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What should I know before applying for the Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) in Thailand?
DTV visaThailand visa applicationThai consulateImmigration rulesVisa costsRenewal processCooking courseExpat adviceRetirement visa
Aug 24, 2025
8 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERGood day
Im at the start of preparing my application for the DTV and I have a few things I would like clarifying if anyone can?
1) I understand that the DTV costs 10,000 baht and that is the only fee I pay regarding the visa itself and that is for 5 years (please correct me if Im wrong)
2) I also understand that if I choose to leave the country when my renewal is due, I avoid immigration and the fee that comes with extending the stay?
If this is the case, is the renewal due every 6 months?
3) If for example, I choose the cooking course, am I required to attend for the first 6 months only? I have a genuine interest in learning cooking anyway so this would be my choice rather than Muay Thai which I have zero interest in
4) Has anyine completed a cooking course that could advise me the approximate cost of the course and at the same time, possibly recommend a course
The way I am seeing things in my minds eye is that subject to submitting a successful application, I arrive in Thailand stamped with the DTV for 6 months where I attend classes for that duration. Once the 6 months is up, I can leave Thailand and return for a fresh uninterrupted 6 months and continue this for the 5 years WITHOUT the obligation to continue with the classes, as 5 years of cooking would lead me to be a Michelen star chef!! 😁
I am over 50 and qualify for the retirement visa but I dont feel this is the best choice for me right now. I will look at the retirement visa if and when I feel like I am going to put serious roots down
Im currently in the UK and will be applying form here. Is everything done online or will I be asked to attend a Thai consulate here in England
Im at the start of preparing my application for the DTV and I have a few things I would like clarifying if anyone can?
1) I understand that the DTV costs 10,000 baht and that is the only fee I pay regarding the visa itself and that is for 5 years (please correct me if Im wrong)
2) I also understand that if I choose to leave the country when my renewal is due, I avoid immigration and the fee that comes with extending the stay?
If this is the case, is the renewal due every 6 months?
3) If for example, I choose the cooking course, am I required to attend for the first 6 months only? I have a genuine interest in learning cooking anyway so this would be my choice rather than Muay Thai which I have zero interest in
4) Has anyine completed a cooking course that could advise me the approximate cost of the course and at the same time, possibly recommend a course
The way I am seeing things in my minds eye is that subject to submitting a successful application, I arrive in Thailand stamped with the DTV for 6 months where I attend classes for that duration. Once the 6 months is up, I can leave Thailand and return for a fresh uninterrupted 6 months and continue this for the 5 years WITHOUT the obligation to continue with the classes, as 5 years of cooking would lead me to be a Michelen star chef!! 😁
I am over 50 and qualify for the retirement visa but I dont feel this is the best choice for me right now. I will look at the retirement visa if and when I feel like I am going to put serious roots down
Im currently in the UK and will be applying form here. Is everything done online or will I be asked to attend a Thai consulate here in England
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is preparing to apply for a DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) in Thailand and seeks clarification on several key points: the total cost of the visa, the renewal process, the requirements for course attendance, and the potential costs of cooking courses. Feedback from commenters clarifies that the initial fee for the DTV is approximately 10,000 THB (with some variations depending on the embassy), renewals every 6 months can be avoided by leaving the country, and there is no strict requirement to attend a booked course as long as the individual exits and re-enters Thailand. Recommendations for cooking courses and other pertinent details about living in Thailand are also provided.
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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Pascal ***********
1. 10,000 THB for the visa + processing fee which depends on the embassy you use. Belgium was 350,- euro in total which is about 13,000 THB.
2. The renewal is not due every 6 months, but on each entry you are allowed to stay 180 days. So if you would make a trip outside Thailand after 4 months, you get again 180 days when entering Thailand.
And each entry can be extended once for 180 days inside Thailand, at a cost of 1,900 THB, but apparently they don’t make this easy.
3. I’m curious myself how they will deal with this. First DTV’s are now 1 year old so I wonder if we will see more scrutiny on those entering with a “soft power DTV”. In your case, I would start with those 6 months and follow groups like this to see how it evolves.
Extra; don’t forget the 90 day report when you stay in Thailand for 90 consecutive days.
If you intend to live in Thailand for several years, you are +50 and don’t do remote work, then I would consider the “retirement” visa.
2. The renewal is not due every 6 months, but on each entry you are allowed to stay 180 days. So if you would make a trip outside Thailand after 4 months, you get again 180 days when entering Thailand.
And each entry can be extended once for 180 days inside Thailand, at a cost of 1,900 THB, but apparently they don’t make this easy.
3. I’m curious myself how they will deal with this. First DTV’s are now 1 year old so I wonder if we will see more scrutiny on those entering with a “soft power DTV”. In your case, I would start with those 6 months and follow groups like this to see how it evolves.
Extra; don’t forget the 90 day report when you stay in Thailand for 90 consecutive days.
If you intend to live in Thailand for several years, you are +50 and don’t do remote work, then I would consider the “retirement” visa.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pascal **********
Thanks for your inputI wasnt aware that the 90 day reporting would still be required on this visa!
Reply to
Anonymous *************
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Wannikea *********
Yeah pretty much to everything. Use the group search tool keyword cooking
Panphailin *********
Incase you have plan to stay in Chiang Mai, our cooking school offer Lanna Northern Thai cooking class (DTV eligible) for 1 year and 2 years course.
*****************************************************************
Danielle *********
@Panphailin ********
Does option 2 include the online cooking course? I see mention of an online cooking course, and for me, standing 6-9 hours for a course would kill me. I’d prefer online. If so, does online meet the DTV requirement still?Panphailin *********
@Danielle ********
Sawaddee ka Danielle Wallace, sorry we don't have online class, only onsite BUT the Lanna cooking class we are sitting during preparation almost the time. And also we can adjust & adapt for you as reduce the number of the menus OR create the menus choice for comfortable.Online class is not meet with DTV requirement.
Danielle *********
@Panphailin ********
Sawaddee ka! Thank you very much for your kind response.Reply to
Danielle *********
Reply
Monica ********
@Panphailin ********
how many days (or hours) a week?Panphailin *********
@Monica *******
The class is flexible, after your DTV visa approved, we will schedule the class together as our time available and the menus you would like to learn, for example the class can be 1 day a week OR 2 days a month OR 1 day a month BECAUSE the menus we will cook are follow by the session curriculum, every session have different ingredients (Rain , cold and summer) so you can choose what you would like to cook as your interested. But 1 day class will cook 4 menus it take about 6 to 8 hours depending on the menu choices and the number of the class attendees. FYI; November and December are almost full booking because they are Chiang Mai high season.Reply to
Panphailin *********
Reply
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Panphailin ********
Hi thank you for your comment. Minimum 1 year?Panphailin *********
Anonymous participant For now yes.
Reply to
Panphailin *********
Reply
Henrik *****
Read the Thailand Embassy website and scroll down/ search the group before asking the same questions again and again.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Henrik ****
Why dont you just scroll past instead of TELLING people what they should do on THEIR OWN POSTS 😂Reply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Andi ***********
Everything done online, London is fairly quick with approvals. 1 is correct but , London embassy have their own conversion rate you pay around 11K THB. You need to do a border run every 6 mths. There is no current requirement to show renewed course enrollment on entry.
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant London is very flexible and approvals have been given for same day transfers. Does not require the 500K be seasoned for 3-6 months like other embassies
Kevin *********************
@Andi **********
what about Hanoi? Do they require the funds seasoned? What if I am putting in my daughter’s account for her?Andi ***********
@Kevin ********************
They did not used to require seasoning but have recently got more strict in approval. If you going to deposit for your daughter maybe 3 months seasoning is better. Is she doing a Softpower course? You can email them to check their seasoning requirements.Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andi **********
Hi again, I just read on another post that London sometimes asks for the flight details during the applicationWould I be correct in saying that this is just for their process purposes?
Reply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andi **********
Thanks again, been a great helpReply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andi **********
sorry what?? £11,000? For what? I read the application for the DTV was 10,000 BAHT not quid!
Andi ***********
Anonymous participant oh sorry, not quid
*****
THB, they do a mark up..Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andi **********
Phew haha had me worried there! Nice one thanks againAndi ***********
Anonymous participant Health ins not mandatory.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andi **********
And lastly, do you have any idea how long the London embassy requires the 500k in the current account?Andi ***********
Anonymous participant ok, I changed my OP so others don't get 😲 shocked.. A lot of posts from London DTVERS to help sort your own application out.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andi **********
Thanks for explaining that otherwise they would think I was a nutter 😆I feel pretty comfortable with the application itself now. Was more worried about getting to Thailand only to be told I should have done this, that or the other before I left England!
Just to clarify . . . health ins is not mandatory for the DTV is it?
Reply to
Anonymous *************
Reply
Pete *******
1) Correct if not extending in country.
2) Correct
3) There is no requirement to attend a booked course.
4) Use google search
If you do in country extensions a paid up course is required.
If you exit and re-enter then currently there are no checks on requirements.
All subject to change at any moment.
2) Correct
3) There is no requirement to attend a booked course.
4) Use google search
If you do in country extensions a paid up course is required.
If you exit and re-enter then currently there are no checks on requirements.
All subject to change at any moment.
Luit *****************
@Pete ******
I agree there are no standard checks on requirements at the border, but in less than a percent there are checks, and the requirements exist.And that is quite logical of course.
When you get a visa to visit cooking class in Thailand, there is no reason anymore to enter Thailand when the cooking class is finished, so why should they let you in?
On the other hand, if you abuse the visa this way, you normally will get away with it without any problems.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERLorraine ******
Anonymous participant
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Lorraine ******
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