Ask question

What visa options do I have while traveling to Thailand for a scuba instructor course and other activities?

Thailand visa DTV visa tourist visa education visa Muay Thai Yoga courses scuba instructor remote work visa soft power activities

Aug 14, 2024

4 months ago

Bella *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi guys!

My partner and I are travelling to Thailand in September so that he can complete a Scuba Instructor Course(course is all booked and deposit paid). The course is seven months and we were planning to get the 6 month tourist visa and extend the final entry to ensure he could finish his qualification. However this was before we learned about the DTV. I think he is the prime candidate for the soft powers bracket of the DTV.

However that leaves me a bit stuck. I am a teacher in secondary schools and have recently branches out to AI evaluating online, however as I am new to this the work is not consistent yet and so I don’t think I could swing a remote worker DTV. Which leaves me with soft powers. I’m interested in doing Muay Thai and Yoga whilst we are there, but how long a course would I need to book to qualify? I saw someone said they booked a year of Muay Thai, has anyone booked less than this and qualified?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

1,423

views

4

likes

47

all likes

30

replies

0

images

10

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

A user inquired about visa options for traveling to Thailand for a seven-month scuba instructor course while their partner plans to stay for training in Muay Thai and Yoga. They initially considered a 6-month tourist visa but have learned about the new DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) that could potentially apply for both of them under different categories. Comments provided insights on obtaining multi-entry tourist visas, the possibility of counting sports activities like Muay Thai for the DTV, and concerns about scuba training not being officially recognized under the soft powers category.

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.

Adam *****

Scuba is not officially one of the "soft power" categories on the DTV, so it might not be accepted. Have you reached out to your local RTE for the requirements? You could potentially do a medical appointment then cancel it.

Like

Reply

John ********

Taken from Wikipedia for whoever it was that questioned that I said a Dive master is a tour guide in Thailand.

A divemaster (DM) is a role that includes organising and leading recreational dives, particularly in a professional capacity, and is a qualification used in many parts of the world in recreational scuba diving for a diver who has supervisory responsibility for a group of divers and as a dive guide..

Like

Reply

Angelo ***********

Then the author of the article was wrong. Phuket is full with western Dive Masters. I now several in person. And I doubt they have a "tour guide" work permit. You could have linked the wikipedia article btw, so that I can correct it.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Angelo ***********

Reply

Bella *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I have reached out and am waiting for a response. It says on some of the information that they accept ‘sporting activities’ which I took to include scuba, I might be wrong though.

Like

Reply

John ********

I remember years ago, a bigwig in Bangkok ordered immigration police to arrest anyone working as a Dive Master, I think it was in Phuket. The police went to dive centers and arrested several Westerners who were working as Dive Master. When someone higher up in immigration got wind of it, he ordered the release of those arrested because, even though dive masters are classed as tourist guides, nearly all people that go diving can converse in English, but not in Thai and there was only a few, if that Thais that could hold English conversation. So everything went back to the way it was.

Like

Reply

Angelo ***********

A dive master is not classed as a tourist guide. What nonsense is that? And in general a dive master has his own completely legally registered Thai company. He needs a boat. A boat can only be skippered by a Thai skipper. He needs extra hands on deck. No idea what happened in those incidents you observed, but has nothing to do with "tour guide" versus "dive trainer/teacher". Being a diving trainer is a completely legal activity if everything around it is legally registered.

Do you want to imply that a guy who is rich enough to own a boat is not rich enough to legally register a Thai company and then decide if the company owns the boat or he himself?

How do you do a radio call to the next harbour if you have no Thai personal speaking Thai? Who is filling the diving bottles? If you have no Thai personal working for you? Who is taking care of all of the gear?

Some posts here on FB make no sense at all.

Like

Reply

John ********

@Angelo **********

Your comment makes no sense whatsoever.

Like

Reply

John ********

@Angelo **********

Well Mr. Know all. If you go on an open water dive excursion you apparently have to have a Dive master leader, therefore they are classed as tour guides.

Like

Reply

Angelo ***********

That is not a tour guide. A tour guide is one who goes to a temple and explains you the history. A dive master teaches you how to dive. What is next? I if I teach you how to sail: I am tour guide? Lolz.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Angelo ***********

Reply

John ********

@Bella ****************

Well Scuba is certainly a sporting activity.

Like

Reply

Adam *****

@Bella ****************

I think the embassy might take a dim view of dive professional training though, since it implies the possibility of working in Thai dive centres. In the press release for the DTV, Muay Thai specifically was mentioned as sporting activities.

Like

Reply

John ********

Also there is a listing that says 'sporting activities'. With regard to dive professional training, it is education perse. I have done training courses in Thailand appertaining to the offshore oil industry, which comes under training, which comes under education because your learning.

Like

Reply

Adam *****

I haven't heard of DMTs or instructor trainees getting ED visas. So if you're claiming that it is an educational course, you'd be hard pressed to get someone from MFA to agree with you. Anyway, DTV is a brand new visa, let's see if anyone gets approved for DMT or IDC as their main mode of acceptance.

Like

Reply

John ********

Time will tell. Will only find out when someone applies for it based on doing a training course, to see if it can be classed as education. I did training courses with just 30 day visa exempts.

Like

Reply

Reply to

John ********

Reply

Christopher *********

I paid for 3 months I am the process of applying now I can let you know in a few days.

Like

Reply

Bella *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Christopher ********

thank you!!

Like

Reply

Reply to

Bella *****************

Reply

Paul *******

You can go to Laos or Cambodia and get another sixty days you can do this twice in one year

Like

Reply

Bob **********

there’s no limit

Like

Reply

Bella *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I have dual citizenship so two passports (British and German) would it be possible to enter and leave on one then enter and leave on the other so the stamps were spread between the two to limit the immigration officer turning me away, or do you think they’d know?

Like

Reply

Henrik *****

When passing immigration in the airport the immigration officer will take a photo of you and take your fingerprints.

So their face recognition will flag them tha you have entered Thailand on another passport.

Like

Reply

Bob **********

@Bella ****************

no your passports are connected but according to some reports exit and enter as much as you like

Like

Reply

Reply to

Bob **********

Reply

Kool *******

It is cheaper for seven months to get the multi-entry tourist visa in your home country. With just leaving and returning to Thailand, you can stay almost 9 full months, covering the seven months needed.

Like

Reply

Bella *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

is this by extending to 90 days with each entry?

Like

Reply

Kool *******

@Bella ****************

Yes

Like

Reply

Reply to

Kool *******

Reply

David ********

double-check but I believe family members can be covered on the visa.

Like

Reply

Bella *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I think if we were married we could do that, but we are not and not quite ready to be. We are treating it as a last resort😂

Like

Reply

Paul *************

@Bella ****************

you can drag an ed visa out easily for the sort of time your talking.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Paul *************

Reply

Greta *****

Contact KLMT (Khao Lak Muay Thai) ask Zee all your questions and she will happily help you. She's amazing!

Like

Reply

Andi ***********

There is no income limit for remote working. The 500k THB balance is the assurance you can comfortably stay for 180 days.This was informed to me via London Embassy as I have just one confirmed online contract and shared same concern as you. Double check with the embassy you are applying from.

Like

Reply

Bella *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

We are in the UK by the way so would be applying through London

Like

Reply

Reply to

Bella *****************

Reply

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

... members · 60% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

Can I obtain a Digital Nomad Visa for training in Muay Thai or culinary courses in Thailand?

39 comments

3 months ago

What are the requirements and process for obtaining a soft power Muay Thai visa in Thailand?

60 comments

3 months ago

What are the requirements and processes for obtaining a Muay Thai DTV visa in Thailand?

28 comments

3 months ago

Should I choose a Muay Thai course or a cooking class for my DTV application in Thailand?

10 comments

3 months ago

What are the easiest DTV visa categories to apply for in Thailand?

19 comments

3 months ago

What are some recommended programs for enrolling in soft power activities to support my Thailand DTV visa application?

62 comments

4 months ago

Can I obtain a long-term visa for scuba diving in Thailand while on a visa exemption?

28 comments

4 months ago

What visa options are available for freelancers who want to stay in Thailand for more than 2-3 months to learn Muay Thai?

6 comments

4 months ago

What are the requirements for obtaining a Thai Soft Power DTV Visa?

4 comments

4 months ago

Can I get a DTV visa as a freelancer personal trainer and yoga teacher in Thailand?

16 comments

4 months ago

How can I obtain a DTV visa based on soft power activities like seminars or courses in Thailand?

3 comments

4 months ago

What are the requirements and details for obtaining a DTV visa through Muay Thai in Thailand?

104 comments

4 months ago

How can I successfully apply for the DTV visa under the Thai soft power category for Muay Thai while currently on a tourist visa?

2 comments

4 months ago

Is the DTV Visa in Thailand valid beyond the course duration, and can common-law partners be dependents on this visa?

6 comments

5 months ago

Can you obtain a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) in Thailand through soft power courses or recreational activities?

47 comments

5 months ago

What are the best visa options for a remote worker and student looking to live in Thailand?

99 comments

5 months ago

What is the best visa option for Australians looking to do a long-term stay in Thailand for studying, teaching English, or training in Muay Thai?

29 comments

a year ago

What are the best visa options for a short stay in Thailand to experience Muay Thai?

11 comments

a year ago

What type of visa should I apply for a 27-day Yoga Teacher Training course in Thailand, and do I need to book return flights?

3 comments

2 years ago

What are the best long-term visa options for studying Muay Thai in Thailand for 3 years?

6 comments

2 years ago

What are the best visa options for my family to move to Thailand for work at a dive school?

10 comments

6 years ago

What is the best visa option for attending yoga training in Koh Phangan and traveling in Thailand?

9 comments

6 years ago

What are the best long-term visa options for returning to Thailand, including working visas and education visas related to Muay Thai?

24 comments

7 years ago

What are the rules for obtaining multiple SETVs in Thailand, and how can I manage my visa for a dive course?

3 comments

7 years ago

What visa options are best for digital nomads traveling frequently in and out of Thailand for three months?

48 comments

a month ago

Data protection policy Terms and conditions Disclaimer Privacy policy Refund policy

The asq:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.