What are the pros and cons of the DTV and ED visa in Thailand?

Some great schools in Chiang Mai if you really want to learn Thai.

100% dtv specially if you can do yourself

Like you have a choice. It depends what you’re eligible for not your own decision

If you’re planning on staying in Thailand for less than a couple of years then I’m sure an ED visa is fine, but forget trying to live here long term on ED visas

I did massage training during the early pandemic days as an option to stay. It was required to be in sessions 3 days a week 2-3 hours I believe. You are intended to make the full commitment. You can’t just sign up and not show up because you have to file for extensions (if doing a long form program) and the school will have the records. At least that’s how it was for me.

Overall I enjoyed my experience but also learned that I don’t want to give massage- receiving suits me better 😂

I now have dtv medical and I much prefer the flexibility.

Good luck!

I had a ED but it’s really only about the visa, the best teachers a private once. Now I am on a DTV with a private teacher. With ED you can’t easily leave the country or travel around.

ED visa is only 90 days at a time. Every 3 months you'll have to go to immigration and apply for and pay for another extension. Maximum of 1 year. You'll also be unable to leave Thailand during this time as you have a high likelihood of being pulled out of line and interrogated about why you need a visa to study in Thailand when you're not staying in Thailand but leaving. Also you'll probably be pulled out of line upon entry for many years after your ED finishes, since it's the most abused visa type.

DTV is worry free 5 years in and out as much as you want, but you'll likely need to leave and return at least once every 6 months.

Thai teachings are one of the worst in the world, even for Muay Thai (most clubs are horrible)

Are you going to be doing any kind of remote work?

DTV is your only legal option.

Its about personal choice, I went the ed route with self defense. I was able to upgrade to ED visa while in thailand on visa exempt. DTV you cant.

I started the ed visa upgrade after a few days on my arrival and got it back just before my visa exempt expired. It takes about 2 months turn around.

I spent my time on visa exempt exploring and enjoying my time here while I had free time. Once my Ed visa was approved I started taking classes.

The down side is the 1 yr ed visa stamp is good for 3 months and you have to renew it 1900 baht every three months AND still do 90 day check in.

The school you apply to should help you with the paper work and fees associated in the school fees.

DTV you have to apply for it outside thailand and you get 180 days before you either extend or leave and come back. I urge people to keep the money in savings at all times.

Immigration has been asking to verify the savings amount required and if you dont have it they will deny entry and cancel your DTV.

If choosing ED, you have to be actually studying full time, show up to all classes, and pass tests.

It is also depending on what to study, several people has gotten an ED visa instead of the DTV, if the ED is better suited to the reasons for applying i.e. studying Thai language.

Do you plan on leaving the country often? If not no point in getting a DTV.

ED ain’t really ED, Thai teachers don’t really know how to teach Thai properly due to their limited English, the typical ED visa is simply “Pass the immigration fixed questions in exchange for you to live in Thailand via the proper visa for 11 months”

What are your specific needs?

It's not about pro and cons, it's about you. Would you be studying or?

DTV is longer and cheaper