What are the requirements for extending a DTV visa in Thailand and what should I expect during the application process?

Question

Just sharing my experience today at Bangkok Immigration in case it's useful to other DTV holders.
I went in to transfer my DTV stamp into a new passport and also had to pay a fine for a missed 90-day report. The whole process took quite a while, so be prepared for a long day if you're doing both.

What surprised me was when I asked about extending my DTV for another 6 months. As I'm on the business owner/workcation category, I was told I would need to provide quite a substantial portfolio of supporting documents, including:

Business documentation

Bank statements

Invoices

Evidence of ongoing business activity

Proof of 500,000 baht in my bank account for the previous 30 days

The officer then told me that an alternative would simply be to leave Thailand and re-enter, which would avoid the need for the extension application and supporting portfolio.

One other thing worth mentioning: I made the mistake of turning up in shorts. I've been coming to Thailand for 25 years and somehow forgot the importance of dressing smartly when dealing with government offices. The officer was not impressed and gave me a fairly stern lecture about it. Fair enough — lesson learned. Next time it'll be long trousers and a collared shirt.

Just posting this in case it helps anyone else planning a DTV extension in Bangkok. Has anyone else had a similar experience recently?

Just sharing my experience today at Bangkok Immigration in case it's useful to other DTV holders.

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user shares their experience at Bangkok Immigration while attempting to transfer their DTV stamp to a new passport and extend their visa. They learned that substantial supporting documentation is required for a six-month extension, including business documentation, bank statements, invoices, proof of ongoing business activity, and a minimum bank balance of 500,000 baht. An alternative is leaving Thailand and re-entering to avoid the complex extension process. The user also highlights the importance of dressing appropriately for government offices after receiving a lecture for wearing shorts.

Stuart *********** · Answer

Extending your stay is very easy (one A4 form about 15 questions) and only takes an hour or two, so no need to pay an agent as you will have already done the difficult part by getting the non-O and bank account.

If you take money out of your account (below 800k), you need to return it to 800k 2 months before your second extension of stay.

Michele ******** · Answer

Very interesting questions easy to understand and do practical to follow. Perfect 👌

What are the requirements for extending a DTV visa in Thailand and what should I expect during the application process?

Activity

Related

Resources