Was it easy to enter Thailand with a DTV eVisa and Dutch passport?

@James ******

For many people here the DTV is a very serious and critical topic that they have to deal with. I'd love for us to show more compassion towards them by not throwing around sarcasm.

Life's hard enough.

@Dominic *****

So perhaps these people need more significant reports other than how the queue went??

@James ******

Given that several people here have expressed a certain unwellness about flying to a far away country with a totally new type of visa, combined with the fact that we've seen issues in Thailand before where IO's didn't know about new regulations properly (just recently, the change to 60 days visa exempt), I can understand that one might ask the question.

And

@Luit ****************

added another example of not running into any issues to calm those still in distress. I thought it's a lovely gesture. Certainly more helpful than other posts I've seen here.

@Dominic *****

if people are not trusting a visa (that thousands have already entered on in the last 4 months) to a country where the visa has been issued by an Embassy of that country they probably need more support than a few people saying that they entered successfully.

@James ******

I always say: Never trust anyone.

I can sympasize with people who don't.

But let's agree to disagree, that's totally fine too.

@Paul ******

Diplomatic line for me ,no jealousy needed

@Paul ******

So true! 😃

@Luit ****************

Oh, that totally makes sense. 🙂

If a spouse visa is no option, then the DTV is in my eyes also the way to go. I totally hear you. 🙂

I was wondering if a spouse visa is the easier way but it might not even be.

The citizenship/passport is certainly not an easy route a

@s **********

es thankfully explained in great detail. Seems like that's a big hassle. 🙂

@Dominic *****

Yes, it's quite a hassle. I've met several farang who became Thai citizens, but it wasn't an easy process. Over time, it's becoming a little more streamlined, but there are no investment schemes or honorary Thai citizenship (except in very rare cases), unlike say Cambodia, where you can basically purchase citizenship, which again, is a bonus for traveling around SE Asia, not to mention living and working, or investing in Cambodia.

@Paul ******

I hear you.

But, to be fair, at least it's possible to get the Thai passport. Albeit with loads of conditions.

I mean, there are other countries, where you will just simply never get the citizenship because naturalization doesn't exist. 🙂

@Dominic *****

Yes, for example China. Almost impossible to become a citizen.

However, Taiwan is straightforward. Many westerners have become Taiwanese and there's no need to be ethnically Chinese either.

Japanese citizenship is becoming more straightforward to acquire these days, though I believe they only recognize one nationality so you do have to give up your other nationalities if you want to hold Japanese nationality.

@Dominic *****

Show me a spouse visa that is valid for 5 years with a stay limit of 180 days per entry. Vietnam has one for foreigners married to it's nationals, but Thailand has long been more xenophobic and less willing to accommodate foreigners married to Thais. That is, unless you're a woman married to a Thai, then it's a different story. Until relatively recently, they could immediately qualify for naturalization but these days, a few years of marriage is first required.

@Luit ****************

Absolutely. That's another concern.

@Paul ******

I can't show you one, because I lack the knowledge about it. That's why I was asking. 😉

At least when it comes to Thailand.

Of course it's different for (some) other countries:

Easy to get, valid indefinitely (as long as you're married).

I do agree with the idea of not being able to naturalize right away, that's just wrong.

For example, in Ireland we have to wait three years to get an Irish passport after marrying. I think that's a good number. You're allowed to stay anyway, passport doesn't matter. 🙂

@Dominic *****

In theory, foreign males married to Thais are eligible to apply for naturalization after only 3 years of marriage too, but there are a number of other requirements to fulfill as well:

1. Must be on a non-B, non-O or other acceptable extension of stay (tourist visas, DTV, LTR, privilege, retirement and other "tourist type" visas that don't allow the holder to work or otherwise have no pathway to permanent residency aren't eligible). The LTR allows you to work in Thailand under specific conditions, but offers no pathway to residency. An analogy I make is that it's a "rich man's DTV" but still in effect, kinda like a long stay business/tourist visa combined into one.

2. Must hold a Thai work permit throughout the entire time, no exceptions

3. Must have an unbroken extension of stay for 3 consecutive years

4. Must be earning 40,000 Baht per month, every month (80,000 if not married to a Thai)

5. Proof of tax paid for the entire period prior to application

6. Charity work highly advisable

7. Bonus points if applicant is aged roughly between 40 and 50

8. No criminal record

9. Bonus if applicant is fluent in Thai, but this isn't a requirement if you're married to a Thai. It's required if you're not married to a Thai national

It usually takes several years after applying, before an applicant is granted Thai citizenship.

@Paul ******

yes very long story to get citizenship.Also expensive one

@Incognia *********

Yep, although it's not necessarily expensive just a lengthy process.

@Paul ******

Thank you for adding all this information.

It's fascinating to see that it's so hard to get a passport that I wouldn't want to get anyway (purely looking at passport power).

I wonder why that is tbh.

But the spouse visa itself should be rather simple, no?

@Dominic *****

I don't know why you would say that. Thailand allows (or at least, tolerates) dual citizenship. For travel anywhere within the 10 member ASEAN region, you couldn't do better than with a Thai passport.

Yes, for Malaysia and Singapore, many western passports receive 90 days rather than the 30 you receive on a Thai passport, but unless you need that much time in those countries, then a Thai passport is superior because you won't need a visa for Laos, Vietnam or Indonesia and stay 30 days.

You can use land border crossings with neighboring countries that only allow local citizens across with just an ID card and border pass, including borders such as Mae Sai and Mae Sot, which are currently open to Thais, but closed to foreigners.

For Cambodia, you can stay for 14 days. For the Philippines it's 30 days. Brunei is visa-free too. Myanmar is visa free for 14 days if flying in. Land border entries only require an ID card but with restrictions on how far you can travel.

China is visa-free for 30 days. Russia is visa-exempt for 30 days.

With a Thai ID card/passport, you don't need to pay farang fees while visiting tourist sites.

You can start a business and work anywhere.

If I was afforded the privilege of holding a Thai passport, especially for permanent residence in the Kingdom, then obviously I would take it over a spousal visa that offers few rights or privileges.

@Paul ******

There is a very easy reason for saying that: Germany doesn't allow dual passports and I would never give up the German passport, because it's the top passport to hold for worldwide travel. 🙂

Yes, there are some areas where certain passports are better than others but overall, German and UAE passports hold the highest passport power, so it's quite an easy decision for me. 🙂

Sure, if I could hold a dual citizenship that would look very different.

I totally agree with you on that one.

@Luit ****************

I think IF you could qualify for a Thai passport one day and want to live in Thailand, then apply for it. Again, assuming you would be eligible. It can't hurt and it will only benefit you.

Of course, unless they make it much easier to apply for it, chances are, you probably won't ever qualify, but just saying.

@Luit ****************

Word! Always look at the passport power, that's my approach too. And then choose the one with the highest passport power unless you never intend to travel much and stay only in a certain area where specific passports are more useful than the worldwide best ones. 🙂

@Dominic *****

I thought Germany has loosened the rules now on dual citizenship?

@Paul ******

Let's say it that way: it's complicated.

There are some exceptions around that. You're allowed dual in some cases.

It's mainly abou becoming German and keeping your previous one, that's no issue any longer as it seems.

The other way around ... not so easy.

But to be honest with you, I didn't dig too deep into that since I wouldn't be eligable for another passport at the moment anyway (digital nomad and no spouse to speak of haha) and I haven't been to Germany in like 8 years or so (hence not up to date on laws anyway) and I don't really need a different / additional one.

But maybe in the future I'll analyse that new law in detail and think about getting the Irish passport as well. But no rush. 🙂