DTV Success under workcation category from Vientiane, Laos.
Hi everyone,
First off, a big thank you to all the members here for sharing your valuable information and experiences! While this might not be relevant for many since Laos is transitioning to an eVisa system starting January 1st, 2025, I wanted to share my recent experience in case it helps anyone who secured an appointment before December 20th, 2024.
I applied under the *workcation* category as a remote worker for my US-based company. Here’s how my journey went:
I arrived in Vientiane on December 8th and visited the Thai Embassy on December 9th. They scheduled my passport collection for December 12th. The three-day wait was nerve-wracking, but everything turned out well in the end.
Here's how it went:
1.) I got to the Embassy gates at 8:15 AM and was second in line. Trust me, arriving early helps! By 8:45 AM, the line had grown to 30-40 people. Outside the gates, there were "agents" (or scammers) offering to "help" with documents. Avoid them—they charge 100 THB for the visa form that's available for free inside.
If you need Thai Baht for the visa fee, there’s a Thai bank (Kasikorn Bank) across the street. They open at 8:30 AM and offer currency exchange and ATM services.
2.) The gates opened promptly at 9:00 AM. A security officer guided us to a bench, where another officer casually reviewed our documents. He checked my appointment confirmation and marked my attendance. Once he confirmed I had all the required documents, he sent me to Counter #1.
3.) At Counter #1, I handed over my documents to the visa officer. Here are the documents I submitted:
* Laos eVisa letter + a copy of my Laos visa stamp.
* Passport and a copy of the ID page.
* Visa application form with two photos.
* Screenshot of my Thai Embassy appointment confirmation email.
* Laos hotel booking receipt.
* Rent agreement for my apartment in Thailand + Thai ID of my landlord.
* 6 months of personal bank statements showing over 500K THB (highlighted key info).
* 6 months of payslips.
* Employment verification and NOC letter (stating I’m allowed to work remotely).
* Copy of my employment contract.
* USA business registration documents of my company + ID of the owner.
* Personal portfolio booklet (professionally printed and bound).
* Screenshots of my LinkedIn and professional website.
* Last year’s income tax receipt from my home country.
4.) The officer was thorough, especially with my bank statements. She cross-checked them against my payslips and even asked me to show the current balance live on my banking app. After verifying everything, she accepted the documents, asked for 10K THB for the visa fee, and gave me a slip to collect my passport on December 12th between 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM.
5.) On December 12th, I arrived at the Embassy at 1:15 PM and was seventh in line. This time, the queue moved very quickly, with people receiving their passports within seconds once they reached the counter. I was in and out of the Embassy with my passport within 3 minutes.
I’m incredibly grateful for the advice I found in this group—it helped me navigate the process smoothly. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Good luck to everyone applying, and happy travels!
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shared their successful experience applying for a workcation visa at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, Laos. They arrived on December 8, 2024, and secured their visa appointment for December 9. The user offered a detailed breakdown of their application process, including required documents such as bank statements, employment verification, and personal portfolios. They emphasized the importance of arriving early, avoiding scammers outside the embassy, and provided tips on currency exchange. The post sparked discussions on document requirements, particularly for freelancers.
