Why was I issued a Tourist Visa instead of the DTV despite submitting all required documentation?

# Issued Tourist Visa (TR) despite applying for DTV with full documentation – Any similar experiences?

Sawa dee ka everyone! seeking advices or similar experiences regarding a frustrating outcome from the Thai Embassy in Tokyo.

I am a Japanese national and recently applied for the DTV (Remote Worker category). I have a clean immigration history with 3.5 years of previous work experience in Thailand under a working visa (no overstays, no visa runs).

The issue: Despite applying for the DTV and paying the 52,000 JPY fee, I was issued a 6-month Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (TR) instead :((((

My application process was intense:

1. Since I’ve been living abroad recently, my bank accounts and employment contracts are from outside Japan.

2. After my initial submission, the Embassy requested Tax Returns, Bank Statements, and my Employment Contract to be NOTARIZED in Japan. This cost me extra time and money, but I completed it perfectly.

3. They asked me 2nd additional document requests, I provided proof of my current stay in Japan and a detailed professional portfolio to prove my remote work status. I submitted those.

It is extremely difficult to understand why they requested a "Notarized Contract" (which is specifically for DTV) only to issue a standard Tourist Visa. It feels like a clerical error or an unfair downgrade without explanation.

Has anyone else applied for the DTV and been downgraded to a TR visa despite having no "defects" in their documents?

For those in this situation:

* Are you entering with the TR visa and planning to re-apply for DTV later?

* Should I try to challenge this with the Embassy, or is it a lost cause?

Honestly, the lack of transparency in this process is incredibly frustrating. I’d love to hear your thoughts or if anyone has successfully "converted" or appealed such a decision.

Have a good day!