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What should expats know about the upcoming flood of DTV applications in Thailand?

DTV visaThailand visa rulesexpat immigrationlong-term visaVisa application processEducation-related visasThailand immigration enforcement
Aug 22, 2025
2 days ago
Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Expect a flood of DTV applications in local embassies. Get your applications in to beat the rush.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A recent discussion highlights the expected increase in DTV (Digital Nomad visa) applications at local embassies, urging applicants to submit their papers quickly to avoid delays. Participants noted that stricter enforcement of visa regulations is occurring, particularly regarding DTV applications linked to educational enrollment. There are concerns about the viability of obtaining a DTV after having issues with other visa types, indicating a potentially complicated application process. General sentiment reflects that while stricter rules may be frustrating, they are positioned as beneficial for securing long-term visa opportunities.
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Anonymous ******************
Hilarious. People get mad when the United States enforces immigration and visa laws but act surprised when Thailand does the same.
2 days ago
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Sharine *****************
Anonymous participant 250 because they got the American mentality that their special.
20 hours ago
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Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 250 who’s acting surprised? Annoyed maybe, but surprised?
a day ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous participant 250 Same for the UK. The amount of Pattaya Bar Stool Thai Experts moaning about the UK while not having the 800k in the bank for their visa is hilarious. They are having to pay agents etc to get around this.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
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John **********
I am on a student visa. This last week an immigration officer showed up to my school to inspect and take pictures. They want to make sure people are actually attending class. He took a pic with everyone individually.
2 days ago
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Andi ***********
@John *********
 They also check your attendance?
2 days ago
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John **********
@Andi **********
 yes.
2 days ago
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Andi ***********
@John *********
 Ok, things are tightening up
2 days ago
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John **********
@Andi **********
 💯
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 Certain locations this has been true a while though. When I did the driving test the other week one guy was saying his attendance was checked and had to be taken to immigrstion for extensions. His school would not lie for anyone. They also had immigration visits unannounced.
2 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Greg *******
 Random visits will keep people on their toes.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 Not every location does this though and then to to every establishment. Genuine students have never had issues. Those who just want the visa and not attend generally choose establishments where this is not an issue :-)
2 days ago
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John **********
@Greg *******
 last few months has been a bit sketchy to come in at the airport with an ED Visa even if you’re going to class. Most likely you will get tested. Have to read or speak Thai and even then hope you’re allowed in. This is especially true if you’re on year 2 or 3.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 I know someone who was not allowed back in. To be fair he had never attended classes. They let him fly to Cambodia. Returned on Tourist Visa and now had the B and WP he should have had originally.
2 days ago
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Andi ***********
@Greg *******
 yeah, definitely the faux students need to be on their toes
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 I think now DTV is available those "Faux" Ed students will just move over. The majority anyway.. I think the only obstacle is the 500k but there are workarounds.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
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John **********
I’m just glad I was there to take a pic. I actually got a copy of me and him just for one more piece of evidence that I am indeed going to class when I come through the airport. Also knowing that there might be a surprise inspection makes me go to class on days I’m not feeling like it since I do really want to learn.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 Which location ie town or city?
2 days ago
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John **********
@Greg *******
 Phuket
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 I know they are quite active in this up in Chiang Mai
2 days ago
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Greg ********
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Anonymous ******************
I'm not so sure they will be able to apply for DTV after breaking the rules of another visa... Maybe after a few years...
2 days ago
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Anonymous ******************
Be ready to see all these guys rushing to the only easy and cheap alternative, the DTV. Once they’re done with EDs and tourist exemptions, the tide will unfortunately turn toward the DTV. People love to complain about things getting stricter, but in reality, that’s actually a good thing if they want to keep a long-term visa.
2 days ago
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Jef ********
@Greg *******
 interesting read mate 👌
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jef *******
 Anecdotes from the property agent I used in Chiang Mai hinted at the number of Ed visas issued up here. One estate she reckoned every house but one were families here on Ed visas. A pal teaches Chinese kids in Bangkok. All very wealthy. Kids are on Ed while mothers on guardian visas. Fathers tend to be working outside Thailand and visit.
2 days ago
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Jef ********
@Greg *******
 to be honest and I’m sure your one my side here , the amount of “corrupt “ immigration here is nuts.. even applying for my DTV here I made sure my ducks were in a row…. And then you have these people who are just going through an immigration mill ruining it for us all
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jef *******
 It is nuts and some places more nuts than others lol. Each locale seems to have it peculiarities and specialisations. That is about as much as I am posting in public lol Prices for certain visas have exploded recently too.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
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Kyle **********
Embassies have already started cracking down on dtvs, it has been a couple of days that folks who also had ed visa got their dtv denied... consequences? casuality?
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kyle *********
 Who knows. Could be linked. On a dodgy Ed so refused a DTV is a possibility I suppose.
2 days ago
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AllSabaai ******
@Greg *******
 3 days ago our Client from UK get his visa approval DTV and he was on ED visa before application.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@AllSabaai *****
 I do not think a problem with going from Ed to DTV. What about if Ed was cancelled though for non-compliance?
a day ago
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AllSabaai ******
@Greg *******
 that is we don't know ka... As we don't know how they check your background
a day ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@AllSabaai *****
 Yeah, it is not clear what Embassy can see is it? The post yesterday though did show the UK applicant had travelled to Thailand while his DTV was processing
a day ago
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AllSabaai ******
@Greg *******
 did he face any issue ?
a day ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@AllSabaai *****
 Yes. They told him he must return to UK within 60 days to continue his application. He must also show his boarding pass Thailand to UK and exit stamp from Thailand in his passport. The post was just yesterday in thos group
a day ago
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AllSabaai ******
@Greg *******
 he apply UK and left it and come Thailand yet the embassy was kind enough to inform him to come back and they did not cancel his Application!!!
a day ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@AllSabaai *****
 Yes. Amazing :-)
a day ago
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AllSabaai ******
@Greg *******
 strange... Usually they will cancel the Application and get him lose the fee ... But who kmows , maybe they want to make it harder for him To bring him back and make him pay ticket to UK and all that , then reject his file 🤣🤣🤣🤣
a day ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@AllSabaai *****
 He said it is an expensive lesson :-) :-)
a day ago
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AllSabaai ******
@Greg *******
 and they can make it more expensive by not giving him the Visa after his return and in fact, he deserves that, he applied in his country. Why not wait. ? It is not a different country that you will say . I pay hotel or i don't know here well. It is your country why don't you stay until your visa get out... He try to fool the embassy... by when approval comes he can go Malaysia or laos round trip and back to activate the visa... We no feel sorry for him... yet..how did the embassy find out that he left London?!
a day ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@AllSabaai *****
 If I was him I woukd have cancelled the UK application and gone to Vietnam to apply again? I think the UK will give him it though. Just a costly lesson of a return flight to UK in high season.
a day ago
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AllSabaai ******
@Greg *******
 ☺️, I don't want to be dark when i say that the embassy you applied at, can put a note in the system ( as we know ).and where ever you apply, your file will give results (.rejected) And you have to fix your problem with the embassy at your home country , happen before with a Netherlands person
a day ago
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AllSabaai ******
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Kyle **********
@Greg *******
 dtv soft powers is going to be next one on the last at the end of the 20s.....
2 days ago
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Anonymous ******************
@Kyle *********
 Good. Such a stupid notion that you can take some half assed cooking class for one day a week for a month and get some 5 year tourist visa.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kyle *********
 As DTV is a MFA visa and not an immigration department it is different. No idea which way things are looking.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
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Christopher ***********
Higher educational establishments (universities and language colleges) must be relatively easy to monitor once a procedure is in place. From our point of view, someone running a bar in Pattaya having obtained a DTV for a Muay Thai boxing course in, say, Nong Khai shouldn’t worry?
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christopher **********
 This is Ed visas being monitored. DTVs are not right now. Someone running a bar on a DTV though is open to being taken advantage of. Could be dobbed in or made to pay up. There are people on DTV openly flexing on TikTok about running a business in Thailand on it and touting for customers too.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
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Jaleen *******
How many were Chinese I wonder 🤔. It's very difficult to get a DTV even if I absolutely don't want or need to work in Thailand.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jaleen ******
 I would hazard a guess Chinese nationals made up a fair percentage of these numbers. Out of the 4k in Chiang Mai i bet it is 90%
2 days ago
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Jaleen *******
@Greg *******
 Exactly. It made my life hard as a good faith applicant just because of my nationality. I just got rejected in jkt and the reason they told me was confidential so I think it's not because of the documents I submitted were the reason but my nationality
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jaleen ******
 As for DVT and nationality it is 100% true certain nationalities and locations are scrutinised more than others. Officials have pretty much said it without saying it directly. Same as in other countries like Vietnam. Certain passport holders very much restricted without being a published list.
2 days ago
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Jaleen *******
@Greg *******
 I just reapplied in the same embassy with explanations why I won't and would not need to work in Thailand. Hopefully they will read the cover letter
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jaleen ******
 Hope it goes well for you this time. Let us know. One of my very good friends who I used to work with had a "Difficult" passport. Needed visas for everywhere including Thailand. He spoke at many medical conferences globally as he was senior in his field. Now he took Singapore Citizenship. Can travel almost anywhere visa free.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jaleen ******
 I feel for you. Every time a British person commits a crime in Thailand it is always posted "Typical Brit" - send them home etc.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
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David ********
What is it about? The content isn't available or was deleted.
2 days ago
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Marco ***********
@David *******
 nearly 10,000 foreign nationals who failed to meet educational criteria got their visa revoked.
2 days ago
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Andrew *********
@David *******
 Since May apparently all institutes have been required to submit educational progress reports, the ones that failed to do so lost their visas. Non-university courses on grounds of suspicion of working illegally.
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David *******
 Thailand have been cancelling student visa that were dodgy or people not attending classes. I know that 3 Universities in Chiang Mai had 4000 cancelled recently. This 10k seems to be the whole of the country. In the case of Chiang Mai many were cancelled 3 or 4 months ago. It was only when people went to immigration ie 90 day report etc they found out. Just shows they were not attending classes or they would have known. In general the noises coming out of immigration seem to be there are plenty of visa types available now. Get the correct one and abide by its conditions. In the past the Ed was only option for under 50's really. Now with the DTV they have a much better visa.
2 days ago
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Jirka ********
@Greg *******
 rip thailand
2 days ago
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Greg ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jirka *******
 Why?
2 days ago
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Greg ********
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