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What was your experience applying for the DTV Soft Power visa in Thailand?

DTV Soft Power Visa Visa Application Process Thai Immigration Experience Education Visa Arun Cooking School Suvarnabhumi Airport Visa Policy Discussion Expat Experiences in Thailand Visa Regulations

Nov 21, 2025

14 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I would like to share my experience. I have received the approval for DTV Soft Power in September from the Thai Embassy in Paris (I am French). 

I have applied with Arun Cooking School for their 6 months course. The application was prepared with the help of a visa agency in Bangkok. 

Visa was approved by the Embassy. However when entering Thailand to activate it this weekend, they were reluctant at first because I had already spent some time as a tourist before during the year.

Immigration officers in Suvarnabhumi were super nice and calm during the whole process. I had to wait a bit for an 'interview' with them. They were surprised that I was granted DTV for cooking school, and were wondering if I should have an education visa instead...

In the end, they stamped me for 180 days and told me they were going to notify the Embassy about their feedback. I find it weird because they are the one to set the rules for DTV anyway and visa was granted already.

So a bit of a stressful experience but it ended well!

I wonder what will happen in May 2026 when I want to stamp another 180days! Especially if I have not extended my cooking lessons (not sure if I will, I would like to try something else)

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user shares their experience of receiving the DTV Soft Power visa for a cooking course at Arun Cooking School. Despite initial concerns from immigration officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport due to prior tourist stay, everything went smoothly, and they received a 180-day stamp. The discussion touches upon the confusion between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration rules regarding the DTV visa, with comments expressing frustration over the perceived inconsistencies in the visa's application.

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Christopher ***********

What a great cook! All the contentious ingredients in this bake. Colder weather today.

3 hours ago

Shandy ********

First of all, great weather this week in BKK. So, if we can rely on this account, the IOs don't have an immediate way of verifying the category of DTV application we're in.

6 hours ago

Khun ******

@Shandy *******

Correct. Unless it says on the visa.

5 hours ago

Reply to

Khun ******

John *********

Just here for the comments, very windy today, unsual weather patterns this year 🙈

10 hours ago

Anonymous ******************

They shouldn't make up stupid rules and then harass at the border those who follow the rules and get the visa. It's a scam.

10 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 987 to be clear I was not harassed. Immigration officers at the border were polite and professional. They were just surprised and confused about the conditions of this visa. They did not 'detained' me or anything more than reasonable.

7 hours ago

Reply to

Anonymous *************

Oli *********

There is always option of fast track via BKK airport. You can use it via visa agents, there should be no problem there. I also have DTV soft power and had no problem land cross, but I would consider fast track BKK in 180 days if DTV rulez get more stick or so.

12 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Oli ********

I was in the fast track lane already because I was travelling with someone with a diplomatic visa. They had no problem having me in fast track, but still got the same questions as I would have in the 'normal' lane

7 hours ago

Reply to

Anonymous *************

Anonymous ******************

Get ready for the experts criticizing your anonymous status… Anyway, it had to happen. Now that immigration is closing the gap on tourist exemptions, they will start focusing on the easiest and cheapest way for bad actors to stay in Thailand unfortunately, that’s the DTV. You can thank the previous government and the MFA for launching a visa with unrealistic benefits (in comparison to other existing visas) without consulting immigration.

13 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 174 geez if I get the 'soi Nana' joke on my anonymous status again 🤣🤣🤣

7 hours ago

Reply to

Anonymous *************

Harry *********

J’ai pris la même école pas de problème à l’arrivée et j’étais là en avril bon séjour

13 hours ago

Greg ********

Immigration did NOT set the rules for the DTV. It was the MFA. Immigration do have final say on right of entry though even with a visa. The MFA website clearly states that.

13 hours ago

Anonymous ******************

@Greg *******

and this is our problem how exactly? If they advertise this visa and take money from those who apply and follow the rules (even though the rules are stupid), then they should let the people in. If they don't, they're scammers. Whatever conflicts they have between different govt agencies is not our problem as foreigners

10 hours ago

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous participant 987 Who advertised what, exactly?

The visa was designed for workation-style digital nomads or people taking part in long term soft power activities, but many have interpreted it as a way to stay in Thailand long-term at a lower cost, with no immigration question and entry guaranteed.

8 hours ago

Greg ********

Anonymous participant 987 Whose problem is it then? It is clearly stated having a visa does not guarantee entry.

10 hours ago

Reply to

Greg ********

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

@Greg *******

This highlights the rift between Immigration and MFA. Not on the same page with the DTV

13 hours ago

Anonymous ******************

@Andi **********

Not on the same page? They're not even in the same bookshop!

12 hours ago

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

Anonymous participant 576 👍 perfect description

10 hours ago

Reply to

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

Greg ********

@Andi **********

As a key stakeholder I would be miffed too if not consulted . :-) :-)

13 hours ago

Reply to

Greg ********

Anonymous ******************

Immigration didn't set the rules, it was MFA. Immigration don't like the visa, and will probably tell the embassy to stop giving five year visas for a six month course

14 hours ago

Elías ********

Participante anónimo 576 which in my humble opinion, makes sense. If you're taking a 6-month course, you perfectly could be granted a 1-2 years visa.

13 hours ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Elías *******

I agree with you! When I looked for a visa I only needed a year, not 5! But it does not exist

7 hours ago

Anonymous ******************

@Elías *******

A 1 year renewable visa (in-country) would probably be more appropriate indeed. To be honest, the cooking class option shouldn’t even exist. I’m fully in favor of the original workation concept, and if it had stayed that way, it would have been better.

13 hours ago

Ian **********

@Elías *******

I agree. I always thought the soft power option should be a different visa and workcation a straight forward Nomad visa

13 hours ago

Reply to

Ian **********

Anonymous ******************

I suspect there might be some underlining collective lie in this country that everyone wants to maintain. 😉 Let us know how it goes.

14 hours ago

Mika ********

Anonymous participant 123 what?