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Answereda year ago

What are the current challenges with applying for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) due to political changes?

Kat *******
asked Oct 30, 2025
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Hello community,

thank you so much for replying to my last post.

I got a much better feeling about going for the DTV after your replies.

But now I contacted an agent and received below reply…

What is the current political situation in Thailand? Does it make sense to apply for DTV?

“Hello Kat,

At this time, we no longer offer services for the 5 Year - Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) due to recent political changes and concerns about the program's longevity. Additionally, banks have stopped allowing banking services for DTV holders.

Instead, we recommend our long-term ED visa services, which do not require you to leave the country every six months and allow you to open a bank account. This is a great option for those under 50 years old.”
Answer summary
The community discussion revolves around the viability of the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) amidst recent political changes in Thailand. An agent has advised against applying for the DTV, suggesting the ED visa instead, leading to varied responses from community members. Many express skepticism about the agent's motives, suggesting a financial incentive to promote the ED visa over the DTV. They emphasize that the DTV application can be done independently without agents. Overall, users provide insights on the complications associated with the ED visa and support for applying for the DTV directly.
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Kat *******
Kat *******
OP
Thank you so much for all your replies. Very helpful 🙏🥰
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous ******************
The agent makes more money selling ED visa. 😂
James ********
James ********
Dump that agent 😔
Steve *******
Steve *******
Yeah, that bs ED visa is not a better option in any way. It's not a valid visa as you won't be studying at the University the visa is for, and the agency is just trying to make money off of you, by trying to scare you into it.

Just apply for the DTV yourself or let one of us help you for much less than what an agency would charge.
Nick ******
Nick ******
Not sure what agent you contacted, but you should try Issa Compass instead. They allowed hundreds to get their DTV easily, quickly, and for a very affordable fee.
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous ******************
Do it yourself. You don't need an agent to help you when all the help you need is here.
Ade ********
Ade ********
Siam legal. Try them.
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
No agent is needed.

Take control of your life, and do proper research, then it is very simple to apply.

Start by thoroughly reading Embassy websites for the specific Embassy to apply at, and read the manual in top right corner of the visa application website.
Ade ********
Ade ********
@Henrik ****
or. Just let an agent do it all. If you can afford it.
Ade ********
Ade ********
@Elías *******
hey. Chill 🧘‍♂️
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
No need to and it has never been the meaning that people should use agents to apply for DTV, hence the rule that you need to stay and apply for DTV only from outside of Thailand.

There is no need to support corruption by using agents, that is a clear goal of the government, in how they made the DTV guidelines.

And a agent can never so it all, since they can not travel to other countries and apply for you.
Elías ********
Elías ********
As a matter of fact, the time the OP has invested writing and reading the email to the agent might be even more than 15 minutes, what it took to send my DTV application
Elías ********
Elías ********
@Ade *******
this has nothing to do with being able to afford it or not. I'd be able to "afford" hundred of agents, but I refuse to. Come on, I didn't even spend FIFTEEN minutes on filling and sending my DTV application online 🤷🏻

IF it was a super long and/or complicated process, then yeah, I'd be the first using an agent.
Kyle **********
Kyle **********
You have chosen the wolves, now u gotta feed them ;)
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
DTV has NEVER been eligible for a Thai bankaccount, since it is a tourist visa, and not a proper long term visa for people wanting to live in Thailand.
Christer *****
Christer *****
I'm talking 10-12 years ago when you could open a "condo account" with that specific use.
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
Outdated, not possible anymore, and no reason to have a bankaccount.
Greg ********
Greg ********
@Henrik ****
Sorry but rules changed at banks in 2025 after the DTV was initiated. You could still open bank accounts on tourist visas in 2024.
Andrew *********
Andrew *********
@Greg *******
Only Bangkok bank ?
Greg ********
Greg ********
@Andrew ********
There were other individual branches at other banks. For example Krungsri at EmQuatrtier was well known for facilitating account opening on VE and TR. It was individual branches of banks though - pretty sure it was down to the discretion of the manager. Many could not be arsed 🙂
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
It was a governmental decision to get better control over who has a Thai Bankaccount, in the essens to get better control over money laundering, monkey accounts used for fraud, and other sorts of criminal activity, hence it applies to ALL Thai banks, as a major bank in Thailand, Bangkok bank was amongst the first movers to implement the governmental rules, and therefore they attracted the most attention.

It has now been in action for more than a year, so no need to discuss it further, but you have to acknowledge it as a fact.
Christer *****
Christer *****
@Greg *******
I believe the general rule, what was said on the various banks sites, was no accounts on tourist visa. It was just not enforced.
Mr *******************
Mr *******************
@Christer ****
it's the opposite. Bangkok Bank used have a page specifically for tourists, explaining why a bank account was useful for people on a tourist visa. Totally that has changed but they used actively advertise it, there was absolutely no policy against it.
Christer *****
Christer *****
@Greg *******
I'm sorry. I assumed you knew the meaning of the word "rule" as you used it. 🤷 As you guessed it's not a law.
Greg ********
Greg ********
@Christer ****
Who issued the rule? It was never a "Law". Was it a BoT (Bank of Thailand) rule or guideline - must be a link to it. Was it a rule of individual banks or was it just left to the discretion of individual bank managers?
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous ******************
The ED is pain in the butt, you have to go every second month (sometimes they give a stamp for 1 month, rarely for 3 which is the maximum time) to the Immigration to extent (and pay 2000 bath every time). I had 14 months ED visa before and had to leave the country after 8 months also to get the continuation (which is second visa basically). I also had problem at BKK airport coming back after these 8 months, the Immigration officer asked many questions in Thai and later took me to the back (interrogation room) for further explanation and some obvious stuff that o rather not to mention. I knew how to say simple stuff as I was actually learning but they required also to WRITE in Thai and all of this after 8 months of language course. You cannot also leave the country without the permit that you need to pay for also during your visa time, but given the circumstances I did not even want to.

With all that said the DTV seems a way better and cheaper option. I just got mine and hope for a better experience this time as I haven't got to use it yet 😅

And still love Thailand even tho Thailand did not love me on my ED visa 🙃
Maksym ***********
Maksym ***********
Agents can't apply for DTV, and can't do accounts now. So they just don't want to help you with it
Ade ********
Ade ********
Elías ********
Elías ********
That's just BS. The reason? I'm not sure but maybe the DTV isn't as much as profitable for the agent. Good news is you don't need an agent to get one.
Gonçalo **********
Gonçalo **********
@Elías *******
of course!
Andrew *********
Andrew *********
@Elías *******
They can make the same profit on it and charge what they want.
Elías ********
Elías ********
@Andrew ********
if you know how ED visas work, you'll know they'll be doing more profit on it, as you'll need to visit Immigration once every few months. On a DTV, you might not even need to visit Immigration once in the whole 5 and half years, so it's a "loss" for the agents.
Toni *******
Toni *******
@Elías *******
yea why would an agent care about banking anyway?
Greg ********
Greg ********
Sounds to me the agency is trying to maximise income by offering the ED rather than the DTV. This type of marketing is called FUD (Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt). The new government will not be making any changes in the 4 months they have before a General Election next year. There has been nothing said by anyone as far as I can see regarding the DTV by any political party. It is not exactly an everyday concern to the electorate. Apply for your DTV and good luck. Edit: the ED is recurring revenue for the agent. The DTV is a one off payment for them.

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