Answered2 years ago

What should I do if I'm applying for a DTV visa and can't provide salary slips as a business owner?

DTV Visa Visa Application Financial Documentation Expat in Thailand Business Owner Visa Startup Funding

Sebastian ******

asked Mar 12, 2025

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Hi all,

i’m currently applying for the DTV visa as a business owner from Ho Chi Minh City and have submitted all the documents according to the website.

As expected, they are asking for revised documents for everything, but more specifically for 6 months of salary slips, to be highlighted in the financial statement.

As I currently run my startup on personal savings to avoid double taxation, I do not pay myself any salary.

I’m afraid if I explain this to them, they will decline my visa because I don’t have evidence of regular income. 

Again, I’m not applying as an employee or freelancer, but as the company owner. I have one employee who receives a regular salary.

Has anyone encountered this situation?

Thank you so much upfront.

Answer summary

An expat applying for a DTV visa in Thailand faces difficulties providing required salary slips since they do not pay themselves a salary as a startup owner. They seek advice on how to address this issue without risking visa denial.

11 repliesnewest first

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Darren *********

Just highlight income coming into your account on your bank statements. It is money coming into your account whether you call it a paycheck or not is meaningless.

Don't try and over-think it or get fancy. They don't care that you are using one account to get around taxes. All they want to see is money coming in. Just show them that anything extra will only make them dig deeper and cause problems.

2 years ago

Colin *********

Do you not have 800,000 or equivalent in your home country bank account show them that, if you have it ???

2 years ago

Did *****

Just get a dentist appointment schedule instead 😁

2 years ago

Sebastian ******

@Did ****

hehe, that’s my backup plan 🦷🪥😄

2 years ago

Mark ********

The rules are simple,conform and get the visa. Don't conform and be denied. There is no explaining...

2 years ago

Sebastian ******

@Mark *******

that’s exactly my point. I provided all information requested by the the evisa center and for each document they requested more details, while none of that was listed in the requirements or in the forum here.

I know visas are subject to the visa officers alone, but I’m wondering if others in this community have encountered something similar. And maybe some of them have been approved at the end.

2 years ago

Mark ********

They want to see proof you are earning money from whatever venture you are applying with. As i said TIT they do as they wish and you have no recourse. Do you have much experience of Thailand?

2 years ago

Mark ********

@Sebastian *****

You are applying for a visa based on employment but yet are unable to provide payslips as you don't pay yourself because you want to avoid tax? Seems you want to win both ways and yet can't. Immigration make up the rules as they wish TIT will never change. They introduce rules and make them work how they want/change them as they go. Its pretty simple IMHO that they are realising what a mistake the DTV was and are clamping down.

2 years ago

Sebastian ******

@Maksym **********

you’re right. At the beginning I don’t earn any money, just live from past earnings and online trading.

I’m just wondering if this is accepted, because it was never ruled out - that’s why I applied.

And online trading can be a lucrative endeavor…but it’s not a salary per se.

2 years ago

Maksym ***********

@Sebastian *****

but what sense to apply as company owner if you dont get salary? Then this is not your job. And not a source of your income. THen how you will get money in thailand? Thats very simple.

2 years ago

Sebastian ******

@Mark *******

just to clarify again, I’m applying as a company owner, NOT as an employee.

The website separates between these.

But from the feedback from the consulate I do get the feeling that they handle company owner, freelancer and and contract all the same - so from that case I can confirm that there are some misaligned communications in the DTV application (potentially as you mentioned that the gov is changing some things) before changing the application process on the official website.

2 years ago