What should I know when applying for a DTV for my family through the Royal Thai Embassy in London?

Hi everyone!

Looking for a bit of advice from anyone who’s applied for a DTV recently, particularly through the Royal Thai Embassy in London.

I’m 32, self-employed and a director of a UK limited company. My business partner and I run the business remotely and are considering moving to Thailand with our families next year.

The company was only incorporated in January 2026, so it’s still relatively new, although it’s actively trading and generating a good income. We can provide company documents, bank statements, invoices, proof of income etc. and meet the 500,000 baht financial requirement.

My partner and I have three young children (all under 6). We’re not currently married but are considering getting married before relocating. Ideally, my partner and children would apply as my dependants. Alternatively, we’ve also looked into my partner applying for her own DTV through a Thai cooking course, so would be interested to hear if anyone has experience with that route.

Just wondering a few things:

1. Would the fact that our company is less than a year old cause any issues with getting approved through the London embassy?

2. Has anyone successfully applied with a spouse and multiple young children? Did you need to show an additional 500,000 baht for each dependant, or could you use the same funds?

3. Has anyone had experience getting a DTV through Thai cooking classes? How straightforward was it, and what were the course requirements?

4. Has anyone had any recent issues with approvals or extending their stay beyond the initial 180 days?

We’re initially looking to spend 6–12 months in Thailand and potentially stay longer if we enjoy it, so just trying to understand how realistic it all is before making any big decisions.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through the process recently. Thanks!