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Do South Korean citizens applying for a DTV visa in Vientiane have to pay the 10,000 THB fee despite being exempt online?

Mar 14, 2025
2 days ago
Hi everyone!

I'm planning to apply for a DTV visa in Vientiane, Laos. I have all the documents ready. As a Korean citizen, I know the visa fee (10,000 THB) should be waived when applying online.

But I heard that in Vientiane, they don’t accept online processing and still charge 10,000 THB — even for countries that are supposed to be exempt.

I also watch some Korean YouTubers paid 10,000 THB there last year.(just after dtv visa appears)

So I’m wondering — did they pay by mistake, or does Vientiane charge everyone regardless of exemption?

For people from visa fee-exempt countries, do you think it's better to avoid applying in Vientiane?

Thanks in advance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is inquiring about the DTV visa application process in Vientiane, Laos, as a South Korean citizen. They mention conflicting reports about the 10,000 THB application fee, which is supposedly waived for online applications. However, there are claims that the Vientiane consulate does charge this fee regardless of the exemption status. Comments in response discuss the nuances of visa fees based on bilateral agreements and suggest that applicants might experience different outcomes depending on whether they apply online or in person.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Anonymous ******************
I'm Korean and I apply online.

All countries show 0 won for the final payment. I think it's already processed in the system.

But if you go in person and make it at an embassy like Laos, you get paid. Who has that money? (I don't know. I love Thailand.)

Go to another country.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
익명의 참가자 476 i think i totally agree with you i should avoid laos ㅠㅠ
Dca *****
Anonymous participant 476 if you selected the Thai Embassy in Vientiane or the Thai Consulate in Savannnakhet, does it show a Payment Section or if it does show a Payment Section, then does it show THB ฿∅ Zero Baht ???
Dca *****
Personally, i do not think it is about the Thai Embassy in Vientiane making South Koreans, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Tunisians paying the DTV E–Visa Fee of ฿10,000.- Baht, but more about whether as part of the Biilateral Agreement between Thailand and the other country whether the DTV E–Visa falls under the Visa Fee Exemption Agreement or not between the 2 countries....

Here in this Facebook Group about DTV, there have been 2 successful reports about Malaysian passport holders applying for DTV at the Thai Embassy/Consulate in Malaysia and received the Thai Visa Fee Exemption of RM ∅ Zero Ringgit for their DTV.

However, a Singapore passport inquired several times with the Thai Embassy in Singapore and received an email response saying that the DTV Visa was excluded from the Agreement between Singapore and Thailand. And, a recent Singapore passport holder obtained a DTV E–Visa from the Thai Embassy in Singapore paying the Visa Fee of SGD $500.-

You can certainly apply at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane or the Thai Consulate in Savannnakhet and as you go to the Thai Embassy/Consulate in person to potentially pay cash for the DTV E–Visa Fee of ฿10,000 Baht, you can certainly ask about the Bilateral Visa Fee Exemption between South Korea and Thailand, and if it applies for the DTV, then you can potentially get a DTV E–Visa for Zero, or, if not, then still wish to apply for a DTV E–Visa at the cheapest Thai Embassy/Consulate in the world (Laos) or not....

The easiest answer is:

Login to the Thai eVisa website and fill out an application for a DTV at a Thai Embassy/Consulate that accepts payment via the Thai eVisa website and see whether the price is ∅ Zero or not. You do NOT have to actually Submit an E–Visa application to see the price of the DTV E–Visa....

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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dca ****
As a result of the verification, I confirmed that South Korea is definitely exempt from DTV in this part. It is on the online DTV application site (E-VISA). There are many success stories of DTV in the Korean community and they confirm that it is 0 won. This is certain, but I think the problem is that you have to pay in person in Vientiane. Thank you, friend.
Wannikea *********
Your application won't even progress without payment in person. Suggest you directly visit the consulate and ask if you're in the neighborhood. I've only heard of 1 or 2 Singaporeans who didn't need to pay when applying somewhere like Malaysia (can't recall)
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
Oh I see. I guess it’s better to avoid Laos for now. Thanks a lot for the info!
Paul *******
Anonymous participant Well, if you're actually eligible for free DTV visa processing, this should apply in Laos as in any other country. Why would Laos be different? It depends on your nationality.
Reece ********
Visa fee waived online… what? You still have to pay to apply online or not
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
For Korean people, DTV is free to apply, and online it's automatically waived — 0 baht. But I heard in Laos people pay in person, so I was just wondering if I need to pay too.
Marianne ********
Anonymous participant Where have you seen that Koreans don't need to pay the application fee for the DTV?

Would love a source on that.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
according to seoul.thaiembassy, there are 5 countries that are fully exempt from all of the visa fee(korea, malaysia, singapore, tunisia, philiphine(only tourist visa)
Wannikea *********
Anonymous participant possibly this refers to a simple tourist visa by name. Whereas the DTV although tourist class visa, is not named a tourist visa.
Wannikea *********
@Reece *******
Asean bilateral agreement?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
Bro, Korea’s not ASEAN.