What challenges do expats face when entering Thailand with a DTV visa?

What is the relevance of showing a first class boarding pass?

Visa does not guarantee entry

You don't need the 20k cash on dtv visa....

Wow a EU citizen facing the realities.. ‘valid visa and hassle’ perfect description of an EU border

Its a joke not being able to enter without questions on a valid visa

DTV is the worst nonsense that immigration came up with. Just a cheap version of ED visa for those wanting to stay long time but not interested in any sort of ED. Only Visa agents making money here to help get DTV for unqualified individuals.

Priority immigration desk? (First ...)

I got all kind of funny / interesting talk with IO officers.

One wanted my phone number until she realizes, the address I gave was my GFs address.

Some see me at the end of a ten people queue and open a counter for me, wave me over and close it when I am through.

Once my luggage was searched when I left from Phuket. As I had 10 big packs of various herbs with me, they asked what is that for. I told them: in half a year my father has cooked away most of it.

As an unimportant side note: the female officer who search the luggage was most certainly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Then they placed 100 bands on: "security approved" tape around my stuff, and bypassed me the screening procedure. And I got instantly processed by immigration.

Once I left in Nakhon Phanom, just a few days after new year, and IO told me: for coming back I need a tourist visa from Savannakhet/Laos, I was a bit concerned as I had no home bank account showing regular income. Turned out they forgot that the "two border runs per calendar year" resets end of the year. So Savannakhet Embassy laughed at me and said: no need.

I returned via Mukkdahan, told the story to IO there and they just said: "your passport soon full, you need new one!" And stamped me in.

I was once about to have one day overstay, so last evening I asked a police station. They told me: you stay over night here. We write you a note "you surrendered your self in" today. No problem with overstay.

In the morning they had a guy full with drugs - close to be unable to walk - and asked me to help them to negotiate with him who is and where he is from. Did not speak English, french, german - obviously no Thai - a few hours later he was able to say some words in Nordic, turned out he was Danish.

So, one of the police officers, talked with me an hour - where I was where I go where I go when I come back. So I told him the national parks I was, turned out one in Phitsaulok, he was as well. And I told him I go Kanchanaburi next time ... in a month I come!

And: he is from Kanchanaburi, too.

Sometimes people interpret to much when an officer asks questions which are his job to ask. And while he is stamping papers, asks another question to jsut to chit chat.

I have a relative who is a Thai IO. Sometimes she will come pull us out of line and fast track us. Last time she said to me why don't get Eltlite Visa. Then asks for 500 baht for beers 🍺

Same me last Month, selbe ist mir letzten Monat passiert

And why don't you speak Thai?

They don’t consider DTV and ED visas to be long-term residence visas

After living for 2 years in Thailand I cannot blame the IO for asking why you not go back to your country. Although the DTV is a 5 year visa and it allows you to stay 180 days at each entry it was not designed for people to live in Thailand permanently. There are other visas for that purpose. As time passes and more and more people are using the DTV to actually live in Thailand, these questions are going to be asked more often and we might also see some denied entries

DTV's are not for living in Thailand. If you stay 6 months jump out and come right back they look at that almost like border runs on a tourist visa.

Well you're still a tourist and a foreigner so don't expect local treatment. Why on a DTV if you can apply to LTR according to your message?!

True love. It's different this time.. 🤣

Same shot happens in Germany. Germans would ask you in DHL office “why you dont speak german (with a disgusting face impression)” while you try to speak wnglish woth them and send a package.

They will also tell you to go back to your country while you work there and pay tax.

So thats what you get! Karma dear German friend, KARMA! 

ANYONE ON A DTV WHO DOESNT PLAN AHEAD ARE THEY HOUNG TO HAVE FUN WITH IMMIGRATION

Next time if an IO asks if I can speak Thai, I will count to 10, 100, 10,000, 100,000 etc. I bet after 9 they will stamp

I've lived in Thailand for over 30 years and My Thai is crap. I can order food though.

The DTV was always going to cause this issue. Too many tourists acting like they have rights in Thailand. One of the reasons the country kept visa and work permits so elusive for so long was to prevent this issue.

Foreign investment and spend is easy money, low hanging fruits in Thailand. It’s why the DTV exists. It sounds like a substantial visa, but it really is only a long term tourist visa. You spend your money there and leave.

The longer you stay and more you enter the more questions will be asked.

They expect you to spend some time in Thailand but also elsewhere too. That’s what a digital nomad does. But of course, some think it’s a visa to live in Thailand…😳

Last year when I was getting my annual retirement extension at the immigration department, the immigration officer asked me "why don't you go back to your country?" Another time at a government meeting the secretary general asked my boss "why are you in Thailand?". Some Thais just hate or are afraid of foreigners. I think it's called xenophobia.

Is easy Arrived 15.07.2026 Bangkok, greeting IO pen puing sui lae surbphab duai, sawasdee krup, show them my DVT laminated visa,and THIM Mobile QR Code, that's all, fingerprint, small talk, 3 minutes later leaves the Priority gate, without showing, money, hotel booking, flight ticket, or Bording Card. Is 2. Visit Thailand this year 2026

Because DTV visa is commonly processed through visa agencies, some applicants may use it for purposes that are inconsistent with the intended purpose of the visa. Therefore, additional screening at the immigration checkpoint is required.

With the new government seems to come some anti-foreign sentiment. I have a multiple entry on a Non-O (that's more than 10 years ongoing) and even I got an unnecessary comment once. I guess some of them just don't like their work, or us. On the other hand, is there any other country that has to welcome so many scumbags?

I had a valid visa, got the same kind of questions and I was deported after being held in some kind of room at the airport. The immigration officer thought I was an english teacher which I wasn’t, he didn’t believe me.

Seems legit actually. IO was checking for 20k THB and made sure it's true love. Sounds perfect

They're scaring good tourists like this and will keep more junkie ones on a 2 week vacation.

My friend had a similar experience.

In my opinion a long term visa should be automated and we don't need to speak or beg someone.

If they tell me something like that I'll point out that that's illegal and disrespectful. They can't do whatever they want once you get a visa approved. They're only testing your nerves to then put you in newspapers or to ask you some money illegally.

DTV is still a tourist visa. You may be asked basic questions regarding your stay and provide proof of funds (20,000 THB cash equivalent), which is the current norm. Just answer the questions truthfully and cordially.

It is definitely an instruction or directive within the department coz me and my wife got asked the exact same questions (1, 2, 3) yesterday. Living for 2 years, Dtv remote worker here.

They didn’t ask for proof of money tho.

Looking for good friends in thailand.

Marry her... <3

maybe the officer got confused and at first thought that on a DTV, you would be learning Thai . . then he realized his error, he of course did not admit to it, as it would be a unacceptable loss of face. So he kept on acting as if this behaviour is normal

Similar was with another eu passport. All depends on their mood.

I know people that got denied coz they could speak a good Thai and made immigration suspicious hahahahahah . We never know what is in the mind of the officer .

Thais can be very sarcastic. This one was blatant regarding your GF though 😁

Glad you made it in!

May I know if you were taken out of the queue area (like the interrogation area)and asked those questions, or were asked right at the spot at the queue?

Were you on the HK to Bkk flight ? Seems strange they questioned on this route

Be grateful they cost me 3500 cause I couldn’t speak Thai

Bro they deleted this off the Thailand subreddit, so you came here to post!? Ahahahaahaaha.

Just educate yourself on the crime and bedlam tourists have been causing. That will answer your question as to why the IO asked.

Ah true love 555

His "true love" was probably broken up by a Farang.

Stories that never happened🥴🥴🤣🤣

I smell 🐂💩

Three very normal questions upon entry.

You better be able to speak some Thai if you live here more than a year no excuses even basic Thai beyond Saibaidee Mai is more than enough the officers I’ve met have all been super nice but I also speak Thai to them shows you’re not just another douche bag who takes advantage of the lower cost of living without investing at all into respecting the culture..

Some people are good targets for a bribe

I wouldn't read into it too much. A LARGE portion of the IO's are getting replaced with auto entry. Been the norm in Singapore for years. They are on their way out and probably scraping to some justification.

So imagine that you sit there for years stamping passports day in and day out. And imagine that your mood is not The Best.

Sounds like he was doing his job.

“First Class” ticket why did you take the normal peasant Immigration Line, and not the fast track Boogee service line?

You had everything that you needed to come back in the country and *Gasp* they let you in! Amazing 👏

Suvarnabhumi Airport?

Are we missing something important in your history? Did you live in Thailand a year or two with an ED visa in the past? And can't speak Thai despite of that?