Is the Soft Power DTV application being rejected more often than Workcation applications?

No that's not true.

Medical route Hong Kong online approved in less than 7 days. Must review requirements thoroughly and read carefully

It apparently makes a big difference where you apply from for the DTV. I just got rejected in China for soft power cooking class 9 months, and people on here will say it was my fault, but I do not think so at all. It is not rocket science. And you can get pretty good guidance. Be aware that total costs are also very high for an arbitrary decision visa. I lost $550 for applying. If I traveled elsewhere to apply and hired an agent -then over $1000 and no promise of success. China is not good. Better places are your home country if it's a wealthy country, or Laos is tops, then Vietnam, and Malaysia. There are simply unknowns that nobody can answer partially because they often don't give reasons for rejection so nobody knows what went wrong. Thailand just collects money to pay their workers.

It shouldn't be this difficult. I want to do a cooking class and have a legitimate business (UK LTD company) where I can work remotely but with posts like this, I still don't know which to go for.

False news its about the application not the type.most dont have correct paperwork or funds. They are trying to scam

From what I’ve seen, it’s less about “soft power” itself and more about the quality of documentation and proof of participation. Workcation is often easier to support with clear employment, business, or income evidence, while soft power can vary a lot depending on the activity and provider.

There are no metrics to support this one way or the other.

No

Things are changing in Thailand with regards to foreigners. Look at the news about nominees and arrests. Lots of talk about Thailand for Thais. I have a DTV Visa but I suspect it will change in the coming years depending on the political climate and/or economic climate.

One thing that never changes in Thailand is the fact that it is always changing.

Why would a country give you a 5 year visa for a 6 month course ??

Soft Power applications are sometimes rejected because many applicants submit their DTV applications on their own for the first time. They often believe their application is complete and fully meets the requirements, but in reality there may be missing documents, inconsistencies, or other issues. Agencies that specialize in DTV in most cases wants to do only Worckation applications ( because from worckation can get 100% profit, but with soft power need all them businesses cooperating with thai people and share profits ) usually have much more experience preparing strong cases, while individual applicants often make avoidable mistakes. Thai embassies naturally tend to approve the strongest and most well-prepared applications.

I think there may be a misunderstanding about how the DTV system works. The DTV is one visa with different eligibility categories, including Workation and Soft Power.

Some applicants genuinely qualify under the Workation category because they have stable employment, a high salary, official employment contracts, pay taxes, and can clearly demonstrate their income and remote work.

However, many legitimate applicants do not fit those criteria. For example, freelancers, pensioners, property owners with passive income, business shareholders, and others may find it much easier to qualify through the Soft Power category by enrolling in legitimate Thai Cooking or Muay Thai programs that meet the DTV requirements.

The Soft Power category does not operate in the same way as an ED visa. Educational institutions offering ED visas are regulated by the Ministry of Education, with ongoing government oversight and compliance requirements.

Some people in comments seems to be not understand or try to make other people not properly understand make Soft Power something related to Ed visa, but it's not 🚫.

In contrast, DTV Soft Power programs are different. The embassy evaluates the application and supporting documents during the visa process, but the supporting documents are issued by private companies rather than being individually approved by a government agency not in the same way as an ED visa. The DTV Soft Power process is therefore a different system from the ED visa framework. There is no same government standards and same control for Soft Power as for ED.

From what I have observed, the situation appears to be the opposite. Due to the large number of fraudulent workation applications submitted by some agencies using not real remote employment documents and fabricated proof of income—particularly in markets such as China, Russia, and India—many Thai embassies have significantly tightened their screening procedures.

As a result, workation applications now receive much stricter scrutiny, with additional document requests that can be difficult to satisfy. Unfortunately, this has also affected genuine applicants who fully meet the DTV requirements. Even legitimate Worckation DTV holders are now experiencing increased scrutiny upon arrival in Thailand, and especially some choose who not use from agencies VIP fast-track services to help on arrival during immigration processing.

There's no real data, but I will say that certain embassies are tightening up on the soft power when it comes to the length of the course they are willing to accept. It used to be that a 6 months cooking or muay thai was commonly acceptable, but it seems that 9-12 months has a better chance these days. Not saying you couldn't get approved with just 6 months (there was dude posting the other day that he and his twin brother were approved with just a 3 month muay Thai course), but longer seems to be a more comfortable play.

Workcation requires a lot more paperwork and I think could be more susceptible to rejection if things are clear.

New government - its s way for them to remove the visa with out actually going through the procesd to resmove it or restrict itd use

Nobody could have known Thailand wouldn't give a 5 year visa for a 2 week cooking class.🙄

I applied last Thursday in Los Angeles for soft power and was approved by Monday. Less than three business days!

No, tons of remote workers complain about being rejected, lots of paperwork

Soft power is lame....

Digital nomad you need to prove you run a business...

Ones based on money youll be spending... the other brings money into the country. Its not even a question

Hasn’t been my Pine-Applely experience, and I’m not even a native species 🍍 May wanna check with @DisingenuineCoconut or @PerniciousPappaya

There is alot easier to get the paperwork for workation and document that properly then a 6 month cooking class.

Could it be that the applications had faults?

I would have assumed the other way around as sometimes people aren't clear enough with their earnings and contracts etc. soft power is pretty straight forward. I've heard of less soft power reactions both online and on person with people I have met here

New government, new rules

Unless you work for Thai immigration, your opinion is worthless. No one knows one way or another. Just a lot of speculation, rumours and BS.

There is no official data

Certainly the reports seem to suggest that it's definitely true, but it's also entirely understandable

No that's not true.