Why was my DTV application converted to a Tourist Visa (TR) instead?

Yes. When embassies feel that you havent met conditions for dtv, instrad of giving you rejection outright, they might decide to give you tourist visa instead. Or they might give you other visas they feel you meet the conditions.

We have seen it happen for Soft Power, but for workation you're not meant to be able to even work remotely on any type of tourist visa. It just seems crazy.

There's no way for us to know the reason why they did not give you a DTV visa, you can only get the answer from the embassy. They rarely give an answer in the decision email, you have to call or email them. But If what you wrote is your entire cover letter, it's too short and vague, and there's lots of problems with it.

First, you wrote ireland-based. It's a bit contradictory if you're working remotely, then Ireland would not be your base. Thailand would be your base if you plan to work remotely from Thailand. Unless you're saying the business is registered in Ireland. You didn't give more details about how the business works, how it is remote, how do you host the sessions etc. You said no intention to seek employment in Thailand. That's not right. It should be "do not and will not". Intention gives the impression of maybe. You only gave them a plan for the next 6 months when they asked you for your 5-year plan. If you tell them you're only staying 6 months then why would they give you 5 years? It's not about telling them you're staying in one place for 5 years continuously. You can tell them how often you'll be coming for the next 5 years and for how long each time and what you do in Thailand. Did you show payslips or payment or statements with the payments highlighted? Did you explain your annual income, show a calculation, provide tax returns, anything that proves earnings from business, contracts? Self-employed freelancer needs alternate proof if you don't have an employment contract. Was there any indication that your remote work would still be running for the next 5 years?

It’s happened to lots of people

They obviously deem that the Visa they have given you is adequate rather than the one you applied for

I understand you’re disappointed, but it’s better than being completely rejected and getting no Visa

It has happened often - if the embassy thinks a different visa better fits you, they give that instead. Your answer about being here 90-180 days probably caused this. Nothing you can do now, except reapply once the visa expires

Activities Tourism and cultural activities and personal travel within Thailand.

For max 180 days.

Why did you apply for the incorrect visa and what purpose did you use?

Yes, it's quite common they grant a METV when they consider there's no real need for you to stay beyond six months, ie because you showed you booked a 6-month or shorter course

Yes, happened to me from Mumbai, India. I had applied for DTV workation and have a travel company. The explanation given to me was that a travel company does not fall under remote work category. I have got my METV cancelled for now and plan to reapply for soft power dtv.

Yeah this has been happening a lot.

yeah, this happened to me because presumably my 6 month class would be done during a metv.

gonna reapply with a year long course

What was your reason for the DTV ??

Typical from a number of embassies these days. If they don’t think your application warrants a 5 year visa then rather than outright rejection (where you would loose the application fee entirely) they give you a 6 month METV.