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Why was I issued a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa instead of a DTV despite a strong application?

Visa Types Multiple Entry Tourist Visa DTV Visa Visa Application Process Muay Thai Training Visa Approval Discrepancies

Sep 11, 2025

2 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Instead of DTV I got a Multiple entry tourist visa from Hanoi. I provided 4 months of banks statements with 1mil THB, income of 700K+ in 2025, 6month muy thai course from a reputable gym. I saw a guy (girl?) approved today in Hanoi with a weaker application than mine (1 month course, 3 month bank statements, no income). Make it make sense.

edit: I am going to delete this post in a couple of days since I can see only negative things coming my way. I just made it to vent mainly but also to offer something back to this group.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The poster expressed frustration after receiving a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa instead of the desired DTV visa despite submitting strong evidence, including significant bank statements and a long-term Muay Thai course. They noted the arbitrary nature of visa approvals and shared their experience, comparing it to another applicant with a weaker profile who got approved. The comments highlighted issues with inconsistency in approvals and suggested reasons for different outcomes, including the varying standards at embassies.

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Kurt *************

Apply again in 6 months. Book 1 year muay thai then

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Rok ********

Wish you good luck with the subsequent application

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Tejas **********

Honestly the thai embassies just feel like rolling a dice atp. No concrete rules or guidelines to be followed anywhere. I am in the same boat as you despite applying under workcation.

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

But are you planing to train more than 6 months? If you're working on the side you should have applied for a workcation instead

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 730 I don't see what my future plans have to do with the approval or not of DTV. They gave DTV to a guy/girl with one month course! Approved the same date that I got denied from the same embassy!! OK his/her plans was UNLIMITED Muy Thai while mine was only 2 times per week (I bet we both would get destroyed by Rodtang after our training finishes though). The embassy people are not mind readers. If a person fulfills the requirements then they should give the visa, simple as that. As for what I "should" or should not apply for only god knows. I think maybe if I was a girl in the photo and not a guy in a suit and this girl reminded the embassy guy of his little daugher then I might get it. What I am trying to say (joking but probably failing) is that this system is a joke and my opinion is that it was intentionally designed like that.

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Luit *****************

Padkrapow4549 Of course the future plans are important for use of the visa, but they cannot check this at the embassy, and as you say they are not mindreaders, but maybe your application gives them the feeling you are not needing DTV.

If you only plan to do a 6 months course you don't need DTV.

The visa is meant to be used while you do a soft power activity or work remote or undergo medical treatment.

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Greg ********

Padkrapow4549 I think you are hitting the nail on the head. There is not really a binary criteria regarding approval. It comes down to the Embassy staff doing the initial screening and then the consular staff doing the approval. It seems to be down to discretion with no real clarity either at an embassy or across embassies/locations.

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John **********

Padkrapow4549 and the requirements are not firmly stipulated anywhere. Going by what you say booking a couple of Muay Thai lessons would be enough, but that was surely never the intention

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John **********

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John **********

Do you have residence rights in Vietnam? With a Greek passport you shouldn't even have been issued a multi entry tourist visa unless you do.

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

exactly this thing is more than useless to me. I get the same "benefits" with a visa exemption (2months +1 month extend if I chose too) AND i cannot apply for DTV now till I cancel this or it expires... which I planned to do from HCMC if I got rejected.

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John **********

Padkrapow4549 better than useless as after 1 or two entries on visa exempt there's a reasonable chance of being denied entry. But yes you will now need to wait until that expires. Having longer than 6 months for your activity is a good idea

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

and no it not a good idea to spend more money for the gym or anything on that matter. I should just keep the money for bribes - not pay gyms or cooking classes or visa agents or thai government fees.

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John **********

Padkrapow4549 that won't get you very far

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

thanks John for taking the time - you are one of the few guys here that offer good advice/opinion.

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

it is actually more than useless since you are at the whims of the officer in the immigration with this thing so I will have to bribe to get inside 100%

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Padkra*******

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

no... I came here with an evisa for 30days. I am not staying in Vietnam.

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Padkra*******

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Lor ******

Most definitely! 💯 everything cost money 💰

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A. ************

Sorry that happened. The approval process for the DTV does feel like rolling dice sometimes. The consulates have different requirements, and even inside the same consulate office the people doing the approvals are handling things differently. Very maddening

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

A. Nony Mous they have no fixed requirements. each person obviously does what he likes. same embassy different rules prove that.

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Luit *****************

Padkrapow4549 I think by doing a visa run there might be a higher risk they not approve for the DTV.

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Greg ********

Padkrapow4549 I once had a long chat with a "Head of Consular" at an embassy (Not Thai) while watching football for a few hours. Basically he said exactly what you are saying - it is up to them and he admitted bias can slip into decisions. It was due to myself and Thai partner being invited to a wedding but there was no chance of her ever getting a visa. We chose not to even attempt it. Same came up again 2 years ago. Invited to a wedding in another country and just could not be arsed to apply - I went alone.

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Greg ********

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Kyle **********

Perhaps the other person doesn't have an extensive stay in thailand or red flags that could lead to deny his/her application while yours, despite showing 6 months course and money in the back has surely turnt on a few red flags 😉 I'm also curious, how have you met this other person? thats quite a coincidence

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Wannikea *********

@Kyle *********

********************************************

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James ********

@Wannikea ********

that one month unlimited training is another surprise to get approval. Wow 😳

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Kyle **********

I am skeptical and I don't believe everything on this group, especially when it comes from anonymous users who can just type down whatever they want. I could easily post anonymously stating that I got a dtv with just a single appointment to a generic doctor and showing them crypto instead of hard cash.

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James ********

@Kyle *********

Agreed... that's why many helpful forum members ask key questions about the application SUBMITTED.

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kyle *********

ofc you should be sceptical and you should not believe what you read especially from anonymous people like me but then why do you reply? why engage in the conversation? this is not good for your mental health. personally i reactivated my fb account just to be able to read/prepare for the dtv as only in fb forums you can find the best info available. i am uninstalling this cancer app after that.

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Kyle **********

Padkrapow4549 I already got my dtv but I'm here to help the others cuz the others have helped me while I was in s**t. I just pointed out that too many weird things have been happening on this page and it feels like that a lot of stories have been made up just to lead the audience to hire an agent and other stories about suggesting people to get the fast track while landing in chiang mai and none of them had a face nor a name.

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

it is a joke this DTV

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James ********

Padkrapow4549 in reality it's the best thing to come along, especially with the HUGE DIGITAL NOMAD workcation market worldwide.

Sorry that you were not successful in getting the DTV visa issued.

Keep the faith, you will be successful in 6 months. BUT carefully choose the Thai Embassy or Consulate where you will apply.

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James ********

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kyle *********

no extended stay and i don't know him/her. just read her/his post today

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Kyle **********

Padkrapow4549 what's your passport? did u previously have ed/non imm visa? did they require you extra documents?

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kyle *********

greece,no,no

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Padkra*******

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James ********

You're not the first one to be issued a METV multiple entry tourist visa instead of the 5 year DTV VISA from Hanoi.

6 months of Muay Thai training seems to be the reason.

And it appears that it is the luck of the draw in Hanoi.

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

then why the other person with 1 month course was approved today from Hanoi too?

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James ********

Padkrapow4549 as I have said...it appears to be a roll of the dice at Hanoi. AVOID Hanoi.

Frankly, I doubt that one person obtained the DTV visa for one month of Muay Thai training at Hanoi...or with Any Thai Embassy or Consulate.

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Ay *****

I know you know plenty of people have been approved with a 1 month course

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James ********

not true. When the DTV was first issued in July last year, One month appeared to be approved.

BUT there's a trend to greater/longer committed soft power activity to get the approval.

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John **********

in the beginning yes but highly unlikely now

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James ********

@John *********

correct ✅

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James ********

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Toni *******

You got what you needed tho? 6months for 6months course?

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James ********

yep 👍

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

they got my 10k thb that's for sure

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Jeff *******

I can't explain why he only gets 6 month any more than I can explain why several people I know, me included, got 5 years for 2 medical appointments.

And with his METV, he has to leave twice in the middle or pay 1900 baht twice. So an METV for a 6 month course makes no sense.

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Toni *******

Padkrapow4549 yeah you applied for 6months, got 6months... you just applied the wrong type of visa for your need

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

Did you have 5 year courses booked for your application?

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Toni *******

Anonymous participant 121 no, workcation. But i dont understand people with 6month activity needing a 5year visa... care to explain?

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

the other guy got approved with one month course... also multiple entry tv means you have to leave the country every 2 months... also,what happens if you don't work next year or your company goes bust? i mean.. with the same logic why did they give you a 5year visa if tomorrow you might be an unemployed bum? would they take it back from you? Your logic has no logic. The y posted some general guidelines for DTV and they should stick to them.

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Kool *******

Padkrapow4549 you may not like it, but they change things as they see how they are being abused. Had the other person you referenced already been taking Muay Thai classes, and not brand new at it? Everyone uses the same embassy in Vietnam for Muay Thai classes, so that embassy sees what is going on. There are some "reputable" gyms that have more people signed up for classes than their gym can handle...lolol

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John *******

Padkrapow4549 for the most part, they do stick to the general guidelines. Since we have no idea why you were rejected, there is no reason to get hung up on length of course. It is true that for some, short course can be the issue, but that doesn’t seem to be the issue with you. If nothing wrong with the paperwork, they must see something wrong with the applicant. How long have you been in Thailand? What visas? Any overstays? Furthermore, are you sure your organization has the proper certifications?

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

"most part" does not cut it.. I want my money back that I spent on those trips, my visa fees back and especially my time if it is "most of the time". I know that it is my fault though - I know how Thailand works and I still tried to do things the right way. I should just pay the 75K and get a DTV guaranteed. Bribes are the only thing that works 100% of the time.

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John *******

Padkrapow4549 - so you already applied and got rejected once? What did the agent say they thought the reasoning was? Did you use the same Muay Thai gym? It could be something with the gym that is red flagged.

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

agent (issa compas) were really surprised and thought that it was lrobably because i had the money only 1.5 months in my bank account. i applied with arun thai cooking class. i got all my money back from the isa compas guarantee though. ofc going and staying 2+weeks in Jakarta was money+time lost

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Padkra*******

ORIGINAL POSTER

never overstayed, never had a visa before, never had any trouble with the law whatsoever..had stayed for 2 months in 2025 and 4 in 2024 or something like that. i applied with issa conpass from jakarta like 3 months ago and got rejected (probably because i showed only 1.5 months of the money being in the bank account - or so I thought.. and decided to take matters in my own hands)

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Padkra*******

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