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Should I wait longer before reapplying for a Thai DTV visa after my application was rejected in Ho Chi Minh?

Nov 4, 2025
10 days ago
My application was rejected today in Ho Chi Minh. I plan to return to Thailand now, then go to Indonesia in seven days to reapply. Should I wait longer before reapplying? If anyone has tips, please comment 🙏

Sharing my full experience.

Background

Base: Traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to apply

Job: Senior Developer (remote)

Target: DTV (Workcation)

I’ve prepared my portfolio in a detailed, professional.

Oct 14: Submitted DTV application online

Oct 17: Consulate asked for more docs. (I already provided all my work details, and my company is fully legitimate—not a startup. The only things I didn’t include are the company’s history, vision, mission, products, and achievements. These seem like standard requests from them.)

* Other request documents: Please provide a business registration document showing the company name, the name of the legal representative, and a company profile that includes details about its history, vision, mission, products, and achievements.

* Other request documents: Please provide (1) the example of your work and (2) the income tax return for last year

Oct 27: Asked for more docs. (All documents are authentic. I’ve uploaded a company letter confirming the contract is in English only. They asked for an Oct 2025 statement with salary highlighted, but pay comes at month-end. So I uploaded Sep–Oct statements instead. I already highlighted salary and OT in 6 months and included all payslips from the beginning. I earn ~3,500/month (2,500 salary + OT + 5,000 for accommodation), I’ve already explained this but they keep focusing only on the 2,500).

* Financial evidence: an amount of no less than 500,000 THB, (e.g., bank statements for the last three months, sponsor letter): How have you managed your finances with a salary of 25,000 THB to have a balance of more than 520,000 THB in your account?

* Other request documents: Proide bank statement from Oct 2025 and highlight all the salary payments that you received.

* Other request documents: Provide employment contract in original language and a certified English translation of a document is a translation accompanied by a statement from the translator or a translation agency attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation.

* Other request documents: Provide proof of your current residency in Vietnam by submitting a selfie that shows the time and day (ACCEPT THE PICTURE THAT TAKEN ON 27 Oct 2025 ONLY) in the travel destination, a purchase receipt bearing your name and the date of purchase,..

Nov 3: Application refused. No detailed reason given yet.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shares their experience applying for a DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. After submitting their application and several rounds of document requests, their application was rejected without a detailed reason. The user seeks advice on whether to wait longer before reapplying and asks for tips on improving chances of approval. Community comments highlight concerns over the user's low salary in relation to the financial requirements, specifically the need for a bank balance of at least 500,000 THB. Many commenters suggest waiting for a better financial situation or providing clearer documentation before trying again.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Khun ******
I think they just reject it because the salary is so low that they understand you cant get by as foreigner on such low wage in thailand. So they worry you will have to do criminal activity just to survive.
Anonymous ******************
Apply soft power again in Vietnam
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer 682 How can yuou pay soft power from a 25K THB salary and pay for living in Thailand? That will also raise questions
Anonymous ******************
Your salary is too low, you should try to earn 1.5k at least and then apply again
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant 166 it is not too low, approvals given on lower salaries than that.
Anonymous ******************
@Andi **********
you can't live in Thailand as a foreigner with 780, gives him lots of motivation to do side work/be recruited into scams etc..
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant 166 I never said you can live in Thailand with 780. I said you can be approved for the DTV on that income. There is no minimum income requirement. I know several people whose online income is lower than that who got approved. The OP in another post noted his friend approved on 20K THB.
Anonymous ******************
@Andi **********
but they still rejected him so why would they reject him?
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant 166 The embassy has concerns about the source of the 500k. They are not satisfied with his answer for where the money came from. I think a simpler presentation of income and savings would help.
Anonymous ******************
They asked you how you saved 500k if your salary is 25k??
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous participant 166 Yes, it is
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant that's very strange, they doubt if your money is coming from legit sources it seems
Alfred *****
Understand where you’re coming from.. but it’s about you relocating to Thailand, & that’s where they are picky about your salary . Granted , it’s good in Burma , but not to the Thais . Btw, lots of blowback currently on the DTV , so quickly get this sorted out or ???
John **********
So did you actually show 500k baht or equivalent in a regular bank account? Did you have a letter from your company giving you permission to work remotely from Thailand?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
I showed over MMK 71,000,000 (~520,000 THB) in my bank statement and a company letter confirming I can work remotely from Thailand from the beginning. I also shared detailed proof of my work—process, tasks, meetings—so I don’t know what they still doubt.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer Personally I think they are afraid that with such a low salary you want to work illegally in Thailand, and therefore finding reasons to reject you.
Don *******
*****
thb a month? Thats like 780 usd a month. I don’t think they’re looking for such remote workers
Andi ***********
@Don ******
You can be approved on that.
Luit *****************
@Andi **********
Or rejected, the point is embassy employees have to form an opinion about the applicant, and then all impressions together make them decide.

They may wonder how you can get 500K having such a low income.

When they have doubts they can just reject and don't need to tell a reason.
Andi ***********
@Luit ****************
Yeah, the source of income is an issue.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Don ******
Yes, 25k is already higher than the average in my country. It feels like my savings don’t count if they only look at that salary—what a life.
Don *******
Anonymous participant it’s all relative. 780 usd wouldn’t even meet minimum wage in any tier 1 country. Thats what I was referring to; they want bigger earners / spenders.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
I get it. But my friend applied for the DTV in Vietnam a little over a month ago with around 20k THB and got approved. So I applied too—since I make about 35k THB with extras, I figured I’d qualify.
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant Yes, approval can depend also on who gets your application. I think there maybe some confusion over your paperwork. I would keep things real simple next time just, just put total monthly income not need to break it down to overtime accommodation etc they can see the deposit on bank statements.
DTV_Be*******
You probably should wait- as most likely will be rejected
Andi ***********
The source of the 500kTHB is a problem. Your salary is 25kTHB a month or 2,500 USD/other currency a month? You wrote you get 2,500 a month
Ric ******
@Andi **********
I don't think so. They aren't the IRS. You could have made that money selling drugs to school children. As long as it's properly deposited on a bank account in your name for 3 months, they will be happy. Some ask for 6 months and some movement. I never heard about people questioning the source. Could be in inheritance. Heck, even a loan from a friend is okay as long as he trutsts you the money long enough to let it sit for 3+ months. Of course you should not show the statement that says 'loan to my buddy for his DTV' that might raise some flags. 🤣
Andi ***********
Ric BuchIf he getting 2500THB a month they will question that. There are embassies that do ask about the source, Taipei, Japan do.i had to show Taipei how my 500K was sourced.
Ric ******
@Andi **********
thank you for the info. As with many other aspects, the handling of applications varies widely between embassies.

The official guidlines for DTV state neiter a minimum income requirement nor specify how the 500k fund must be sourced. So maybe better avoid Taipei.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
I work for a Burmese company with a salary of 25,000 THB plus extras, which is higher than what many other companies offered in my country. I previously ran a small Facebook online shop with my partner that earned about 60,000–80,000 THB per month, and before that I had a Singapore remote role paying over 60,000 THB per month. I usually saved in USD cash. Three months ago, to show funds for the DTV, I exchanged my USD savings into my bank account. In my initial submission, I highlighted my prior salary deposits and personal savings, including the USD exchange. I did not include the online shop at first because I don't have a business registration for that and I partially stopped it when I started my current job. When they asked the final request, I provided proof of the shop’s income and info as well, but the application was still rejected. Please advise me.
Andi ***********
Anonymous participantIt is a good idea to apply in Indonesia. i
Ric ******
So to sum up: you were unable to provide bank statements clearly showing 500.000 baht in any currency? Also no 'sponsor letter' from your company guaranteeing that amount?

That application was the silliest waste of money I have seen here in a long time.

Of course it will be difficult to save up to 500k with a 25k job. Most people on DTV have better paying jobs. Or at least they had them in the past and were able to save or invest wisely back then. The embassies don't care much about your current pay, they mostly care about the 500k in the bank. If you don't have those, there's no point applying in Indonesia.