What are the requirements for extending a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) in Thailand and are border runs a better option?

Nov 12, 2024
11 days ago
Did my 90-Day Report today and asked for the requirements for extending the DTV. Got told that they want to see all documents/proof again that i used for my visa application. In english or thai language. So i would require a translation. The most important thing is the financial proof they said, which obviously has to be a current bank overview / statement / whatever… Talked a little with 3 officers and they recommended just doing a border run and get a fresh 180 day. This was done in Krabi where immigration is usualy very easy. (DTV was applied and granted via eVisa / germany. workcation category.)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the requirements for extending a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) in Thailand after completing a 90-Day Report. It highlights that to extend the DTV, one needs to provide all documents submitted for the initial visa application, including financial proof such as current bank statements, which must be in Thai or English. It also mentions that several officers suggested that doing a border run to refresh the visa for another 180 days could be easier than going through the extension process, which may involve more paperwork and documentation.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Mar *****
Did they state the price is it the standard 1,900b or another fee ...?!?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mar ****
good question but i forgot to ask that. i assume its 1900
Paul *******
I'd assume you have retained copies of the documents you submitted including any translations? I have. Therefore, there would be no need to pay money to get these translations done again.

However, as long as borders remain open (don't assume they'll never do a repeat of the Covid nonsense again and close the borders, because that could certainly happen again at some point in the future) then I'll probably be traveling. 6 months is a long time to be spending in country without ever leaving...except if my wife gets pregnant again I am pretty sure I'll be traveling for work or pleasure at least once every 90 days on average, sometimes even more regularly than that.

Therefore, chances are, in-country extensions for me would only occur if the borders were shut again. Some rumors this could happen again in 2026 but no hard evidence (not to mention we can't just blindly believe rumors). Still, whatever happens, I like to be prepped and prepared. This means ensuring my status is up to date and my documents are ready in case such a scenario does unfold sometime within the next few years.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
as my documents are not in english/thai i would need to get them all translated. and not even sure if they will require a notarized translation. so thats a big issue for me. i submitted all my documents for my DTV in my native language when i applied for it in july. i usualy also travel 2 times a year back home but right now i am not sure when that will be the next time. so i might need a quick malaysia border run. its pretty cheap anyway… this whole thing is more about gaining information about the DTV process and whats all connected with it. at least for me.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant Your documents would have needed to be translated just to apply for the visa in the first place. They only accept documents in Thai or English.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
thats very incorrect. an embassy in france will accept documents in french language. an embassy in germany will accept documents in german language. an embassy in spain will accept documents in spanish language… thats a fact and many times proven… i got the DTV visa with just that and they even requested another document (certificate of employment) where they even asked with the foreign wording for that… you are wrong.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer both of you are right in a way, embassies can choose if they want to accept other languages, and a lot of them also accept the local language. In Netherlands they accepted the Dutch employment contract, but at an earlier occasion they needed a specific letter in English or Thai.
Paul *******
@Luit ****************
I've not seen one consulate accepting languages other than Thai or English though. I looked long and hard and couldn't find one, but I didn't make a big deal about it. I got my documents in French and Chinese, translated into English.
Paul *******
@Luit ****************
It's highly recommended documents are in Thai or English, particularly if needing to extend this visa. Documents in any other language are useless and immigration won't accept them. Thais don't speak German, Dutch, French or whatever.

For better or worse, English is the only global language.
Luit *****************
@Paul ******
English and Thai is always accepted and therefore a safe choice, allthough a lot of Thai do not speak English either.

Often the national language is also OK.

A lot of Thai do indeed speak the language of the country where they stay, and on most embassies there is also local staff.

But they have the right to refuse documents in other languages.
Paul *******
@Luit ****************
Normally Thais don't speak other languages (particularly diplomatic staff who get rotated to a different post every few years).

So, it would be a case of any local staff who are stationed there but I would generally not recommend submitting documents in any languages other than Thai or English.

Where I applied, I spoke with the locally engaged staff in Chinese (their native language) but even though I presented documents in Chinese (which they could understand) this was not permitted, so I had those documents translated ahead of time (I communicated with the consulate prior to my arrival).

Thais who live or work abroad almost always speak English (as opposed to those who live here and have never been abroad).

Sometimes, documents presented in Thailand for official purposes need to be in Thai only but for foreigners and extensions at immigration offices inside the country, English is accepted as well.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant Nonsense. I applied and they only accepted documents in English or Thai. No other foreign languages.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
where did you apply? i applied with german documents and even communicated with them in german language. so you are wrong in generalizing this. maybe YOUR specific embassy has that requirement. german thai embassies do not have that. i talk facts.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant I communicated with my embassy in Chinese. The staff I was interacting with were locals, not Thais.

Thais generally speak only Thai and English. That's why this requirement is in place.

I had documents in French. These were translated into English. Didn't cost a whole lot. I used a translation bureau based in Chiang Mai.

I simply followed the rules and my visa was approved without incident.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
not so in germany. i applied with documents in just german language. in july, shortly after the DTV was announced. you should know that different embassies have different requirements, right?! you went for a chinese embassy? that probably isnt your home country then when you have french documents. not even comparable to my case. my visa was approved within 5 days. just one request for certificate of employment stating remote work. in german language. so not sure what you are trying to discuss here as i am talking about the facts from a different embassy. believe it or not. i have the DTV for a while now :D
Paul *******
Anonymous participant My DTV was approved without incident but I knew how to follow the rules and common sense should tell you that when dealing with Thai officialdom, you present documents in Thai or English.

Do you speak German with Thais in Thailand? Come on now.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
why are you even discussing this? my dtv was also approved without an incident. what are you talking about? german embassies dont require the documents in english or thai language. its a fact. how can you even be so delusional and argue against it when people do this all the time??? lol
Paul *******
Anonymous participant I had documents in the local language of the country I was applying but they aren't accepted. They want Thai or English only.

Again, let's see how you go presenting your German documents to immigration in Thailand, should you be requiring an extension.

They'll laugh in your face and tell you to get them translated.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
i just fly to malaysia for 2500 baht return. suuuper easy. and even recommended by the immigration officers ;) thats even the reason for this whole post to inform people about the requirements of immigration in one specific province. even that will be different from province to province.

but anyway, you should learn that different embassies have different requirements for visa applications. some even require 6 months of bank statements. so your individual case isnt the same for everyone. you can read about this on plenty of reviews on this fb group.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant There you go, just do a border run. You know already that IF an extension is needed, you'll need to present documents in Thai or English plus whatever else they're asking for.

If they require all the same documents as for the initial visa application, then a border run might be a lot easier.
Qin *******
Does this mean that I have to fly out of Thailand once every 90 days to avoid the trouble of re-examination of documents?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Qin ******
every 180 days… i was just there to do my 90d report and asked them what they need in another 90 days for the extension
Qin *******
匿名互动者 got it.Thanks
Hannah ***********
@Qin ******
no, only every 180 days
David ********
A 90 day report is just to confirm your whereabouts in Thailand. You some need any paperwork only your passport. There is a form to complete. If you are at the same address your landlord lodges the TM 30 that is already in the immigration system. You don't need to leave. Once you have done your first report you then can do it online it's that simple.
Paul *******
@David *******
With a DTV, you'll only ever be able to do an online report once and then only if you happen to get an in-country extension.

This is because when your second 90 days comes up, you'll have been in Thailand 180 days and thus doing your extension of stay. At that time, you would also lodge your 90 day report at the same time and this would be done in person.

Once you leave the country, it resets and you have to revert to in-person or mail-in 90 day reports.

Thus, DTV holders won't really be able to take advantage of 90 day reporting via the online system.

If you do border runs, you'll never get a chance to do one.

If you do in-country extensions, you'll get the chance to do ONE only, at the 270 day mark only, which is halfway through your one extension allowed per entry.
Werner ************
Best to leave every 180 days, dealing with local immigration and the ques can be a experience in itself
Dave *****
Can confirm. Border run - with few days gap at least is your best bet.
Laura ***********
What is a 90 day report?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Laura **********
all „longterm“ visa holders have to report to immigration every 90 days… so for DTV that would be at the 90 and 270 day mark of your DTV if you extended after 180 days. its the same for retirement visa for example. all have to do this. if you stay multiple years you can even do it online but i guess for DTV that would only be the case for the report on day 270. people say you could skip it if you leave within 180 days anyway. not sure and maybe a small fine.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant Correct. Also, once you leave the country, the system "resets" and does not allow for another online report.

I'd suggest DTV holders do mail-in reports. These can be done whether it's your first 90 day report or your 2nd or 3rd one. In practice, the second one will only be done if you do an in-country extension and will be submitted in person at the same time you go for your extension.

Yes, if you leave every 180 days, I don't think anything will happen if you miss the 90 day report. So far at least, nothing happens at the border as any fines levied are only done by your immigration office.

That being said, they might get stricter on this in the future (or they might not). So far, it doesn't seem to be an issue provided you don't deal with in country immigration.

As soon as you need something from them, even verification of your address to extend a driver's license or buy/sell a vehicle, then you could be fined if the system shows you didn't do one.

They might waive this is you left the country after 91 days and didn't do a report but if it's been 180 days and you didn't do one, chances are, you'll be fined 2000-5000 Baht.
Laura ***********
Anonymer Teilnehmer thanks :)
Marta *************
What documents did you have to bring for the 90 day reporting?
Patra *******
@Marta ************
We offer a 90-day reporting service for foreigners residing in Bangkok and nearby areas.

If interested, feel free to contact us anytime through Facebook chat.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marta ************
you need your passport… but i also had my rental contract with me which i showed them… a TM30 would also be okay i guess. but it should all be in their system anyway if your landlord did the tm30 correctly. it can vary from province to province, office to office. maybe its best to search for reviews about 90d reports in other forums about that specific office you are going to. could even send a mail to the office.
Luit *****************
When they only need to check finance again, there is nothing to worry about, especially if they would accept online view in the app.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Luit ****************
they did not say „only financial proof“. its just the most important thing they said. but they also said: all documents you provided for the initial application in english or thai language… and showing your bank balance in an app has never been stated that that is sufficient. most likely not. just get a print out.

i mean its still all fairly vague as you might have to proof again that you are employed by a company with a NEW letter or a NEW proof for another muay thai or cooking class. not sure about that.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant I'm worried about how the financials will be interpreted. I'm sure there will be immigration offices saying things like "you can't just have the 500K deposited yesterday. You need to show it's been in there for 2 or 3 months".

If that happens, off to the border you go.

I think the whole extension process will be more cumbersome than many are making it out to be.

Also, though I can't say for sure (we'll only know in around 12-18 months from now), but I think down the track, immigration stationed at the borders (land borders, airports, sea ports) might hesitate to grant re-entry to those who, after say 1 or 2 consecutive extensions are seeking to come back in after spending no time outside of the country.

By contrast, those who do border runs and do not seek an in-country extension are likely to be granted re-entry without question.

This is just my own hunch; Benjamin Hart from Integrity Legal believes that those who are attempting to use this visa to live in the country full-time may not be easily granted re-entry.

From my own experience living in Thailand on non-B and non-O multiple entry visas, sometimes with work permits, other times without, generally speaking, I haven't been hassled.

However, I also travel so frequently that immigration wouldn't be able to give me a reason why I have not complied with the terms of those visas. I rarely stay the full 90 days. I've never gone for a visit wife extension, because I need to travel on average once every 60 days, sometimes more frequently. 150 days in country (90 + 60 day wife extension) is more time than I need on any one stay.

However, down at Ranong, if you show up with any sort of mutiple entry visa, immigration will ask you for
*****
Baht and talk about a plane ticket out and accommodation proof. You can talk your way out of the latter 2, especially since a DTV visa allows for a long stay and a non-B and non-O visa are for business/work and visiting your wife respectively. They might try to insist on the
*****
Baht in cash though, before letting you stamp out to go to Myanmar.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer Well as long as I do not get a new contract from my employer I can not hand in a new contract, but a monthly pay slip is always easy to prove you still have the same contract.

Applying for DTV first time was a 10 minute job, so it would not be difficult to do again.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Luit ****************
a payslip isn’t sufficient financial proof. you need to show the 500k baht or equivalent. some embassies even required 6 months of bank statements. so you might even need that. work contract wasnt sufficient for me. i had to provide a „certificate of employment“ which stated that i work for the company and remote work. they could ask for an up to date document. not sure why you are discussing at all. its different for everyone as people have totaly different situations and documents. even the IO recommended border runs. but you do you. just stop generalizing things as this is highly individual
James ********
Anonymous participant you are a worry wart. Simply do a BORDER BOUNCE and get a NEW 180 day stamp on arrival.
Henrik *****
Nobody knows for sure yet, if you also have to show the same documentation, when you reenter after the first 180 days have run out.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
they told me that there is no document check on re-entry. would also be quite a job to check the documents for every individual case which can have a huge variety. btw: people already left and came back and just got a new 180 days stamp. since the rules are nowhere to be found they could not even ask for anything translated, when my original documents were in a foreign language. so how would that work out? very unclear.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant You bring along the translations.

For re-entry, obviously there is no document check. I just did a re-entry myself.

It's only for extensions of stay that a document check might be performed.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
that’s exactly what i said… but this other dude here claims that the extension is easier :D
James ********
Anonymous participant it's unlikely to be easier. We agree on the simple LAND or AIR BORDER BOUNCE to get the new 180 day stamp for the DTV Visa.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer I am not talking about the financial proof, but about proving I still hav contract with the same employer.

I don't also don't know why you discussing this, I say it is simple, you say it is difficult.

I still think you make a simple 10 minute thing sound like a difficult process.

First time DTV application was 10 minutes, so why should an extension, apart from waiting in the queue at immigration be more difficult.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Luit ****************
again you are talking about YOUR individual situation… if i need to translate and notarize all my documents then that would be a huge pain in the a.… if people need to book another MT or cooking class then thats also a problem for them. there is so many factors for each individual that you cannot generalize and say „its easy“ when its not for many people…. some

people might not have the money in their bank all the time… why would i want to have 10k€ sitting in my bank getting eaten by inflation?? some people even used agents for their dtv and will have to use them again for this which is crazily expensive. as you can see, its not black and white.
Ivan ***********
But what is the point of having 180 days, if you have to leave after 90 days again (just to avoid the paperwork)? Somehow the concept was not fully thought through, it seems. 🤷
Paul *******
@Ivan **********
If you ask me, the 90 day reporting wasn't fully thought through. If you never do an in-country extension but stay 180 days on each stay and don't do a 90 day report, nothing will happen to you for not doing one.

This is because fines are levied only by immigration offices, not border crossings.
Ali ************
@Paul ******
I would never have known about the 90 day reporting if it wasn't for this group. I am suprised it's not mentioned on the DTV information unless I've overread it
Ivan ***********
@Paul ******
Are you sure there would be no consequences of not doing the 90 days report? Not even if for example when after 100 days stopped by the police on a traffic check?
Paul *******
@Ivan **********
Definitely not. Traffic police have no connection to immigration. They don't have the power to check for 90 day reports. Also, traffic police aren't supposed to be immigration wardens, they're supposed to ensure you aren't breaking traffic laws.

I do realize there are certain checks in border towns such as Mae Sot, which are performed by the police and which have nothing to do with driving. In those cases, they may ask for your passport but all they're checking is to ensure you're inside the country legally.

Now I'm not saying - deliberately flout the law. What I'm saying is, Thailand does not yet appear to have the mechanisms to link immigration databases in-country with those at the borders, as they perform different functions.

At this stage, immigration at airports and land borders are not involved in things like checking for 90 day reports and definitely not for TM30s.
Luit *****************
@Ivan **********
you get 180 days on each stay and possible extension of an extra 180 days, not 90 days.
Ivan ***********
I just read it again. There was a misunderstanding. He did the 90 days report and asked there, what was needed for the extension (after the whole 180 days). I first thought, the documents are needed for the 90 days report, already.
Alan *****
Sounds like border runs are much more simpler than trying to get 180 extension 😏 good to know. Was going to try extension but guess I'm going on a holiday to China instead
Wayne ********
Seems pretty simple just leave the country and get a fresh 180 days rather then get an extension.
Dave *****
@Wayne *******
it’s actually easier to do border runs than dicking around with extensions. I don’t know why people do it.
Paul *******
@Dave ****
Agreed. Unless one is old and infirm and/or has no connections to back home then pretty much all of us have a reason to travel occasionally.

How many of us don't go home at least once a year to visit family?

Then there are so many excellent destinations right next to Thailand to explore and even if you've been before, there's always something new to discover.

I've been to Laos around 50 times and Cambodia perhaps 40 times, Vietnam around 30-40 times, Myanmar around 50-60 times, Malaysia 10 times, Singapore 15 times, China 25 times, Indonesia twice, Taiwan twice and there's always something new to discover in each of these countries (and many more).
Wayne ********
@Dave ****
I would rather not go for an extension and have to re prove everything plenty of cheap destinations in SE Asia you can go to for a quick trip then come back.
Wannikea *********
No surprise, extensions are basically always like a new application no matter the visa type.
Danny ***********
It begins …. 😅
Marc *********
Paul *******
yeah, showing up with a stack of papers and not knowing whether they want the funds "seasoned" for a certain period of time means doing a border run is preferable.
Luit *****************
@Paul ******
border run cost more time and more money then extension I think.

But I think I never stay that long in Thailand, I don't want to be tax resident.
Paul *******
@Luit ****************
No, it doesn't. It depends where you live. Even if you're in Bangkok, which is 200km from the nearest border, it's an easy day trip.

Of course, there's a little more nuance to it than that; you don't want to do a same day turnaround at Aranyaprathet/Poipet, though nearby Ban Khao Din/Phnom Dey, which has hardly any people crossing will likely permit it without issue.

You can also use a border run service; it's a same day trip, you'll be picked up around 5am from On Nut (or Pattaya) and they'll take you just slightly further away to Ban Laem, where they do everything for you and you'll be back in Bangkok (or Pattaya) by mid afternoon.

A better option is to make a holiday out of it, which obviously costs more but when it comes down to it, how many DTVers are trying to live in Thailand using this visa by doing as few border runs as possible?

Most of us have to travel at least sometimes, if not for business or work purposes then certainly to visit family back home.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Luit ****************
krabi to kuala lumpur is just 2500 baht return with AirAsia. Its really cheap.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer 2500 is more than 1900

And apart from that flight ticket are not the only expenses
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Luit ****************
what are we even discussing about? go for your visa extension if thats easier and cheaper for you. for me it isnt. i would need all my documents translated. and then it still needs approval from the IO. most people will just do a border run as you dont need to proof everything again.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer As I told before, I don't try to live in Thailand, I am digital nomad and for now I prefer not to be Thai tax resident.
Paul *******
@Luit ****************
Not only that, but going to immigration in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya is an unpleasant, all day experience. Firstly, it can take 2 hours just to reach the immigration office from certain parts of Bangkok. In that time, you can nearly reach the Cambodian border (or the Burmese border at Kanchanaburi, when it's open...currently it's not).

Then you'll be waiting in a queue for maybe 2 hours, probably have to wait for lunch unless you arrive super early and even then, you'll be waiting and waiting and waiting.

At best, you'll be back home in the afternoon...the same as taking a van to the Cambodian border.

Or if you're over in Isarn, the drive to a border with Laos or Cambodia and back doesn't take too long and can easily be accomplished in a comfortable day's trip.
Luit *****************
@Paul ******
As with everything in Thailand, it can be completely different at another location.

My experience is with immigration in Hat Yai and parking the car was the most annoying part of it.
Paul *******
@Luit ****************
Well yes, car parking at immigration offices anywhere in the country (except for tiny little offices such as Mae Hong Son) can be a pain. However, at most offices, even the smaller ones, it can still take around an hour or longer to accomplish a simple task like applying for a re-entry permit even if no other people are waiting. I've had plenty of personal experience in this arena, helping my colleagues from Europe and China. Even Nakorn Sawan, Mae Sot and Mae Hong Son (although Mae Sot shouldn't be underestimated as they can get very busy).

Mae Sai was super busy and took more than 2.5 hours.
Luit *****************
@Paul ******
In Hat Yai I only had good experiences with the immigration office until now. I hope it will stay that way.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
in Krabi anything usualy takes 10-30mins if you come early. even more complex things.
Paul *******
Anonymous participant I doubt they'd be able to issue a re-entry permit in such a short period of time. Even at Mae Hong Son, with only one other person in there, it took them close to an hour.

Overall, immigration isn't a pleasant process.

I don't mind interacting with immigration at border checkpoints though.

You can get anyone from an officer who doesn't talk to you, but is fast and efficient to a chatty officer who wants to know about your travels and answers all your questions and even invites you for dinner at the end of the day.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
my re-entry permits for my ED visa always needed like 10mins and was a separate queue to the normal immigration queue. krabi immigration is very very good and fast… same for certificate of residence.
Charlie *****
I guess you wouldn't need to show that on a flight ✈️
Jai *******
.