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What should I do if my Thai visa application was marked as invalid due to my planned travel dates?
Thai Visa RulesDTV (Digital Nomad Visa)Visa Application ProcessTravel from Canada to ThailandVisa Validity and ActivationExpats in Thailand
Sep 18, 2025
7 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTEREDIT: Thanks for all the replies guys! Didn’t see the Ottawa website saying 2 months. Only saw the 3 months one when I was applying on thaievisa 😅🙏 Now, we wait for October whew
So, I applied on September 7th and just received this today (Sept 17th). I already replied them asking for more information cause I’m not entirely certain I understood 😅
So on the website, it says to apply minimum 3 months prior hence why I applied in September for my trip in December.
And this part got me the most confused: “If the visa were to be issued now, it would no longer be valid by your planned travel date.”
What do they mean by that? I thought it was valid for 5 years if approved? Can someone help me please. Thank you 🙏
(Idk if this is relevant but I’m applying from Canada for Workcation)
So, I applied on September 7th and just received this today (Sept 17th). I already replied them asking for more information cause I’m not entirely certain I understood 😅
So on the website, it says to apply minimum 3 months prior hence why I applied in September for my trip in December.
And this part got me the most confused: “If the visa were to be issued now, it would no longer be valid by your planned travel date.”
What do they mean by that? I thought it was valid for 5 years if approved? Can someone help me please. Thank you 🙏
(Idk if this is relevant but I’m applying from Canada for Workcation)
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user applied for a Thai visa on September 7 for travel in December, but received a notice stating that if issued, the visa would not be valid by their planned travel date. This confusion arises from the three-month validity rule after application, which requires applicants to not apply for a visa if their intended travel is more than three months out. Several community members clarified the rule, advising that the user should change their travel dates to comply with updated processing policies and guidelines from the Thai Embassy.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Liza ********
I believe that once the Visa is issued you have 90 days to enter the country to "activate" it - beyond 90 days it is not clear but it seems it would then be rescinded. So - change your flight to a day within 90 days from the email you will send in reply - provide the new flight details and you may be good to go.
Henrik *****
It seems like you didn’t even look at the Thai Embassy website, the guidelines there are very easy to read
Stephan ***********
Straight from the Thai Embassy Ottawa... 🙄🤔😁
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Paul *******
@Stephan **********
That is a general rule, but for DTVs, they could be issued and you could not use it for 4 years and it would still be valid.Stephan ***********
@Paul ******
Yes... they "could"... but that was just in the beginning... now every Embassy/Consulate play their own game with their own rules. Actually there is a consent about the three-month-rule now almost everywhere... for any kind of visa.Paul *******
@Stephan **********
In reality though, you could receive the visa and not use it for a year or more and it will still be valid.James ********
@Paul ******
correct ✅Reply to
James ********
Reply
Kami *******
@Stephan **********
Bingo!!Reply to
Kami *******
Reply
Nyan ************
According to website, They suggest you should apply before two months you go . Even though dtv has 5 years valid, first visit should be within 2 months after visa you get.
This is a just notice according to policy.
In real situation, the visa will not be expired if you don’t go.
But you haven’t visa right? They can do on the policy. They may reject your visa apply because now they point out and they have authority to reject.
I suggest you should change travel dates. Even If you don’t go that date, there is no matter.
The important thing is to get visa first.
Travel or not travel is later your choice.
This is a just notice according to policy.
In real situation, the visa will not be expired if you don’t go.
But you haven’t visa right? They can do on the policy. They may reject your visa apply because now they point out and they have authority to reject.
I suggest you should change travel dates. Even If you don’t go that date, there is no matter.
The important thing is to get visa first.
Travel or not travel is later your choice.
Elías ********
It's not minimum, but maximum 3 months. Meaning they ask to do not apply yet if the intended entry date is farther than three months in the future.
Donald **********
What is your planned travel date?
David ********
Sounds the embassy is thinking you applied for a tourist visa instead of a DTV or maybe they will process it on November close to your travel dates which is weird
Luit *****************
@David *******
Embassies just have a rule you should not apply over 3 months before intended day of travel, making this different for every visa type makes things unnecessary complicated. When everybody just would apply between 1 and 3 months before travel, there would be a lot less problems.Jay **********
@David *******
DTV is a type of trouist visa, so follows the rules of needing to activate the visa within 3 month of application.Anonymous ******************
This is clearly not about Dtv but tourist visa
Paul *******
Anonymous participant 542 correct. Pretty much any visa except DTV and some multiple entry visas have a 90 day period to enter.
Reply to
Paul *******
Reply
Anonymous ******************
@Jay *********
that's not true you can come in within the 5 years of your validation. Maybe US embassy has different rules but that's common rules here in Asia for the dtvPaul *******
@Jay *********
No, it doesn't have an activation date. It's valid from the date of issue for 5 years.Jay **********
@Paul ******
maybe it was just the staff processing the OP's paperwork that made the mistake then? And then they realized it, which is why they asked for follow-up paperwork after.Paul *******
@Jay *********
I think so. To be safe, apply within 3 months, but technically, for a DTV, there should not be any issue not using it within the first 3 months. Other visa types do require activation within 3 months (except for multiple entry visas that are valid for 12 months or more, which operate the same way as a DTV).Reply to
Paul *******
Reply
David ********
@Jay *********
i don't think DTV has an activation date written on it like the other tourist visasReply to
David ********
Reply
Jane *************
How some of these TS even survive in this world?
Sean *******
@Jane ************
How do you know anon is a transexual?Reply to
Sean *******
Reply
Andrew ********
This is odd, normally the DTV has no time limit from approval to use.. this just shows they change things with out announcing it.
What they are referring to is that most visa like ed visa you have to enter thailand within a certain window to use the visa.
DTV was different as there was no specific time frame for this, oh well 🤷
Or perhaps this could be the embassy red tape it varies from location to location
What they are referring to is that most visa like ed visa you have to enter thailand within a certain window to use the visa.
DTV was different as there was no specific time frame for this, oh well 🤷
Or perhaps this could be the embassy red tape it varies from location to location
Henrik *****
It says clearly on the Embassy website that you can’t apply more than 3 months before.
So nothing has changed, and they had announced the rules.
So nothing has changed, and they had announced the rules.
Stephan ***********
@Andrew *******
Nothing odd here... it's clearly stated at the Embassy (Ottawa) website: "...must apply within 2 month before, but not more than three..."Andrew ********
@Stephan **********
I have come to find that every embassy is different for example people who upgrade their visa to DTV goto Vietnam and have quick turn aroundStephan ***********
@Andrew *******
Yep... that is quite possible... same as every Province here so does every Embassy / Consulate their own thing... sadly...Reply to
Stephan ***********
Reply
Chris ***********
@Andrew *******
I've had my dtv for a year now, when I applied it states you have 3 months from approval to enter the kingdom or its void, if they hadn't put December as time.of travel it wouldn't have been noticedAndrew ********
@Chris **********
ah I was wondering just the ones I know of got their dtv and didnt come till months later. I was wondering why that was different from other visa my ed visa was 3 months as well but I upgraded in country as soon as I got hereReply to
Andrew ********
Reply
Anonymous ******************
If your arrival date is after December 7, it will be more than three months since your date of application (September 7th) which is why it’s been placed on hold
John **********
Are you misreading the website? Does it not say something like
... do not apply more than 3 months before your intended date of travel?
... do not apply more than 3 months before your intended date of travel?
Reply to
John **********
Reply
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