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What are the new eVisa application procedures for Thai consulates in Southeast Asia starting October 8, 2024?

eVisa systemThailand VisaThai ConsulatesVisa applicationVisa rulesSoutheast AsiaCambodiaVietnamMalaysiaImmigrationTourist visaDTV visaElite visaBusiness visa
Oct 6, 2024
2 months ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS;

**EDIT; (Oct 8th)

All three countries (Cambodia, Malaysia & Vietnam) are all online on the eVisa system.. !!

**

The following Thai consulates in S/E Asia will go to online eVisa applications ONLY starting the 8th of Oct.

They will discontinue any walk up/in person visa applications at that time.

Actually some of them stopped accepting in person applications already and have consular services closed until they open on the eVisa system on Tuesday

Vietnam - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Bharu

Cambodia - Phnom Penh

The follow consulates are still walk up consulates (they will not be changing to eVisa at this time) BUT you need to book an appt online to get in the gate

Lao - Vientiane, Savannakhet

Burma - Yangon

The following consulates are walk up consulates no appt needed

Indonesia - Jakarta

Taiwan - Taipei

Philippines - Manila
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Starting October 8, 2024, certain Thai consulates in Southeast Asia, specifically in Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, will transition to only accepting online eVisa applications, discontinuing in-person visa applications. This change affects consulates such as those in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Bharu, and Phnom Penh. Some consulates, such as those in Laos and Burma, will continue to accept walk-up applications but require appointments, while others, like in Indonesia and Taiwan, do not require appointments. Expats should be aware that all visa applications, including DTV, must now be submitted through the eVisa system if applying at a consulate in these countries.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Marc **********
Do the bank statement proof have to be stamped ? Or can I download my thai bank statement from online and submit thst way ?
2 months ago
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Ellie *******
@Marc *********
, check the detailed requirements or what documents are acceptable vary by RTE/RTCG. Check their their website first.
2 months ago
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Ellie *******
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Travis *********
Are there any advantages or disadvantages for e-visa system compared to applying in person??

Only one advantage is obvious for me - save time on walking and queuing at the consulate. So you can go travel within the country or chill at the hotel.

Are differences in processing time or provided paper work reviewing process?

Usually when your paperwork is incorrect they donโ€™t even accept it - so you donโ€™t pay/lose your visa fee. At least it used to be that way in Laos..
2 months ago
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Dca *****
@Travis ********
 With very few Thai Embassies/Consulates remaining available for accepting an in-person visa application and issuing a Thai Visa Sticker in the passport book, and eventually all Thai Embassies/Consulates will only accept Thai Visa applications with the Thai e-Visa System and issue only a Thai e-Visa PDF (to be printed out),

an 'advantage' is that some Thai Embassies/Consulates that in cases that may refuse or reject a Thai Visa application may either not take payment of the Thai Visa Fee or Refund the Visa Fee (that was usually paid for in cash when submitting the visa application) vs. with the Thai e-Visa system, all visa fees are not refundable, regardless of whether the Thai Visa application was refused or rejected by the Thai Embassy/Consulate and only method of payment for Thai e-Visa is credit card/debit card online vs. cash for in-person application submission (and a select few Thai Embassies/Consulates had sometimes permitted local QR Code bank transfer Payment)
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Travis ********
 ๐˜€๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—พ๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ.

my advice is

suck it up, go to a walk up, queue up consulate, apply thru them, that way you know if you're documentation is accepted or not.

Once you turn in your application and pay then you can ๐—ด๐—ผ ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—น ๐˜„๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—น ๐Ÿ˜›
2 months ago
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Tod *********
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Andi ***********
Just received an email from Taipei that they are scheduled to go online Nov 19th."Due to the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, we are scheduled to go online on November 19, 2024. Please keep close attention to the announcement via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand e-visa website."
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 great to know, OKAY people if you're already IN thailand, you're wanting to get a DTV at a "user friendly consulate" STOP being a "day counter" maxing out your time here on what ever stamp you have now and GET over to the Taipei consulate BEFORE they switch to the eVia online system
2 months ago
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Dominic ******
@Tod ********
 is Taipei considered to be the easiest one?
2 months ago
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Andi ***********
@Tod ********
 Taipei just emailed to say the approval process for online applications will be 2 working days. If more documentation is needed, then it can 2 or more extra days.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I still say GO while it's a walk up consulate because they can help you vet the docs when you are there applying
2 months ago
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Tod *********
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Lena *******
Information much appreciated. Thank you.
2 months ago
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Micky **********
And you don't have to be a resident of the country you're applying from?
2 months ago
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Micky **********
@Tod ********
 f that's awesome.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Micky *********
 you have to physically be IN that country and legally in that country ,

upload your entry stamp/visa, and proof you're staying there when you apply (booking receipt) but that's it
2 months ago
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Dominic ******
@Tod ********
 be aware that there are some exceptions. In Japan you have to be a citizen or a permanent resident. You cannot apply if you are a tourist even if you walk in in person. I thought about doing that during my Japan trip but I found out that the embassies says no. :(
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 Right, some consulates just won't do it without long term residence, Hong Kong, Japan, China, etc BUT few people even contemplate using those consulates

The ones nearby are all "show you're legally in the country" use them for an eVisa
2 months ago
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Dominic ******
@Tod ********
 Do we know how that proof actually works. As in, have those who got accepted stated somewhere here, what proof was accepted?

The reason I'm asking is that I would have to fly to a different country to apply for the DTV and I just want to make sure everything's going to be smooth. ๐Ÿ™ˆ
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—œ'๐—บ ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—œ ๐˜„๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฑ ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ณ๐—น๐˜† ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฎ ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐——๐—ง๐—ฉ

Everyone goes to another country to apply for a DTV to thailand ๐Ÿ™‚ you can't apply inside thailand on the eVisa system, you have to be IN the country where the thai consulate is that you're applying at.
2 months ago
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Dominic ******
@Tod ********
 Exactly. But I'm very flexible in where I can go so I'm trying to figure which country is easiest. ๐Ÿ™ƒ

I could even just do it here but I'm lacking one document they want.
2 months ago
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James ********
@John ******
 go to Taipei ASAP .. walk in. Same day or next day approval.

BUT...

Just received an email from Taipei that they are scheduled to go online Nov 19th."Due to the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, we are scheduled to go online on November 19, 2024. Please keep close attention to the announcement via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand e-visa website."
2 months ago
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Dominic ******
@James *******
 I'll be arriving on Monday. Just need to get some documents ready and we should be good.

I don't mind doing it online though, makes it a lot easier.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 so pick a place and go to that embassy website, read the requirements, GO there and apply ๐Ÿ™‚
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 dial the paranoia back just a notch ๐Ÿ˜‰ Many, MANY people have gone to thai consulates in Lao, Burma, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam Malaysia, etc and applied for visas by showing they're legally in that country and using the hotel address as their address in that country.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
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John **********
Sorry if this is an obvious question but does this mean that a DTV application through the Thai consulate in HCMC would now also need to be submitted through the evisa system? Many thanks
2 months ago
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Ellie *******
@John *********
, right. ANY visa application has to be done through eVisa system.
2 months ago
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Ellie *******
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Dca *****
in fact, those Thai Embassies and Consulates in Cambodia and Malaysia already officially cut off and stopped accepting in-person applications this past Friday, 04 October 2024.

Eventually, all of Thailand's Embassies and Consulates will move to and use Thai eVisa, just unknown as to when....
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dca ****
 they will indeed, BUT as of this tuesday the consulates I listed are the only ones in the area going eVisa right now
2 months ago
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Paul *******
@Dca ****
 Correct, yes. I suspect the remaining ones will move to the e-visa system, one by one within the next 3 or so months, but there may still be some "holdouts" that will take longer.
2 months ago
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Paul *******
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Erik *****
So, I currently have an elite visa and am soon switching to a business visa + work permit through a BOI company. They told me the easiest is to leave the country and go to KL, Malaysia and get it there. How will this change my process? Thank you!
2 months ago
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Elisa **********
@Erik ****
 may I ask you if the elite visa will be frozen?can you use it in the future?
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Elisa *********
 Elite is the only visa that "suspends" (you don't lose the visa) when you get another type of visa (Non-B) etc,
2 months ago
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Elisa **********
@Tod ********
 thank you Tod. That means that I could use that visa later on (the remaining part) or does it expire in the first declared date? For example I did it in 2023 and I will expire in 2028. If I get another visa (DTV, business) will this postpone the expiration of the elite ? Thank you
2 months ago
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Ellie *******
@Elisa *********
, Membership is not stopped or postponed. you will keep using other privileges on another visa. just not using visa part of the membership. When membership is expired when itโ€™s supposed to be expired.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Elisa *********
 it will expire when it expires nothing postpones the expiration date ๐Ÿ˜• it just doesn't CANCEL.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Erik ****
 it means you will go to Malaysia, and apply online using the eVisa system, then stay IN malaysia until it is approved and the PDF of the visa is emailed to you
2 months ago
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Tod *********
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David **********
Thank you Tod this is very useful intel. Much appreciated sir.
2 months ago
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Cassius **********
I'm flying to Vietnam tomorrow. My original plan was to get a tourist visa at the Hanoi embassy but the available appointments for next week all disappeared when it was time to book (I moved too slowly!). Decided to go Vietnam anyway and return on a visa exemption.

Does this mean I might actually be able to apply for a visa? My return flight is on Friday 11th so I realise I may be cutting it too short
2 months ago
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Mikhail *********
@Cassius *********
 You can apply starting from October 8. A processing time of 5 working days has been announced for both Hanoi and Saigon. Check their announcement to determine which consulate to indicate when applying, as they have divided responsibilities based on province.
2 months ago
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Cassius **********
@Mikhail ********
 as I leave Vietnam on Friday 11th, I wouldn't get the visa in time anyway. Thought I was in luck for a moment there though!
2 months ago
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Cassius **********
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Cassius *********
 have to see how it works, they posted the eVisa system will have a 5 business day processing
2 months ago
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Cassius **********
@Tod ********
 Ah might not have enough time then. We'll see!
2 months ago
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Cassius **********
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Keep in mind people you have to be IN the country whose consulate you're applying at thru the eVisa system.
2 months ago
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Xav ****
@Tod ********
 Thanks so much for the insights! ๐Ÿ™

I wanted to ask if you happen to know if Singapore passport holders can apply for the DTV visa at Thai consulates outside of Singapore? I understand we canโ€™t do it in Singapore, but I was wondering if you have any idea if itโ€™s possible at Thai consulates in places like Penang or Laos, for example?

Really appreciate your adviceโ€”thanks again! ๐Ÿ˜Š
2 months ago
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Ellie *******
@Xavi ****
, you can as long as you meet the requirements at the embassy/consulate you apply for your visa at.
2 months ago
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Xav ****
Thanks for the insight!
@Ellie ******
 :D
2 months ago
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Xav ****
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Daniela ******
@Tod ********
 can I be in Penang and apply in KL?

Or is the city also relevant?
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniela *****
 and why would you be IN Penang yet apply thru the KL consulate? They have the same requirements now for every visa. ๐Ÿ˜•
2 months ago
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Daniela ******
@Tod ********
 Penang got a pretty bad reputation the past 1.5 years when it comes to their visa approvals.

But lovely place to spend time at.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniela *****
 actually it wasn't that it got a bad reputation,

it's when they reopened after covid that they actually tightened up and quit giving visas out for the asking without all the required documents, ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

AND

they stopped giving out year/multi visas when they shouldn't have been doing it ๐Ÿ˜•

The people it affected most were those people in the south of thailand who were 'gaming the year/multi Non-B' program by pulling those visas from Penang all those years.. ๐Ÿ˜‰
@As ******
Dca correctly pointed out, WHERE you are can make a difference, Especially in a country where you get the pop up telling you what consulate you HAVE to run your visa thru (like US/Canada/Australia etc)

Selecting Malaysia as a "current location" doesn't give you that pop up SO it would lead me to believe you can pick what ever one you want to.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
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Dca *****
@Daniela *****
 it can matter as within the same country the Thai Embassy and any Thai Consulates will have jurisdiction over specific areas within the country, as in the USA, Australia, Laos, Vietnam, Canada, among other countries:

the Thai Embassies and Thai Consulates specifically list out the residents of which particular provinces/States/areas they accept visa applications and other Thai consular matters from, even if that country's Thai Embassy and Thai Consulates use the Thai e-Visa system....
2 months ago
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James ********
@Daniela *****
 in the country.
2 months ago
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Daniela ******
@James *******
 you never know ๐Ÿ˜œ

This brings awesome opportunities ๐Ÿ˜€
2 months ago
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Daniela ******
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Thomas ********
Just to clarify โ€” this isn't for incoming travelers doing visa exemptions, right?

I think it was called ETA or something?
2 months ago
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Thomas *******
 this is only for people going to consulates in S/E Asia to buy visas for thailand.

Nothing to do with people entering free stamp

Also the ETA program they were going to roll out in dec was cancelled for now
2 months ago
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Thomas ********
@Tod ********
 News to me! Thanks, Tod.
2 months ago
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Paul *******
@Thomas *******
 The ETA system has been postponed. Originally, I think they were going to do a trial beginning in December and a full implementation in June 2025, but my guess is the trial won't even begin until mid 2025 at this rate.
2 months ago
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Paul *******
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Andi ***********
Very useful update.
2 months ago
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Andi ***********
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