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What are the best options for securing a Thai Digital Nomad visa while already traveling?

Digital Nomad Visa Thailand Visa Application Visa Rules Expats in Thailand Immigration Help Residence Proof DTV Application Process Cambodia Visa Australian Expats E-Visa System

September 4, 2024

19 days ago

Harvey ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I'm a 48yo Australian digital nomad looking to secure a Thai Digital Nomad DTV. However, I'm already living as a digital nomad, so the only residence I have is a rented condo in Thailand.

After a costly $900 rejection trying to apply for the  at the Budapest Thai Embassy while on holiday (they only serve Hungarian nationals), I now have two options: 

1) Try again from Phnom Penh Cambodia when I travel there in Oct. I have a hotel booked for 2 weeks and plans to return to Thailand afterwards.

2) Wait until I return to Australia at Christmas. Note though that don't own or rent anything in Australia. I stay with my sister when there, so can't prove residence in the normal ways. 

Any advice? Has anyone faced applying for this thing while already travelling the globe?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An Australian digital nomad is seeking advice on applying for a Thai Digital Nomad DTV visa after a previous rejection. They are currently living in Thailand and have two options: apply from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, or wait until returning to Australia for Christmas. Community responses suggest that applying from Phnom Penh may be advantageous, especially since Cambodia will soon adopt an e-visa platform. Various alternatives and potential challenges around proof of residence are also discussed, highlighting the importance of having documentation ready when applying.

DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Paul *******

The Yangon embassy FB page states that they're moving to the e-visa system by the end of the year too but with no date given. I think Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia will move ahead first but by December even Laos might join the others.

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Min *************

I can assist your DTV application in Phnom Penh for better cost

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Andi ***********

@Min ************

how do you do that?

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Andi ***********

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Paul *******

I think you won't have any issues applying either in SE Asia somewhere or when returning to Australia.

Like I mentioned, Phnom Penh is moving to the e-visa system sometime in October so get there soon before that happens. While it may not get more difficult after they've migrated to that new system, I think the current in person applications tend to be more efficient as they're generally processed faster and with more flexibility though this does depend on the location.

If I were you, I'd consider trying Laos (ONLY if you can demonstrate your funds have been parked for 3 months or longer), otherwise, Jakarta, maybe Yangon, Phnom Penh or Ho Chi Minh.

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Audrey *******

In some countries thé proof of residence can be electricity invoice or similar , maybe sthg more feasable than proof of residence in your case. But i have not triéd yet

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Harvey ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I don't have a residence in Australia anymore, so I'm not on any utilities. All I have is a storage locker.

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Harvey ************

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Paul *******

Ok with Phnom Penh, they're going to move to the e-visa platform sometime next month. This means applications could take up to 30 days once that happens but will probably take a week or two on average. Currently, they're taking about a week applying in person (no appointment needed). This is much longer than in most nearby countries but the good news is that Phnom Penh seems to be easier than Laos, where they'll reject anyone who doesn't have proof of funds parked for 3 months or longer.

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Harvey ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

OK, that sounds good. I'm there for 2+ weeks, so will give it a shot unless I hear any contrary opinions.

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Harvey ************

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Kun***

You can do this in Thailand The company where I work provides a turnkey DTV service with receipt at the Thai Consulate in Kualo Lumpur with round-trip flights, hotel accommodation, recording and support for submitting documents and obtaining the visa itself at the Thai Consulate

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Shamari ******

i’d love information on this company

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Maryam ****

what company?

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Maryam ****

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Vu ************

You can come to Vietnam, for proof of residence, you just need to submit documents related to the hotel you stayed in Thailand and it will be accepted.

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Bob *******

Unfortunately that’s incorrect. At least the Thai embassies in Europe request proof of residency. Citizenship in those countries is not enough :(

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Paul *******

why? That's ridiculous. If you're a citizen, that should be good enough. You could of course always supply some additional document such as a driver's license.

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Bob *******

obviously you don’t know, what you are talking about. For example the Royal Thai embassy and consulates in Germany only accept citizen ID or passport as proof of citizenship, where the address of the applicant is stated. 😿 German driver’s licenses don’t list an address.

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Paul *******

Duh. I was talking about residency proof. Citizenship you prove with your passport. ID card is useless as it can't be used to enter Thailand - you need a passport.

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Bob *******

correct. Residency proof is what the Thai consulate requires. And to proof residency, the consulates snd embassies in Austrian and Germany use the resident address, that is stated in the applicant’s passport or citizenship ID, or an official registration from city hall. You can apply there as a non-citizen as long as your passport says you’re a resident. What’s the confusion?

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Bob *******

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Bob *******

tell that to the embassy. Because, what do real nomads do, who live nowhere?

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Paul *******

There's always a way...and it's pretty absurd to reject a citizen from applying in their own country. Never heard of a citizen getting rejected for no good reason.

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Bob *******

to avoid this, I will apply in Jakarta, where an entry stamp is currently enough to proof “residency”

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Paul *******

Sure and many other countries too. However, to be honest, the residency thing is easy to prove - just submit a hotel booking or driver's license if you have one.

My main concern would be the financials and other documentation needed to qualify. The residency issue is at the bottom of the list of concerns.

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Paul *******

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Bob *******

it’s about if the embassy feels responsible for you or not. And they only are, if you live in “their” jurisdiction

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Paul *******

Yeah but if you're a citizen, that's really enough proof right there. Citizens should always come first. It's when you're a non-citizen that things get more complicated.

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Paul *******

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Seb ********

Why did that cost you $900?

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Harvey ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Keep in mind I'm talking Australian dollars when I say dollars.

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Henrik *****

The application fee is non refundabel, as with other visa types.

The Embassy staff use time to process the application, no mather the result.

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Harvey ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

The cost in Hungarian Forints was pretty high, then once I found out I had to be a resident of Hungary to apply through the Hungarian Thai Embassy, I attempted to apply for temporary residency too. Unfortunately, I ran out of time and I had to leave the country empty handed.

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Seb ********

you pumped additional money into an application for a residency in Hungary just to get the DTV in Budapest? How much was that application, 500 Euro? Because the applicantion for the DTV in BUD is just 350 Euro. Surprised you paid them in Forinth as they list all visa fees in Euro.

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Seb ********

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Andi ***********

Cambodia is due to accept DTV applications online Can use your hotel, passport entry stamp for residency. Should have no problems there. Jakarta, Ho chi Minh,Taiwan are also friendly options for tourists

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Andi ***********

Paul James wow, surprised to hear that.

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Paul *******

@Andi **********

Apparently, this is because Singaporeans don't get charged visa fees for Thailand and thus, so far, the DTV has not been made available to them in Singapore.

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Andi ***********

oh ok, understood...focus given to the cash cows elsewhere

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Andi ***********

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Paul *******

@Andi **********

I understand Singapore doesn't issue DTVs to residents/Singaporeans! Thus if they're issued at all, it would have to be to foreigners only.

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Paul *******

@Andi **********

Vietnam will begin online visa applications next month too. That leaves Jakarta, Laos (not recommended unless you have a lengthy account statement showing funds parked for a minimum of 3 months), Yangon, Taipei as the ones in the region that for the time being, will continue to allow in person applications. There may be others too but they'd be at less commonly applied locations.

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Andi ***********

Malaysia is going online?

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Paul *******

Oh and Singapore, which apparently uses its own hybrid online system. They're not switching at this stage. I don't know about Manila but it's not a place I'd considering going to unless some positive reports started coming out of there.

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Paul *******

@Andi **********

Yes. The only ones left that won't be online next month in the region are Jakarta, Yangon and Laos. I suspect all of the remaining ones will be going online within the next 3-6 months

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Andi ***********

Has Singapore started DTV for non residents?

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Andi ***********

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