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What should I do after being rejected for a Thai DTV visa with a 1-month Muay Thai course?
DTV VisaMuay Thai VisaVietnam VisaVisa RejectionExpat ExperiencesSoft Power VisaFreelancing in ThailandImmigration AdviceVisa Application Process
Aug 16, 2025
8 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERFrench citizen rejected in Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam for soft power with 1 month course in a reputable Muay Thai gym in Phuket. I shown 3 months of >500k bank statements and highly-paid freelance invoices as proof of funds. I don't know what to do more, contacting an agent? I have only 2 weeks left in Vietnam, I can maybe modify my plans to have 2 weeks more.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A French citizen encountered issues when applying for a DTV visa in Vietnam for a one-month course at a reputable Muay Thai gym in Phuket. Despite showing three months of bank statements with over 500,000 THB and freelance invoices, their application was rejected due to insufficient course duration. Forum members emphasized that a minimum of six months is typically required for such visa applications, noting that applying for a one-month course generally leads to rejection. Several commented on the importance of having clear documentation and a stable income, with suggestions to either reapply with a longer course or consider other visa categories like freelance or workcation.
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Anonymous ******************
I’m not sure if this helps, but I made sure I was very detailed with a cover letter explaining all my finances and my intentions. Like you, I had much more than the required amount in savings, and I also make around 100k thb per month pension, but they won’t allow a military pension as a “work” category, so I applied for the Muay Thai soft power route with a good gym. I included last year’s tax return, 6 months history for two bank accounts from my home country and a Thai bank account, and I explained in the cover letter how the money transits through each of them. I also explained that I categorically would not be working in Thailand and that should the visa requirements change, I would be able to meet any new requirements.
Bob **********
You’ll need more than one month for a 5 year visa
Marco ***********
One month course can be made with visa exemption. You don’t need DTV for that
Mo ******
Désolé pour toi. Je pense que ta candidature est floue entre le « sans travail » et en même temps « free-lance » et aussi les 1 mois d’inscription. Tout ça à du achever de rendre ta candidature inéligible. Faut retenter ailleurs avec un plan clair qui coche toutes les cases
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mo *****
Ils demandent une preuve de revenu mensuel, chose que je n'ai malheureusement pas puisque je travaille de manière irrégulièreRomain *****
Participant(e) anonyme Hanoi ne demande pas ca, cest plus simple que HCMC
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Romain ****
Je peux faire une demande à Hanoi et Ho Chi Minh en même temps ?Romain *****
Participant(e) anonyme Non en meme temps non, tu peux avoir qu'une seule demande à la fois, tu dois attendre qu'elle soit rejeté pour refaire une demande
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Romain *****
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Mo ******
Participant(e) anonyme donc en gros ils buguent sur les revenus et sur le fait que ça soit qu’un mois ton activité. Au moins tu sais ce qui bug. Faut justifier sur un papier d’où te vient ton argent. Raconte vraiment tout pour les rassurer. Et reviens avec 6 mois d’activité soft power et ça devrait le faire!
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Mo ******
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John *********
You applied for soft option ie. 1 month Muay Thai, definitely needs to be longer 6 months but on the other hand you say you are freelancing, money coming in, what exactly is your work, why didn’t you apply for workcation category?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ********
I only do freelancing when I am home so I don't have monthly invoice or bank statements to show regular incomeAnonymous ******************
Anonymous participant you only need to show the work contract.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERParticipant anonyme 411 They request a monthly income which I don't have
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Anonymous *************
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John *********
Anonymous participant which county is home?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ********
FranceReply to
Anonymous *************
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Anonymous ******************
Suggesting that you work is a no no. You don’t need to prove you have an income just the 500k.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERParticipant anonyme 411 I told them that I do freelance because they asked how I can sustain 5 years
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Anonymous *************
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James ********
One month will 🚫 NOT get a DTV Visa. Read the posts about getting it in Vietnam for helpful information.
Sean *******
You probably would have been approved in France. Always looks better when applying from your home country.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Sean ******
Thank you, I was already in Asia so I didn't want to make a round-trip to France, and people told me Vietnam is faster and easier, also I wanted to visit VietnamReply to
Anonymous *************
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Eduardo *********
I got 6 months Muay Thai and the school made all the paperwork. I said self employed in the application they didn’t ask me any payslip or anything. Just the funds . All good 👍🏼
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Eduardo ********
Where did you apply and when?Eduardo *********
Anonymous participant the wall ( school name ) in Chiang mai . And embassy in Brazil .
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Eduardo *********
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Don *******
You can’t sign up for a whole year or better yet, 5 years with annual lump sum payments? Would make more sense for the gov to give you a 5 year visa knowing you’re contributing into thai businesses and essentially the economy. Perhaps rejected you as they’re not confident you can support yourself
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Don ******
I can pay but the gym insisted that I only need 1 month, also I thought my invoices and >500k bank statements would explain that I can sustain myself and come back home at any timeDon *******
Anonymous participant try again but insist on 12 months. Reapply.
Is your 1 month refundable?
Is your 1 month refundable?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Don ******
I think yes but I already lost the visa fees so I guess it's probably lost tooReply to
Anonymous *************
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John **********
You don't need a visa for a 1 month course. The consensus is you need a course longer than 6 months currently
Wannikea *********
Who in the world told you a single month course would be adequate? Did you initially tell the gym you were applying for a DTV, did they give you paperwork?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
The gym told me this, and they apparently had a guy accepted two weeks ago, even when I told them I want to take 6 months they insisted I only take 1 month, and it's a very legit gym I already trained thereWannikea *********
Anonymous participant the gym needs the proper certifications from the education ministry and sports authority of Thailand to qualify for DTV approvals. Hundreds of gyms are legit, but do they have all the acceptable certifications required by the MFA?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
I guess so because they had previous customers approvedWannikea *********
Anonymous participant the other part of that is, which embassy accepted a single month course?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
The same embassy, Ho Chi MinhReply to
Anonymous *************
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Dave ***********
Why not apply as freelance, seems you are much better suited for that route to get your DTV
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dave **********
I am only freelancing for a few months when at home, so I don't have any recent monthly invoice or bank statements with income to show, also I don't have a portfolio to show eitherReply to
Anonymous *************
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Anonymous ******************
If you have a long history of living in Thailand, you should take a six-month course, I also recommend bank statements for 6 months. I attached everything for 6 months and received approval even with the status of unemployed and with a 4-year history of living in Thailand
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 904 Thank you for your reply, how did you explain your funding?
Anonymous ******************
If you are applying as unemployed, look for any financial evidence: rental income, investment income, anything, relatives' walads and their sponsorship, but the amount should definitely be more than a million baht. Better two or three million. At least, this is the wish of many Asian countries, especially Vietnam, more money in the account. I received it in Ho Chi Minh City.
Anonymous ******************
Анонимный участник I had account in banks about 1 million baht, I also took a photo of the cash. I dropped it during the trip, and it was 1.2 million. In general, it is better to have a larger amount, so that it was 2 million baht.I wrote that I was going to look for an online job. I have an education, but they didn't ask for any documents. I said that if I don't find a job in the next 2-3 years, I'll just go to my country. In your case, it was the 1 month course that played. You can take it without a DTV visa
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Anonymous ******************
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Alessandro ***********
Why would you think you’d get a 5 year visa for a 1 month course?
If you can’t afford a longer course, you can’t afford to sustain yourself for 5 years… (in their eyes)
You arrive at the airport and get a 60 day stamp for free. So what you’ve asked them to do really doesn’t make sense.
There are agents that will help you but there’s a cost attached.
If you can’t afford a longer course, you can’t afford to sustain yourself for 5 years… (in their eyes)
You arrive at the airport and get a 60 day stamp for free. So what you’ve asked them to do really doesn’t make sense.
There are agents that will help you but there’s a cost attached.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alessandro **********
Yes, good point, I didn't want to book more months without being sure I will enter, I guess I have to take that risk nowReply to
Anonymous *************
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Julien ****
Can I ask you why you did not apply for the Workaction since you are a freelancer with a good income ?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Julien ***
I don't have many invoices and no portfolio to show, also I don't work while travelling, only when I go back homeReply to
Anonymous *************
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Anonymous ******************
Good, what about the other 4 years and 11 months? Think it would be just easy to have some money in your account and get a 5 year pass with some course you could care less about?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 749 I planned to pay for more if I get approved, I don't want to throw money away if I am rejected
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Anonymous *************
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Rok ********
Use Freelance Work as Remote working application instead.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Rok *******
I don't have many invoices and no portfolio to showReply to
Anonymous *************
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Greg ********
Sorry to hear that. There has been a rash of rejections in Vietnam over the last week. One guy had a 9 months course booked and paid for at a very reputable gym which has had many successful applicants.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
Do you know what was the issue? Did he use an agent?Greg ********
Anonymous participant He was rejected in Cambodia for a shorter course. Then applied in Vietnam with a longer course and all documents supplied by the gym. The gym posted they were surprised at the rejection. They stated that embassies, at least certain ones, were asking for a lot more documentation recently. There is another poster who was implying certain embassies are favouring certain agents
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Greg ********
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Chris ********
I did 1 month course through Tiger eye in Bangkok
Chris ********
Yes
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Chris *******
Where did you apply?Chris ********
Anonymous participant 5 days ago London
Wannikea *********
@Chris *******
has your DTV visa been approved?Reply to
Wannikea *********
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Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant and when?
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant I would ask... When did you apply.
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
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Anonymous ******************
6 month’s minimum for soft power
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 432 The Muay Thai gym had previous DTV approvals in Ho Chi Minh with only 1 month of training
DTV_Be*******
Anonymous participant how long back was that though?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERDTV_BegPecker A few weeks ago I guess, according to the gym
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Anonymous *************
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Anonymous ******************
1 month? Pretty much guaranteed rejection for months. Even 3 gets rejected by most embassy's these days. 6 is generally minimum. If whoever sold you that said qualified for DTV they were outright scaming you and if they did not say that and you just assumed, well research better
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 168 Thanks for your reply, the Muay Thai gym told me they had previous DTV approvals in Ho Chi Minh with only 1 month of training, I will try to take more
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant They might have had approvals...like in first 3 months of the visa, about a year ago. Lot has changed since those early days of the visa
Would go with gym that's more up to date, not only on time scales but also required paperwork as that's changed extensively also
Would go with gym that's more up to date, not only on time scales but also required paperwork as that's changed extensively also
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 168 Thank you, can I change the gym after I get my DTV?
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant You can do what you want as long as not trying to extend 6 month stay in country at local immigration. If want to extend have heard is possible but actual details/can's/cannot's of extensions in country are down to individual IO you are dealing with as they are basiclly making it up as they go along
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Anonymous ******************
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Andrew ********
You need to do 6 months at least 12 months is better. Any time I inquire about courses I ask for 12 months
Anonymous ******************
I did soft power with a 6 month course. 1 month course you can enter with a normal tourist visa. No need for DTV, regardless of how much money you have in your account.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 677 The plan was to only pay for more months if I am approved, otherwise yes I would have go tourist for one month
James ********
Anonymous participant that error cost you 10,000 Thai baht lost application fee.
Had you USED a Thai Muay Thai gym with success in helping applicants obtain the DTV visa, yours likely would have been approved.
As they are not recommending one month of Muay Thai training.
Had you USED a Thai Muay Thai gym with success in helping applicants obtain the DTV visa, yours likely would have been approved.
As they are not recommending one month of Muay Thai training.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer Your idea is good, but since a lot of people try to get the visa with a minimum length and cost of the course, and then when the course is finished just abusing the visa, the rules to get approved become more and more strict. The good ones are as always victim of the behaviour of the bad ones.
Reply to
Luit *****************
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Anonymous ******************
1 month course for a 5 years visa... What did you expect? The "reputable" school should have warned you about it.
Cookv******
You should take 6 months class
Vi***
Did you apply under freelancer or softpower category?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERSoft-power and selected "Unemployed" in the form, but explaining in a letter that I am a highly-paid freelance when I don't travel, and submitted the invoices
Meredith ********
Anonymous participant I think the issue is the 1 month course because I pretty much applied and said the same thing in the USA. The only difference was that my paperwork said a 6 month class (it wasn’t).
Vi***
That’s contradictory and could have caused eligibility issues
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Vi***
If I selected "Freelance" they would have asked for monthly invoices and bank statements, which I don't haveVi***
Anonymous participant So… unemployed but highly-paid freelancer at the same time? That clears it up perfectly.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Vi***
Unemployed for one half of the year, freelance for the other half, not everyone fits perfectly the formReply to
Anonymous *************
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