Hey everyone,
I wanted to share that I recently got my DTV approved from London as a South Korean national.
I applied twice — first at the RTE in Seoul, Korea, and then again at the RTE in London, UK.
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1st Application – Seoul, Korea
My first try was in January 2025, in my home country. I didn’t prepare much in advance, and luckily, as a Korean national, I didn’t need to pay the visa fee.
A few weeks later, the embassy contacted me asking for additional documents. That’s when I realized it might be tricky to get approved as a remote worker.
I’m a self-employed writer with book-based contracts through Korean publishing companies. That setup didn’t quite match the document requirements they were asking for (which seemed more geared toward traditional remote jobs), so I decided not to pursue it further.
I left the application untouched. Eventually, it changed to “Finished” in April — exactly three months later. It wasn’t cancelled or rejected, just silently closed.
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2nd Application – London, UK (Muay Thai Route)
I moved to London shortly after and submitted a new application at the RTE in London, this time under the Muay Thai soft power route.
As a non-UK citizen, in addition to the usual documents, I had to provide:
• UK residence permit
• UK bank statement
• Proof of address
No visa fee again.
I submitted all supporting documents, including my flight ticket, by March 19. The status changed to “Pending Approval” on March 20, and I received approval on April 18.
I’m not exactly sure why it took a month, but during the wait, I visited the RTE in person to ask about the delay. They asked for my flight schedule — I had a June departure — and told me it would probably be approved by May. Luckily, it came through earlier!
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A Few Extra Notes:
• They asked me to submit a letter explaining what I do for work while in the UK.
I clarified that I’m self-employed, don’t work for a UK employer, and that the same would apply in Thailand.
• I included a description of my income sources, along with two Korean business certificates (translated into English): one for my writing business and one for my real estate rental income.
• I accidentally entered an intended stay of over 1,800 days in the form — but it didn’t seem to matter at all!
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Thanks again, super group!
Wishing everyone smooth applications — and I hope to see some of you in Thailand soon!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The author shares their experience applying for a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) first in Seoul, then successfully in London as a South Korean national. They faced challenges with documentation that matched the criteria for remote work but were ultimately approved through the Muay Thai route. The post details the required documents, the approval timeline, and provides tips for future applicants, including the importance of submitting a detailed explanation of work and income sources.
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