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Why was my DTV visa application denied in favor of a Non-ED visa?
DTV VisaNon-ED VisaVisa Application ProcessMuay Thai CourseVisa DurationThailand ImmigrationVisa RegulationsEmbassy Discretion
Aug 6, 2025
9 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERPlease help. At New Delhi embassy I applied for DTV (soft power) with 6 month Muay Thai course. Had provided all required documents with bank balance comfortably more than required funds for past 6 months. To my surprise today I received a 3 months Non-ed single entry visa. Has anyone faced similar situation? Appreciate your help 🙏
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user applied for a DTV visa for a six-month Muay Thai course but received a three-month Non-ED single-entry visa instead. They seek advice and have received various comments regarding strict embassy regulations, the sufficiency of course duration, and the discretion of embassy staff in visa approvals. Some commenters noted a trend towards tighter controls and that recent requirements may push applicants to take longer courses to qualify for the desired visa.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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AllSabaai ******
They see that 6 months course is enough for you to get ED
And not worth the DTV ka... don't tell me why...
It is up to their look at your profile
Things happen like this.
We know someone get DTV and when he apply for his wife to be Dependent Visa on his DTV
His wife got Non B 1 year multiple 😆
That was crazy ka
And not worth the DTV ka... don't tell me why...
It is up to their look at your profile
Things happen like this.
We know someone get DTV and when he apply for his wife to be Dependent Visa on his DTV
His wife got Non B 1 year multiple 😆
That was crazy ka
Anonymous ******************
They don’t like Indians I’m afraid.. many people have been getting approved with 6 months.
Wannikea *********
Definitely stricter and tighter controls being applied as time moves on to prevent misuse and abuse. People going the minimalist route will need to up their game.
DTV_Be*******
Unfortunately, final decision is up to the embassy. There have been some cases where some applicants have received other visas. Kind of sucks
John **********
This is becoming more common as the ED visa will serve the purpose you requested a visa for
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
How can a three month single entry Non-ED visa serve the purpose for 6 months courseJohn **********
Anonymous participant easy to extend for another 3 months. It's become apparent that having longer than 6 months booking for whatever soft power activity is a very good idea
Alex *********
Anonymous participant every three months you need to go to the immigration and ask for an extension. With an Ed visa you can stay in the country up to 1 year if you do all the extensions
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alex ********
agreed but by this definition courses less than a year should never qualify for DTVLuit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer A course less than a year might be extended, but it is difficult to ask an initial course that long.
I think Thai authorities underestimated the creativity of a lot of applcants who try to get a visa for a short course and then after that course keep using the visa, and take the risk they get stopped at entry.
The DTV was primary intended for digital nomads and remote workers where duration is less of an issue.
I think now they are trying to find ways to prevent the abuse.
I think Thai authorities underestimated the creativity of a lot of applcants who try to get a visa for a short course and then after that course keep using the visa, and take the risk they get stopped at entry.
The DTV was primary intended for digital nomads and remote workers where duration is less of an issue.
I think now they are trying to find ways to prevent the abuse.
Felipe ********
@Luit ****************
Yeah, and that´s why we will suffer the consequences of people using this visa in the wrong way. It might get more difficult in the future to cross the border and get more 3rd grade interrogations from IO...I expect this.Reply to
Felipe ********
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Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 3 months Non-ED? Never heard of such. That's usually a one year visa.
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
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Anonymous ******************
You don't need a 6 month course
Greg ********
Seen similar before with Japan issuing a METV. Embassy staff do have discretion and different embassies apply different guidelines.
AuthenticPas************
How much funds u had maintained each month?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAuthenticPassionfruit644 over 3 mil THB
Kool *******
Anonymous participant that has happened to others. You got a 90 day ED visa. At the end of those 90 days, with paperwork your school gives you, certifying you are going to classes, and making progress, to get a 90 day extension, taking you to the end of your course.
AuthenticPas************
Anonymous participant u should have applied from outside india
Reply to
AuthenticPas************
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Anonymous ******************
The new requirements are a minimum of 7 months to 1 year for soft power, as well as discretion in embassy staff evaluations.
Greg ********
Anonymous participant 397 Requirements of over 6 months - is that just New Delhi or eleswhere?
Andi ***********
@Greg *******
6-8 months can be covered by a METV. In Japan I know more applying with 9 plus months.Greg ********
@Andi **********
Where are the "New Requirements" # 397 mentioned?Andi ***********
@Greg *******
I do not think a blanket new requirement update has been made available. They are going by feedback from applicants, possible embassy website updates etc. Not sure it is many though.Greg ********
@Andi **********
I have an AI Webscraper I can run for Embassy updates :-) that loads into a Google SheetGreg ********
@Andi **********
I have not seen any embassy updates nor any reports in here. Can you name one embassy or any post saying there is a new requirement of over 6 months?Andi ***********
@Greg *******
Thats why I said possible updates. It is more likely they got it from feedback. Japan and Taipei do not list their actual approval criteria but from feedback from others we know what's needed.AllSabaai ******
@Greg *******
actually a 1 year course is fair enough to start asking for a DTV ka You remember we had a discussion about that and we said.. it is totally unfair thai one present paperwork for 6 months and grant an access to the kingdom for 5 years Multiple , It is even unfair to those who hold Non-Immigrant , Sound lik they realize that already and we happy to see this happeningGreg ********
@AllSabaai *****
I agree getting a 5 year visa for a 1 month course sounded crazy. The whole visa was not thought through by the MFA and launched without much consultation with other stakeholders like immigration. Even the MFA themselves do not have same guidelines or policies in different locationsReply to
Greg ********
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Anonymous ******************
@Greg *******
Many soft power have changed their programmes to 7 to 12 months.Greg ********
Anonymous participant 397 But are embassies publishing these "New" requirements?
Reply to
Greg ********
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Anonymous ******************
That's strange. Did you ask them why it wasn't DTV visa?
Henrik *****
In Thailand a decision is final, when the officer has made the decision, it is not up to debate, so you will not gain anything by asking why, since that may make the officer “loose face”
Reply to
Henrik *****
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