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What is the process for changing from an education visa to a digital nomad visa (DTV) in Thailand?

Education Visa DTV Visa Visa Process Thailand Immigration Visa Cancellation Re-Entry Permit

Sep 18, 2024

7 months ago

Sarah *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Does anybody on an education visa know the process of changing over to DTV? Would it suffice to leave the country without a re-entry permit to go to a neighbouring country to apply for the DTV? 

Thank you 🙏

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TLDR : Answer Summary

To change from an education visa (ED) to a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV), the general procedure includes cancelling your education visa before applying for the DTV. It is important to obtain a cancellation letter from your school and visit an immigration office for the cancellation. You can apply for the DTV in a neighboring country after leaving Thailand. Some expats recommend not cancelling the ED visa immediately to avoid issues if the DTV application is denied, and suggest maintaining a re-entry permit for safety. Confirming details with immigration, such as whether you can apply for the DTV with an active ED visa, can provide further clarity.

DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

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Jeiz ***************

Already been answered that you need to go to immigration to cancel ED. Separately, I'm in a similar situation and called the immigration hotline to ask if it is a requirement to cancel an ED visa before applying for a DTV. They confirmed that you can cancel it either before or after and you can apply for the DTV even with an active ED visa. If it will help for others to validate you may call 1178 from Thailand.

6 months ago

Chris *********

We did this. Get a letter from your school saying your course is finished. Go to Thai immigration and have your latest extension cancelled. They will give you a new stamp with a new exit date. We got one week from the cancellation date. Later, we got out DTV in Vietnam no problem.

6 months ago

Tod *********

@Chris ********

that is exactly what you do to cancel a current ED extension (Y)

Well done

6 months ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Henrik *****

Go safe and stay on the ED until it ends.

6 months ago

David ***********

I'm currently on an ED visa and plan to leave Thailand in early October to apply for the DTV. I would prefer not to cancel my ED visa before I leave, just in case I'm denied the DTV. In that case, I'd get a re-entry permit before leaving, but if I'm able to get the DTV, what would I do at that point? Enter on the DTV then cancel the ED when back in Thailand?

7 months ago

Tod *********

Leaving the country does NOT cancel an ED extension it just stamps you OUT of the country on it

If you have a stamp in your passport that says "extension of stay permitted until" you need to go cancel that at the immigration office

7 months ago

Ze ****

you must cancel your current ED visa if you intend on re-entering on DTV or even visa-free

to cancel, ask your school for a cancellation letter and bring it to immigration

7 months ago

Tod *********

@Ze ***

plenty of people kept their current extension w/re-entry permit, went and got a DTV entered the country on it, got the 180 day stamp THEN went to the immigration office and cancelled their extension without incident

7 months ago

Ze ****

@Tod ********

yes, it depends on the immigration officer.

7 months ago

Reply to

Ze ****

Tim ***********

I just did this. First you cancel your education visa and leave without a re entry permit and get your dtv in a neighbouring country. I just wanted a clean slate without having 2 visas at the same time in case that created a complication.

7 months ago

Sarah *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tim **********

thank so much 🙏 Did you go to immigration in advance to cancel the education visa?

7 months ago

Tim ***********

@Sarah ******

yes you need to do it at your local immigration or your school can handle it for you. You must cancel it first.

7 months ago

Bryan **********

@Sarah ******

I think these days leaving the country cancels your Visa automatically. I don't think you have to go to immigration anymore but I'm not 100% sure.

7 months ago

Tod *********

@Bryan *********

it does not cancel an extension, it stamps you OUT of the country when you leave but does not cancel

7 months ago

Bryan **********

@Tod ********

those laws have changed I left on an edviea just a couple months ago. You guys were correct in the past but when was the last time you really learned that information? Best to be sure. Leaving the country now automatically cancels it

7 months ago

Tod *********

@Bryan *********

you are confused. NO laws changed at all

IF you're on the initial 90 day entry of a visa <- meaning you haven't extended it yet, when you stamp out you're fine, it's cancelled that 90 day entry stamp

BUT

IF you are on an extension of stay <- meaning you went to the immigration office and got an extension on the visa, you HAVE to cancel it because stamping out doesn't do it

6 months ago

Bryan **********

@Tod ********

and I did it a year and a half ago before that on my first ed visa. Lol

6 months ago

Bryan **********

@Tod ********

well I did it 2 months ago while doing a bunch of research beforehand and speaking to a bunch of immigration officers that told me just to leave and it has changed. Or I could go with the guy on Facebook. Lol.

6 months ago

Tod *********

Bryan Richards I stand by my comments, I didn't say you couldn't get OUT of the country, I said stamping out doesn't cancel an extension

One final time

You have to go to the immigration office where the "extension of stay" was issued and officially cancel it

Stamping out does not cancel it 🙂

6 months ago

Bryan **********

@Tod ********

they officially cancel it at the borders now. Go to an immigration office if you really care that much. You don't have to go to the immigration office anymore. It's been like that for at least 2 years. They used to stop you at the border and charge you a fine and not let you leave until it was canceled. Now they don't do that anymore and they automatically cancel it for you as if they did at the immigration office. If you really need me to explain that again Todd I will. But you're reading comprehension is really starting to concern me. Are you feeling okay bud?

6 months ago

Tod *********

Bryan Richards they do not officially cancel it at the borders, you pay a BRIBE to get it cancelled at some borders

BUT

that is not how you do it officially don't care what you were told. Too many people have had those "open" (uncancelled) extensions come back and bite them down the road

How about we agree to disagree and leave it at that? The fact you won't let it go is concerning to me, 😮

Stick with what you know, here's a hint, it's not entry/visa/extension info 😉 😛

6 months ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Bastien ********

Ask your school for a cancellation letter for the ED visa

Or take re-entry just in case the DTV is rejected but ask more info before I have read it’s possible

7 months ago

Sarah *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Bastien *******

thank you! 🙏

7 months ago

Andrew *******

@Sarah ******

yes search this thread. Someone else left with an ed visa and re entry, came back and was stamped in with DTV

7 months ago

Tod *********

@Andrew ******

and then they should have gone to the immigration office after that and cancelled their ed extension 🙂

6 months ago

David ***********

@Tod ********

So no problem with cancelling an ED visa at immigration after returning to Thailand and getting stamped in on a DTV?

6 months ago

Tod *********

@David **********

nope, get a letter from your school saying you stopped studying on the date you stamped out of the country and go to the office where you got the extension issued

6 months ago

David ***********

@Tod ********

Great. Thanks!

6 months ago

Reply to

David ***********

Do I need to cancel my guardian and education visas before applying for a DTV in Thailand?

13 comments

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