How does the DTV visa work in Thailand if the course duration is only 6 months?

Don't think about it to much, its Thailand.

Just play the game and get another course..

How many cooking courses or mai thai course would it take you to be the best in the world? Maybe 5 years is not long enough

Correct, OP doesn’t get it. He misunderstands the purpose of the DTV visa which is to help promote the tourist industry and economy at-large. Border-bounce every 180 days and you’re good.

Best not to apply logic to Immigration rules or assume the written rules match actual practice.

And they reject people with businesses

You need to consider why the visa was created not just the conditions for yourself. The concept was created originally for digital nomads there were so many staying in Thailand so it made life easy for them and created a boost to Thai economy. But it was launched with soft power options not to help the person coming to Thailand but the industry that they wished it support Muay Thai,cooking class and also medical treatment including dental. This DTV has exceeded expectations for Thailand's economy. So do you think Thailand government is happy of course do you think they will stop DTV don't think so. It only immagration officers that are pissed off because it is stopping then receiving kick backs when people do border runs for 60 days.

Aside from all the people who are using MT to get a visa don't forget there is a huge community of active muay thai students and fighters who the government consider quality tourists as they are studying a thai culture.

In the past some of those dedicated MT students would be chased out of Thailand for staying too long as a tourist. I think the government is trying to address this issue and as a muay thai gym owner we welcome it.

My advice is to get the visa now. Before they start putting in the remarks of the visa what you applied under and the dates of the course. Then you will be screwed. 😂

If we’re talking about becoming really good at either Muay Thai or cooking, yes that takes years and years of practice, gaining experience and honing skills. Just because the initial course is 6 months, doesn’t mean you stop doing this activity after that. I can imagine in the future that for example a stage at a Thai restaurant would be acceptable as proof of continuing activity. The soft power version of this visa was implemented to promote Thai culture and that’s exactly what it does.

Is it easy to abuse this by ‘just’ booking a few months and then doing border runs? For now yes, going forward, time will tell 🤷🏻‍♀️

It has not much logical sense, but it is the way it is. A single few weeks course or a single medical appointment has been enough for some people to get the DTV. It seems they're becoming a bit stricter over time, tho.

Sign up with another course? There's no limit

OMB. It's getting asked everyday now. Nowhere in the application process does it say you need to book courses for 5 years to keep your visa valid. Just think how easy it would be for them to say it, but they don't.

Yes, as long as you do border bounces you will not have to prove anything

(As of now anyway).

If you were to try and extend in country the rules are different and proofs will be asked for.

So just leave and come back, no issues for 5 years.

It is a stimulus visa aimed at people coming and going.

It’s a valid visa so until it changes I guess ( like you are) that you will be stamped in for 180 days 🤣