This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Do I need to stay enrolled in Muay Thai for the DTV visa in Thailand, and how does the 180-day stay rule work?

DTV Visa Muay Thai Visa Thailand Visa Rules 180-Day Stay Rule Thai Bank Account Expat Advice Visa Applications

Dec 1, 2025

20 hours ago

Daniel *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

OK, I know its early and things of course will change but I like to get things some what planned out. 

I posted the other day that I am exploring doing the DTV visa via Muay Thai classes. Rather do that then the retirement visa (will be 50 when I arrive). The 500k baht not an issue (have that locked away already) will even be making over 100k baht a month while in Thailand. *I don't want to lock in 800k baht in a Thai bank, I have heard reports of the banks freezing foreign account holders accounts.*

Some additional questions that I have and hope to get answered. 

DTV visa is a 5 year visa, do I need to stay enrolled in Muay Thai the whole time in Thailand? 

The visa is good for 180 days, do the day restart everytime I come back to Thailand? For example I came in and 2 months later I go to Malaysia for 2 weeks, do I start my 180 days over again?

Is it difficult to get a Thai bank account with a DTV visa? Simply want to be able to move and access money without paying high transfer and ATM fees. 

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

2,065

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

A user is planning to obtain a DTV visa for Thailand through Muay Thai classes instead of a retirement visa. They have questions about whether they need to remain enrolled in Muay Thai throughout their stay, how the 180-day validity of the visa works with travel to neighboring countries, and the possibility of setting up a Thai bank account with this visa. Responses indicate that continuous Muay Thai enrollment may be necessary, the 180 days resets with each re-entry into Thailand, and that obtaining a Thai bank account on a DTV visa can be quite challenging.

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.

Pelle Eriksson★★★★★

Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...

recently on Facebook

Luca G.★★★★★

I used this agency for my DTV Visa...

recently on Google

Trusted DTV Visa Agent

OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED

#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND

Fa**

Apply for a workcation instead with a visa agent, you don't need to be employed.

6 hours ago

Khun ******

@Fa**

Not a good idea to use f@ke work documents.

5 hours ago

Fa**

@Khun *****

Khun Sean Companies are real, but thank you mr f.ake facebook account rainbow guy.

5 hours ago

Khun ******

@Fa**

So real companies with f@ke contracts are ok then. 👍

4 hours ago

Reply to

Khun ******

Wannikea *********

Believe it or not all your questions have been asked and answered at least 100 to 400 times. Scroll.

17 hours ago

Cliff *********

@Wannikea ********

Daily this is discussed……

16 hours ago

Reply to

Cliff *********

Jesper *******

Get yourself enrolled in a muay thai school (at least 6mth course) apply for your DTV outside of thailand with the letter from your muay thai school and statements showing your 500k (equivalent) when u enter thailand you can stay for 180days it resets whenever u travel out and back to thailand ....bank accts are only for work permit and some long term visas unfortunately DTV is not one of them

18 hours ago

Daniel *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jesper ******

Do I need to re-enroll every 6 months?

18 hours ago

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

@Daniel ******

The most correct answer is that you should be engaged in some sort of soft power activity upon each entry. It doesn’t have to be the same one but if you weren’t then you’d technically be violating the conditions of your visa.

That being said, currently people aren’t being asked for any proof of being enrolled in anything upon re-entry but no one knows how things will look in a month or 5 years from now.

17 hours ago

Daniel *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 391 thank you for your answer, obviously I want to be doing the right thing.

16 hours ago

Reply to

Daniel *******

ข้าว ********

@Daniel ******

thats the million dollar question.

18 hours ago

אבי ******

@Daniel ******

nobody knows with how the rules change in Thailand, maybe yes maybe no, but very unlikely that they'll let you "slide" 5 years when they see you finished the course a long time before that.

18 hours ago

Reply to

אבי ******

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

You can't get a Thai bank account with a DTV. And even if you could, it will probably be closed later.

19 hours ago

Alix *********

I feel like these questions are answered over and over and over, is anyone out there applying for this visa got a brain cell of their own orrrrr?

20 hours ago

ข้าว ********

@Alix ********

i guess its time for you to go.

18 hours ago

אבי ******

@Alix ********

you don't have to answer or be here if you have a problem

18 hours ago

HumbleP*******

@Alix ********

Thats what makes this group fun! The redundancy lol

18 hours ago

Reply to

HumbleP*******

John **********

1. If you will be working remotely from Thailand you need to apply using workation and not soft power.

2. You can't work on a retirement visa.

3. Virtually impossible to get a Thai bank account on a DTV

20 hours ago

Khun ******

Anonymous participant 759 Correct. Although it is stated on some DTVs the application method.

5 hours ago

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

@Khun *****

bro I wouldn’t put you full name and date of birth on the internet 🤦‍♀️

3 hours ago

John **********

@Khun *****

while some state the reason and some don't the fact is one applies using a specific reason and the visa only provides permission for that reason

4 hours ago

Reply to

John **********

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

@John *********

they are the same visa and you can work on either, just not for Thai companies or Thai clients

5 hours ago

John **********

Anonymous participant 759 not true, the visa is issued for a purpose.

5 hours ago

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

@John *********

not true, it is issued for a ‘purpose’ but it is the exact same visa with the exact same conditions.. that you cannot work for Thai companies or clients but can make income however you please outside that

3 hours ago

John **********

Anonymous participant 759 where does it say that? Take a look and tell me, or provide another link that says that

****************************************************************

3 hours ago

Reply to

John **********

Daniel *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

Not working, been retired since I was 35. Have other sources of income

19 hours ago