanningVisa Processing TimesFlight BookingAccommodation Booking
Jan 12, 2026
4 months ago
Florian *********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi everyone,
I just wanted to finalize my application and am at the point of travel information. Do I have to book everything in advance? I want to go to Thailand asap and am not sure what to do here. If I book everything in advance, how far in the future should it be? How long does it take for the embassy in Berlin to approve everything? I‘m afraid to lose a lot of money if I book flights etc and then get rejected or miss the flight and accommodation booking because it’s taking too long for them to approve it. I have all other documents needed for the DTV tho. Can someone help me here?
Thanks in advance! 🙏
I just wanted to finalize my application and am at the point of travel information. Do I have to book everything in advance? I want to go to Thailand asap and am not sure what to do here. If I book everything in advance, how far in the future should it be? How long does it take for the embassy in Berlin to approve everything? I‘m afraid to lose a lot of money if I book flights etc and then get rejected or miss the flight and accommodation booking because it’s taking too long for them to approve it. I have all other documents needed for the DTV tho. Can someone help me here?
Thanks in advance! 🙏
TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a DTV visa to Thailand, you are not required to book flights or accommodations in advance unless specifically requested by the embassy. The 'intended date of arrival' can be chosen flexibly, and some applicants have successfully received their visas without confirmed bookings. It's advisable to choose refundable flights and accommodations should you need to provide details later. Processing times can vary, with some applicants experiencing significant delays.
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.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Andrea ********
Let's put it this way... I went to Da Nang, Vietnam and filed through the HCMN consulate. Every source of information and friends who did the same said 5 working days.
It took them 17 working days to approve mine. You just can't schedule a trip before you have DTV visa in your hand. I also have met a Dutch guy who did every single homework right and got rejected 3 times.
It took them 17 working days to approve mine. You just can't schedule a trip before you have DTV visa in your hand. I also have met a Dutch guy who did every single homework right and got rejected 3 times.
John ******
I told them my intended date then a few days before issue I got an update asking me to supply flight details 24 hours later the visa was issued
Moiz ******
you just dummy itinenary book not confirmed
Jukka *********
I was just asked to send a copy of my flight ticket even though I put the flight number and dates in the application and the visa came the next day after that
Graham ******
@Jukka ********
which Embassy asked for that?Jukka *********
Helsinki Finland
Reply to
Jukka *********
Reply
Andy ****
Just book full fare flights which are refundable
Brian ****
The keyword is "intended."
Kevinko *******
@Brian ***
thanks for writing my thoughts:)Reply to
Kevinko *******
Reply
Michael ********
You don't have to book. No flights, no hotels
Anonymous ******************
@Michael *******
Some Embassies may ask for proof of flights and/or accommodation so it’s not an absolute.Graham ******
Anonymous participant 736 crodss that bridge IF you come to it
Reply to
Graham ******
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Jonathan *******
Following this as I'm doing my application and have the same worry. Haven't booked my flight into Thailand as yet but aiming to be there for mid March
Humble******
Check in the group for previous submissions at the embassy you're planning to apply to. Some of them require booked flights (e.g. London), but for others it's just the intended date of travel so you can put whenever you expect to fly to TH.
Most embassies do not seem to require booked flights but there are exceptions.
Edit: You can Google flights on your intended date of travel and take the flight number from there.
Most embassies do not seem to require booked flights but there are exceptions.
Edit: You can Google flights on your intended date of travel and take the flight number from there.
Reply to
Humble******
Reply
Tapan ********
- Your travel date shouldn't be more than 3 months away from date of applying.
- You don't need to make any bookings unless the embassy specifically asks you the bookings later
Recommendation:
Choose flight number and accomodation address prudently so that just incase you are asked for additional details later, you can book them and share.
All the best to you!
- You don't need to make any bookings unless the embassy specifically asks you the bookings later
Recommendation:
Choose flight number and accomodation address prudently so that just incase you are asked for additional details later, you can book them and share.
All the best to you!
Aake **********
@Tapan *******
3 months???Kevinko *******
Aake Hultgren so.. LESS than 3 months
Tapan ********
@Kevinko ******
not more than and less than 😄. Yes.Reply to
Tapan ********
Reply
Tapan ********
Aake Hultgren Yes, 3 months from your intended date of travel ie the one you'll mention in the DTV application form. Else it's been observed in certain cases that Embassies put the application on hold.
Reply to
Tapan ********
Reply
Anonymous ******************
“intended date of arrival” is just intended, just make it up. your intended date of departure will be 6 months after your arrival date, this is because your DTV is only for 6 months at a time.
in regards to your flight, you don’t need to book one, you can find flight numbers on airline websites, just choose a flight date and add that flight number.
in regards to your accommodation you do need that, book a hotel on booking.com that is refundable. this is the only thing you should have beforehand.
I did all of this and was approved in hanoi in December.
Hope this helps, let me know if you need anymore help :)
in regards to your flight, you don’t need to book one, you can find flight numbers on airline websites, just choose a flight date and add that flight number.
in regards to your accommodation you do need that, book a hotel on booking.com that is refundable. this is the only thing you should have beforehand.
I did all of this and was approved in hanoi in December.
Hope this helps, let me know if you need anymore help :)
Brandon ************
These questions are not asking you for bookings, they are asking you for information.
Florian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
thank you. If they are asking for my flight number and my accommodation, I have to book them in advance to have these information or am I wrong? Please clarify.Florian *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks!
Brandon ************
@Florian ********
yes you are wrong. When do you think you will fly? Find the flight number that corresponds to that. Where do you think you will stay? Enter that information.
James ********
Correct ✅
Reply to
James ********
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