Do Thai immigration officers request bank documents when entering Thailand on a DTV visa?

Question

When you entered Thailand on a DTV did immigration ask for BANK DOCUMENTS and if so how many months did they ask for or did they just want to see a traditional bank statement again?

Did it have to be a recent bank statement or the same one you applied for the Visa with? Do you perpetually have to have 500,000 baht for the entire 5 years untouched for immigration to not give you trouble every time you enter?

To be clear I'm not talking about your embassy requesting traditional bank statements I'm talking about did IMMIGRATION request to see bank statements on your first, second, third entry on DTV into Thailand after you have had your visa accepted by the embassy.

I understand everyones experience will be different depending on the officer but I want to hear your experiences. I'm asking because I want to keep my money in an investment account that generates a higher percentage yield on my cash than chase bank will. If I stay for 5 months I can always move the cash back to chase for a month to have a statement. Unless immigration wants to see 6 months of bank statements every time you enter.

Ask Thailand · Answer

When entering Thailand on a DTV visa, experiences with immigration vary widely. Some individuals report that immigration officers do not request any bank statements upon entry, while others mention having their paperwork checked. The rules seem to depend largely on the discretion of the immigration officer. Many expats suggest keeping 500,000 baht in a bank account for peace of mind, although there are no formal requirements for ongoing balance after obtaining the visa. Some commenters have traveled multiple times on a DTV without being questioned about their finances, indicating that as long as applicants approach immigration professionally, they usually do not face issues.

Alex ********* · Answer

Thank you everyone! this group is awesome! I don't know what I would do without you all.

Dean ***** · Answer

asked nothing  it is crazy if you bring those documents to show at the airport even you have that visa already   anyway in my case i reenterd thailand on dtv twice  they asked nothing just gave me 180 stamp

Asso ****** · Answer

In order for them to be able to ask that, there should be a requirement that people MUST carry bank statements with them. I do not know know any such requirement... I also do not know any requirement stating how much money you need to have on your bank account after you have already been issued a DTV visa. So... perhaps someone smarter can enlighten me:

1. On what grounds can they ask to see this? and

2. Since there are no balance requirements for the 5 year period after the visa has been approved, what kind of decisions could they possibly make even if someone does carry their bank statements with them (provided that this someone does not have an obscenely low bank balance, say less than 1000 baht)?

Harvey ***** · Answer

No, just dress well (not like a jobless backpacker) and you’ll likely not be asked any questions

Dca ***** · Answer

No, whether it is Thai DTV, Thai Non–O, Thai Non–OX, Thai Non–OA, Thai Non–B, Thai Non–F, etc. have yet to hear of any Thai Immigration Officer at Arrival for Entry into Thailand ask for Bank Statements, or any Immigration Officer of any ASEAN country for that matter....

Jeff ******** · Answer

In my experience. Immigration has barely even seen the DTV Visa. Lady asked her manager what it was and stamped my passport. No additional paperwork asked for or required. You have already provided that to who needs it in the request process. If they ask for any banking, they likely looking for baht-persuasion. ;0).

Paul ******** · Answer

Apologies OP, this is for future searchers and doesn't answer your question.  There is no black and white, yes/no answer to this topic.  If you read/search the various online groups and forums it is clear that when arriving on a DTV, sometimes people get asked to show nothing and sometimes they get asked to show everything they used to apply for the visa.  People are speculating on why that is but as OP mentions, the bottom line is, it is up to the specific immigration officer's discretion as to what you need to show.  We would all love black and white rules on this but Thailand just doesn't work that way.  So until Thailand stops being consistently inconsistent, the safest, hassle free bet is to have 500k in your bank account and have all your (updated) DTV application papers with you when you enter.  I have never been asked questions on 3 arrivals, 4th tomorrow, but I always have 500K in my bank account when I arrive (not all year round) and all my updated DTV papers.

Anonymous ****************** · Answer

I have never been asked a single question upon entering at either airport in Bangkok. I give my passport and printed DTV. I’m a white female with an American passport so is probably some privilege there. But that’s my experience.

Do Thai immigration officers request bank documents when entering Thailand on a DTV visa?

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