Does the DTV visa allow for permanent residency in Thailand after 3 years?

Nov 11, 2024
a month ago
Does a DTV visa qualify you for permanent residency in Thailand if staying for at least 3 years?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
No, the DTV visa, which is categorized as a tourist visa, does not qualify for permanent residency in Thailand, even if you stay for at least three years. Users cited that time spent on a DTV cannot be counted towards the requirements for permanent residency, which typically requires being on a non-O or non-B visa with a proper extension of stay and additional conditions.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Uwe ****
Thai PR for 99% of expats is a myth...
Regmi *******
No.
Paul *******
Nope, because to qualify for permanent residency, only a non-O or non-B that are extensions of stay (not the visas you get outside of the country) plus employment in Thailand are acceptable (meaning you also need to hold a Thai work permit).

You don't qualify for permanent residency if you're on a laborer visa (for Vietnamese, Cambodian, Burmese and Cambodian nationals), a retirement visa, tourist visa, any visa issued abroad (including the DTV), or even the LTR or elite/privilege visas.

A smart visa might qualify (not sure) but otherwise, only non-O and non-B extensions of stay...3 consecutive ones plus a minimum income of 80,000 Baht per month (40,000 if married to a Thai) for a minimum of 36 consecutive months. If any months are missing, you start from scratch.
Elías ********
Of course not 🥺

But, and nobody knows yet, if the visa still exists 5 year in the future, it should be easy to apply again and get 5 more years.
Jeff ********
@Elías *******
Maybe/hopefully/could-happen. :0)
Tod *********
It most definitely DOES NOT, 🙁 the time spent in thailand on a DTV cannot be used toward permanent residency requirements
Greg ********
No you cannot get PR on a DTV. It is a tourist visa.
Abas ******
@Greg *******
PR is anyway a very long story to get. No need to think about PR, just pass the time is needed in thailand.
Greg ********
@Abas *****
I do not want PR - I qualified a few years ago and did not apply.( I qualified in Singapore but did not want it). It has no real benefits for me, others might be different. It is OK for those with families here for the duration or who want to become Thai Citizens
Ko *****************
I don't think so, dtv is a type of non immigration visa.
James ********
@Ko ****************
it's a tourist visa
Steve ********
@Ko ****************
DTV is a glorified tourist visa. Non-immigrant visas mean you can remain in the country forever, simply extending each year
Ko *****************
@Steve *******
I do not know how do you define non immigrant visa.
Luit *****************
@Ko ****************
it is not important how you define it, nor is it important how Google defines it. The only thing that matters is how Thai government defines it, and a visa with a normal duration of stay of 180 days which can be extended with an extra 180 days, and then forces you to leave can hardly be seen a a visa preparing you for permanent residency.
John **********
@Ko ****************
all the non-immigrant visas start with "Non-", Non-O, Non-B and so on
Steve ********
@Ko ****************
Contact your embassy, not an AI bot on Google!! 😂
Greg ********
@Ko ****************
The B is a non-immigrant visa but you can get PR on it. Work Permit and tax for 3 years I think it is. I qualified in 2022 but did not see any advantages in PR. My tax bill woukd have gone from 15% to 35% :-)
Ko *****************
@Greg *******
I have been living in Malaysia with Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa which was previously given you ten years renewable visa. I was told that it is no immigrant visa thus I am not eligible to obtain PR.
Greg ********
@Ko ****************
Well Malaysia and Thailand are not the same country and have different rules.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ko ****************
Yeah. The requirement is you must have had a Thai non-immigrant visa. I’m assuming the DTV is non-immigrant or is it tourist?
Paul *******
Anonymous participant Most people are saying it's a type of tourist visa but in effect, it's kinda more like a non-immigrant visa.

The issue is, you can't qualify if you hold a visa issued outside the country, especially one where you're not authorized to work.
Greg ********
Anonymous participant DTV is a tourist visa. They also like you earning good money to qualify even on a B and WP.
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