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Answered6 days ago

What should I do if my DTV visa is expired and I don’t have the required 500,000 baht in my account?

Pekka **********
asked Oct 25, 2026
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Anyone have experience what happens if you have DTV visa but have not been in Thailand for a year or so and don't have 500,000 baht in your bank account? Is it possible to go in with a tourist visa or do I need to cancel my DTV visa or just hope that they don't take me aside?

Just planning to go there for 4 weeks so I don't really need six months stamp anymore.
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around the implications of entering Thailand with a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) while not meeting certain financial requirements, specifically the 500,000 baht balance. Many commenters suggest that proving the balance is a requirement only when applying for the visa, not when entering Thailand. However, there are differing opinions on the likelihood of being questioned about finances at entry, as experiences vary, and prior incidents of being pulled aside do occur. Alternatives suggested include entering on a tourist visa and the complications involved in canceling a DTV visa.
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Josephine ********
Josephine ********
You don't need to cancel anything and you don't need 500k in the bank to use your DTV again.

*500k is only for application, not for every entry.*

Once DTV is issued, no embassy or border checks your bank balance again on re-entry - that check is done. I have not seen any case where BKK/DMK asked a returning DTV holder for bank proof after 1 year away. They just scan passport, see valid DTV till
*********
, stamp 180 days.

*Can you enter on tourist exemption instead to avoid using DTV?*

Technically no choice at border - if you have a valid DTV in system, immigration will use it automatically. You can't say "please give me 60 day tourist instead of my 5 year DTV". The system defaults to your long-term visa.

But that's actually better for you:

- DTV stamp = 180 days, no extension needed for 4 week trip

- Tourist exemption = 60 days max from Sept 2025

- No TM30 or extra hassle for DTV, just same as tourist

*You only have a problem if:*

- DTV is revoked - which doesn't happen for low bank balance

- You overstayed last time - then you might get pulled

So just fly in with DTV eVisa PDF on phone, do TDAC, enter. No need to show any bank statement.

If you really want to enter as pure tourist, you'd need to formally cancel DTV at Thai embassy before travel - which makes zero sense for a 4 week trip.

Your DTV is still your best ticket even for short visit.

You could consider reading a book or two before your trip. I’d recommend Unlock Thailand by Isla Rey on Amazon, it includes all the info and insights you need. You should check it out. A very good companion 👌.
Josephine ********
Josephine ********
@Kenneth **********
okay.you can check out the book for more update✨
Kenneth ***********
Kenneth ***********
@Josephine *******
apparently a recent DTV-holder was pulled aside upon reentry and asked to show bank proof of the 500K...he also did not have a current Muay Thai training program...so it wasn't clear as far as what was the exact cause of denied entry.

In addition, canceling a long term visa at a Thai embassy seems to have garnered different experiences from travelers...no clear process or evidence of that happening...I was told by various visa agencies that re-applying for a different visa would supercede the existing visa in the system if granted....but that's a seperate scenario.
Adam *********
Adam *********
@Kenneth **********
Not true, there is no requirement to possess 500,000 THB post application nor be currently enrolled upon a qualifying cultural course. He wasn't denied entry, neither was he a Mexican Opera star. It was a troll post. Similar to this post with 4 controversial questions in one paragraph and sock puppet responses designed to raise concerns. Total BS.
Kenneth ***********
Kenneth ***********
Adam Adamant hey Adam, do us all a favor, f**k off clown!
Don *******
Don *******
Your DTV gets cancelled if you enter on visa exemption. Good luck.
Adam *********
Adam *********
@Don ******
Where did you glean that information from please?
Don *******
Don *******
Adam Adamant Cal on YouTube.
Pekka **********
Pekka **********
OP
For those commenting, I've already been pulled aside previously. You guys should know that Thailand doesn't operate with the same laws as the west does so they can do pretty much what they want.
LovelyPa********
LovelyPa********
@Pekka *********
send proof your stamp with your name written on paper next to it?
Adam *********
Adam *********
@Pekka *********
You talk like an old age pensioner.
Ian **********
Ian **********
@Pekka *********
you have 6 friends on your locked account, so stop trying it on. Nobody believes you
Mina *****
Mina *****
@Ian *********
That is quite a common pattern with this reporters
Steve *******
Steve *******
They don't check your bank balance when entering. That is for applying for the visa. You don't need to hold 500k for 5 years.

Enter with your DTV and leave whenever you want within 180 days
Pekka **********
Pekka **********
OP
@Steve ******
Sounds nice in theory but it doesn't really work out like that for everyone. Even I've been pulled away previously and had to show IO my bank account and fill some form.
Steve *******
Steve *******
@Pekka *********
if you hadn't had the 500k (not a rule), they would have asked you to show 20k in cash, which is the actual rule.
Ja***
Ja***
I think you should be ok if you still meet the other requirements such as working online or enrolled in soft power activities. I saw someone posted in this group recently that they were denied entry for not having 500k savings but I think the main reason for denial in that case was that they were no longer enrolled in any class after the initial one finished.

There is no official requirement to hold 500k throughout the length of the visa although immigration officers are free to ask whatever they want. I haven't seen any case of someone denied entry solely for not having 500k in savings while meeting the other requirements (ongoing online work, enrolled in class, medical appointment booked, etc).

If you no longer meet the requirements or don't want to book more soft power activities then you can consider cancelling the visa if you are able to. I think the ability to cancel it depends on the embassy that issued it.
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
Jay Jay Bushwhacker Says master troll Jay Jay Bushwhacker aka Christopher Killcourse.

Maybe you should use your energy for better things than keep creating facebook profiles just to troll around here.
Pekka **********
Pekka **********
OP
@Ja***
Yeah it's a bit problematic since I live in the EU and got my DTV in Vietnam. I don't sadly work remotely anymore or have that much funds in my account and live in Europe now. I guess they will be okay if I just have my return flight booked.
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
You also might enter through the automatic gates, opinions differ about what will happen to your visa, but for sure you only will get the 30 day visa exempt entry..

Some say visa will be cancelled, others say you will get visa stamp next time you enter at manual gate.
Tim *******
Tim *******
@Pekka *********
Based on the posts on past issues people have had, you are no longer eligible to enter on the visa (no longer working remotely and do not have the funds in bank). Not an issue unless you get pulled aside by IO but an expensive risk to take.
Ja***
Ja***
@Pekka *********
If you want to cancel the visa you can try contacting the embassy in Vietnam. I have seen reports of people cancelling their visa by email, but I don't remember which embassy.
Chris *********
Chris *********
I’ve been through 10x plus never been asked a question
ScenicPer**********
ScenicPer**********
It’s worse than that: you have NO OTHER OPTION than hoping you won’t get pulled aside, or avoid entering Thailand altogether until it expires!

DTV is extremely hard to get rid of as my very own example shows: I quit my remote job, got married to a Thai, tried to get it converted to Non-O in country - no luck with three different offices. Tried to get it cancelled from outside the country - the embassy refused, MFA refused, all agents told me the same: “mai dai”.

Despite all the people here yapping “get a proper visa!!” - it’s often impossible- once you get the DTV you’re stuck with it.
GentleHa*********
GentleHa*********
ScenicPersimmon2836 it's actually not that difficult to get a visa cancelled. I cancelled my previous visa. Just go to any immigration office, get a cancellation form, get the cancellation, and leave the country that day or within a few days (discuss this with the officer)
ScenicPer**********
ScenicPer**********
GentleHamster3563 Well it might not have been difficult for you but was impossible for me. I went to 3 different immigration offices including Chaeng Wattana. All 3 told me the same: we can cancel your current entry stamp but not the entire DTV visa - this can only be cancelled by the issuing embassy. One officer explained to me it has something to do with DTV being a visa governed by the MFA, not the Interior Ministry which governs all the other visas and the Immigration Police. What visa did you cancel?
Kenneth ***********
Kenneth ***********
ScenicPersimmon2836 ScenicPersimmon2836 I was told by several visa agencies that applying for a new visa would supersede the existing visa...automatically canceling it. It has to be done outside of Thailand...I am planning to ditch the DTV and apply for retirement visa.
SunnyBlue*********
SunnyBlue*********
ScenicPersimmon2836 What different "offices" did you go too? You would most likely go to immigration at Chaeng wattana in BKK and cancel it there and get a 24 hour notice to leave the country. Can you give some further details about where you go and who you actually asked about the termination and the reason why they could not help you proceed with it?
ScenicPer**********
ScenicPer**********
SunnyBlueberry3394 been to Petchaburi Immigration Office Cha Am, Prachuap Immigration Hua Hin and Chaeng Wattana Bangkok.

They all told me the same: TM86 and TM87 forms to convert the visa are specifically meant for TR and visa exempt entries, and that they can only cancel my entry stamp (that would give me 24h to leave) but not the entire DTV visa - this can supposedly only be cancelled by the issuing embassy (which refused when I flew there to ask). That being said: I’m no longer convinced that’s actually accurate…

I heard one story from someone who had a successful conversion at Chaeng Wattana, who initially heard the same I was told, but went there with the spouse and a lawyer and they kept insisting on speaking to a higher rank officer. After a few hours they supposedly succeeded, so maybe that’s the way to go. I wasn’t that insistive cause I assumed (probably wrongly) that front desk officers are the ones to speak to and have the final discretion… Seems like the IOs “ultimate discretion” guaranteed by the Immigration Act is also hierarchical.

Going back there with lawyers would be my next step if only I manage to find a way to re-enter Thailand on the DTV without violating its conditions and risking denial.
ScenicPer**********
ScenicPer**********
@Carlos ***
incorrect. You are not listening. That is not at all they told me. They explicitly told me (and my lawyers) that they are UNABLE to CANCEL the DTV visa, because it is not governed by the same authority, so they can only cancel the ENTRY STAMP for my current entry. I will have to exit in 24h but the DTV Visa will still be active so that solves NOTHING - you cannot enter visa exempt or get a tourist visa while you have another active visa. The DTV visa according to the Immigration officers can only be cancelled by the issuing embassy or the MFA who governs it - both refused when I tried later. The only solution SEEMS to be entering Thailand, going to Chaeng Wattana again this time being insistive and escalating - but that’s only one report I found online and it was conversion NOT cancellation - others reports also failed.

The problem is not exclusively mine - Integrity Legal covers the exact issue of DTV „stickyness” on their channel quite a lot.
Carlos ****
Carlos ****
ScenicPersimmon2836 but you should not convert it maybe? Just cancel, re-enter with tourist and convert the tourist to marriage ? You're just not listening what they already told you.
Ryan ********
Ryan ********
Probably best to just enter on the 30 day visa on arrival if haven’t got the 500k could get denied entry
GrayK******
GrayK******
@Ryan *******
tell me you are stupid without telling me you are stupid
ScenicPer**********
ScenicPer**********
@Ryan *******
not possible, egates will immediately turn you around and the IO at the staffed point sees it right away and won’t grant you visa exemption while you have an active visa
CleverRa********
CleverRa********
@Ryan *******
Can’t enter on visa exemption if you hold a valid DTV
Mina *****
Mina *****
He will not get denied entry for not having 500K because it is not a requirement after the visa issued.
James ********
James ********
CleverRadish5177 no
Za *******
Za *******
You can just hope they will not pull you aside
Adam *********
Adam *********
@Za ******
'You can just hope'. Causing unease again. Why not try to be helpful?
Za *******
Za *******
Adam Adamant I think you are the one casing unease for the whole group with all these f*ake profiles you are using
James ********
James ********
@Za ******
or better yet... arrange for an experienced Fast Track service company to meet you on your arrival and be guided thru Thai immigration to get the 180 day stamp.
James ********
James ********
********************************
Terry ********
Terry ********
According to the DTV... you only need to prove the money before you get the visa.

Enter on your DTV.
Pekka **********
Pekka **********
OP
@Terry *******
I have been pulled aside previously. Got through after showing IO my bank account on my mobile and filling some form.
Ivan ************
Ivan ************
@Pekka *********
my understanding the form thing is a once off, once they have that form filled out they don't ask you to fill it out again.
Za *******
Za *******
@Terry *******
and according to Thai Immigration you need it each time you enter the country to prove that you can support yourself during the 180 days stay. Which makes pretty much sense by the way
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
The deposit is not to cover living expenses, it is meant for unforeseen expenses: fines, compensations, hospital bills that has to be paid, before you can get treatment.
Za *******
Za *******
@Henrik ****
yes, for all that also, that is why you need to have it when you are entering the country
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Barnabas Collins there have been some reports that DTV holders returning, have been asked to show they still maintain the 500,000 THB
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
@Terry *******
show me an official statement that says this
Mina *****
Mina *****
@Greg **********
Why dont you show an official statement that it it IS a requirement to keep the 500K balance throughout 5 years? Usually laws and regulations only list things people need to do, not the things people do not need to do. Otherwise, the all the legal acts would just be too lengthy... (e.g. "You do not need to carry your medical certificate when driving a car")
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
I am admin of a visa advice group and I have been member in Thailand related visa forums and advice groups since 25 years. I am "we" 😎
Mina *****
Mina *****
@Greg **********
We live in a free world... Everyone has the right to believe what they wish... Some believe info that comes from trustworthy sources, others choose to believe their own truth and posts from anonymous users... But one guy shouldnt come here and pretend that he is "we" and the speaker of the absolute truth and "the majority" when there is no real verifiable proof of that and the actual requirements, in fact, are in contrast with his "truth".
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
@Mina ****
WE, the readers and members of this group since it started! That's WE! If you would regularily read in this group since it got started by July 2024, you would have found all these reports. I don't care if people use their real names or anonymous ones - many people have a reason to hide their names. To call them all "trolls" is over-reaction of you
Mina *****
Mina *****
@Greg **********
"we have many reports from DTV holders that they have been asked at the borders to show they still maintain the 500,000 THB in their accounts"??? Who is "we" and what is "many"?

I challenge you to find FIVE non-anonymous first-hand reports of people who claim they have been asked that. Five is not many, but I am quite sure you cannot even achieve that. The accounts with famous movie star profile pics and the people named AmusingLemon3432 or something similar do not count
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
@Mina ****
there is no such official statement! How many times do you want me to say this? There is no such official statement, however we have many reports from DTV holders that they have been asked at the borders to show they still maintain the 500,000 THB in their accounts. What Immigration officials are thinking up, is not my cup of tea and I have no say in it. If you get asked at the border and can't comply, you will be denied entry. Period. Then you just try and complain to the officer that you have read different stories on Facebook 🤣
SwiftRasp*********
SwiftRasp*********
@Terry *******
you need to read some posts of the IO’s asking for all documents
James ********
James ********
SwiftRaspberry2631 it's a rare ask
Ijustwan*********
Ijustwan*********
SwiftRaspberry2631 they ask etc and make a fuss but I don’t think in the end it can be denied just off that
Lynn ***********
Lynn ***********
@Terry *******
That's the implication I got from reading the requirement.

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