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What is the process for extending a DTV visa by crossing into Laos and returning to Thailand?

DTV visa Thailand immigration visa extension Nong Khai border Thai language study soft power visa Laos visa on arrival expat experience visa regulations in Thailand

Apr 3, 2025

9 days ago

George *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Update on my DTV.

 Due for the 180 day extension so decided having read many comments on here, the least hassle seemed to leave Thailand and come back again, especially as my visa was issued based on soft power...learning the Thai language .

Drove up  to Nong Khai, parked up, and went through the border control and got stamped out of Thailand.  Caught the bus over the bridge to Laos and joined the big queue for visa on arrival that I had been warned about...actually non existant...just walked up to the counter, took the visa form and the arrival and departure slip. All the same info three times, handed back to the IO...who did not check any information on the forms whatsoever,  just said 1700 baht please, pick up your passport from window 4, which I did  and it was duly stamped into Laos. Intended to stay overnight,  but circumstances decided that wasn't going to happen,  so looked around the shops for an hour or so...I don't smoke but couldn't believe the price of fags...200 Marlborough...140 baht !!!

Anyway, went to the departure desk, handed in the departure slip and IO stamped me out of Laos. Back over the bridge by bus toThailand wondering what would happen after such a short time. Joined the very short queue at immigration, showed my passport and DTV, IO asked where I was staying in Thailand...told him, he stamped my passport back into Thailand,  no other questions,  very pleasant man.

Got in my car and drove back.

Absolutely no problem at all.

Thought you would like to know...

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user successfully extended their DTV visa by briefly leaving Thailand and re-entering through the Laos border. They described the straightforward process of obtaining a Laos visa on arrival with minimal wait and then returning to Thailand, where they faced no issues at immigration. The user highlighted their experience of learning Thai as part of the soft power initiative, which some commenters debated regarding its legitimacy for obtaining the DTV visa.

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George *******

Long drive, Bkk to Nong Khai George, you'd of been better and cheaper to fly to Udon. At Udon Airport there are deals for transport to Laos, or just as I used to do get a bus and stamp out of Nong Khai, stamp into Laos, straight back around the building and back to Nong Khai. Only thing with flying is you have to make time allowance if you book a same day return flight. Best flying from DMK.

7 days ago

George *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@George ******

I enjoy the drive around 600kms..did it in two hits...stopped at kon kaen overnight on the way there...and then at Korat on the way back. I'm sure you are right on price singly, but there are two of us. Certainly be a lot quicker. Next time will be a fly job...fancy Kuala Lumpur for a few days

6 days ago

George *******

@George ********

nice one George, retirement is the best time of our lives 😂

6 days ago

Reply to

George *******

Mike *******

I wasn't aware that Language School was one of the approved soft power activities. Wow, this potentially changes my future plans

7 days ago

Luit *****************

@Mike ******

It isn't, some embassies did approve, probably mistaken because wjhat would have learning Thai language have to do with soft power?

7 days ago

George *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

soft power was to cover the cultural side of Thailand....which to me one of those things would be to learn the language...so on that basis I applied and duly got my DTV

7 days ago

Luit *****************

@George ********

I can understand you see learning a language might be seen as cultural in some way, but normally the ED visa would matching this betterand the rule is you should get the visa for your purpose of stay.

7 days ago

George *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

whatever you say my friend...but I can assure you that I applied on the basis of learning the Thai language and the Thai embassy in London issued me with a DTV...no problem....although it always seems to be a problem on here. I advised people on here of my DTV initially to be helpful...but there seems to be an element on here that want to disbelieve...why ffs 😑

6 days ago

Luit *****************

@George ********

I fully believe you got approved for DTV, but that is only because of the interpretation of the London embassy at that moment.

Deciding about this is done by humans, so mistakes are made.

I'm sure people got approved who should not be approved, and also people got rejected that should not be rejected.

6 days ago

George *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

just glad you don't work at the Thai embassy in London 😊

6 days ago

Luit *****************

@George ********

Why are you glad Thai embassy in London made mistakes?

ED visa is for eductation, learning language is education.

Is it that important to you to save a few baht?

Besides that miost language courses do not last 5 years, so you might loose validity time of the visa of find another qualification ground when your language course finishes.

6 days ago

George *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

whatever is your problem ? I never said the Thai embassy in London made a mistake...obviously they didn't...save a few baht ? Kin ell mate ...does cooking...meuy thai... music festival etc take 5 years....wakey wakey...what visa you on ?

6 days ago

Luit *****************

@George ********

I have no problem. It is quite clear London embassy made a mistake, for language education there is another visa in place. I think you can easily continue muay thai for five years if you want, but nobody forces you to do so, but you will not get a refund for the years you cannot use the visa anymore because the soft power activity ended.

6 days ago

George *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luit ****************

refund ? What you on about ?

6 days ago

Luit *****************

@George ********

You pay

*****

Baht for DTV, if your soft power activity ends, you do not comply with the visa requirements anymore, so you should not use it anymore. You do not get any money back, even when you could use it only for a year.

6 days ago

Reply to

Luit *****************

James ********

Obtaining the DTV visa using Thai language School course is rarely seen. The UK Thai Embassy granted it. BUT I think it's not wise to try in any of the SE Asia Thai Embassies and Consulates... and we have seen the traditional Thai tourist visa and METV multiple entry tourist visa issued vs the DTV visa by some Thai Embassies and Consulates. And the Ed Visa is the correct Thai Visa for language study... not the DTV visa.

Just My two cents of comment.

BETTER to obtain the Soft Power DTV Visa with proven course of Thai Cooking, Nature Study, or Muay Thai training.

The DTV visa for Thai language study is as rare as getting the DTV visa for scuba diving courses. Seen one for diving, but VERY few for Thai language study.

Good Luck 🍀

My thanks to the successful poster...

Well done 👍

8 days ago

George *******

George when I lived in Udon Thani I used Nong Khai, Laos border on very many occasions. As you say, when I applied for my Laos visa at the border I can honestly say I never waited more then about ten minutes to get my passport back with my Laos visa. Indeed I reckon it took me longer filling out the form than it did getting my passport back. On one occasion I was suffering from a viral infection and the Laos IO saw I wasn't well and he put my passport to the front of the queue. I got it back in less than five minutes. That's compassion for you.