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Why was my entry denied by the immigration officer in Thailand despite having a DTV?

DTV Visa Thailand Immigration Visa Entry Rules Immigration Officer Interaction Remote Work in Thailand

May 17, 2025

22 days ago

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

Today I arrived at BKK airport, and something weird happened with the immigration officer.

So, I got my DTV from Manila a few days ago, and before traveling to Manila to apply, I stayed in Thailand for the allowed duration of 60 days visa free, traveled to PH for 17 days and came back.

The conversation with IO went like this:

I showed him the DTV and my passport, and he asked a couple questions:

- What do you do in Thailand? just travel and explore places.

- What do you do for work? I’m a software engineer, I build websites (apparently he didn’t understand what that is) but I work for foreign clients from the US.

- Sorry I can’t allow you in.

- Why?

- Because you work.

- But I have the DTV and I don’t work for Thai clients, I work for foreign clients.

- I know, but I can’t allow you in. How old are you?

- Where are you from?

- Morocco

- How old are you?

- I’m 25

- Where you staying, Bangkok?

- Yes, for a couple weeks and then Chiang Mai.

He stamped my passport with 180 days duration.

All this happened while we both were smiling at each other. So I don’t really know if he was serious and then changed his mind or if he was just kidding with me 🙂.

P.S. He didn’t even ask for the TDAC

P.S. I flew Business Class

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A traveler shared their experience entering Thailand on a Digital Work Visa (DTV) from Manila. During the immigration process at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the immigration officer questioned their work situation, leading to some confusion about entry. Although the officer initially expressed reluctance to let the traveler in due to their work, they ultimately stamped the passport for a 180-day stay. Comments from the community revealed mixed feelings about discussing work with immigration officers, with some suggesting it can lead to complications, while others affirmed that remote work for foreign clients is allowed under the DTV.

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Xandro ********

He was messing with you.

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Marimar ********

That's IO

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Mathieu *****

Can you message me on messenger? So we can talk about your job since I have same and want to do remote like u

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Kiky ****

He was just kidding, sometimes they did that so just to mess around hahaha very normal

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Tim ***********

He played with you like a cat with a mouse and wanted to exert his power on you. If you travel in and out often, it's only a matter of time before you encounter officers like that. That’s why my philosophy is to keep border crossings to a minimum

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Mathieu *****

I’m doing same job as you and would like to do it remote/freelance like you. May we talk about it?

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

how you doing it now?

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Mathieu *****

as a regular employee in a company in France

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Mathieu *****

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

Guys! Mentioned business class so others know that it doesn’t really make a difference to the IO what class you’re. Also, I used Thai Airways thinking that IO would appreciate I used Thai company 🙂😂.

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John *******

Could he have thought you were working for American clients who are based in Thailand? If so, you can’t do that and he would deny entry

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Peter *********

Sounds like he was pulling your chain.

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

Which airport in BKK? Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi ?

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 400 Suvarnabhumi

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

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Sanjay *******

So the point was you flew in business class :) thanks for information 😅

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Aymen **********

Can you shoot me a DM? I'd like to ask u a question 3la shab passport khder 😂

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

Never say the w word to an immigration officer.

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 957 the w word? “Work”?

But I’m on DTV staying for few months, what else am I supposed to do all those months 😅. Plus I didn’t mention it at first, I said I’m traveling then he asked about work.

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J.P. *********

Anonymous participant yeah that's so weird. And scary. the DTV is precisely for people who work, remotely.

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant okay, so if the IO asked how long I’m staying? I’d say 6 months and just as a tourist on DTV without working?

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

There is certainly nothing odd with travelling for 6 months without working.

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J.P. *********

Anonymous participant 957 Not sure if you are familiar with this DTV visa, but most of us apply for it as people working remotely from Thailand and that is why they grant it.

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J.P. *********

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

Yeah don't say that. You're a tourist

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Mike **********

Anonymous participant 957 I avoid bringing up work, but the DTV explicitly allows you to do it if you're not competing in the Thai labor market.

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

Better not to go into any technicalities. It wastes your time and theirs

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

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

What if you work for non-Thai clients? Is it allowed? I'm looking for information about this

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Jazi ********

generally, working in Thailand requires a work visa.

working online with non Thai customers is sometimes seen as not really working "in Thailand".

the actual law isn't so clear. but an immigration officer can probably deny you entry if you say that you work online. unless your visa specifically allows for it.. which I think some types of DTV do allow iirc

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Rex ******

Law is unclear, but why do they expect people jobless and living foreign country for long time in this Info-tech era.

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Jazi ********

of you have a tourist visa that doesn't allow you to work, then yes. by definition you are a tourist that is legally blocked from working.

the way you make a living is not the problem of that immigration, but yours. and the law is the law, not your uncle you can argue with.

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Rex ******

"What do you do for work? I’m a software engineer, I build websites (apparently he didn’t understand what that is) but I work for foreign clients from the US." Clearly the officer dont know it

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Rex ******

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Greg ********

True the law has not kept up with remote working etc. A little pedantic but there is no such thing as a ""Work Visa" there are visas that allow you to apply and obtain a "Work Permit" though.

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Jazi ********

yes. but I think that DTV for digital nomads basically isn't banning you from working remotely for overseas companies. right?

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Greg ********

Eactly. The DTV is for working for overseas companies.

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Greg ********

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Greg ********

Anonymous participant 188 Working non-Thai clients is fine

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Pedro *******

Anonymous participant 188 emigrantion doesn't like if you work for Thai people. As it can be seen as stealing jobs. Unless you have a work permit

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Greg ********

You can not work for Thai clients on a DTV

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Pedro *******

if you have a work permit you can work for Thai people apart from some industries

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Greg ********

What are you talking about cannot work for Thai people. It may be a language barrier here. Have you ever worked in Thailand and had a WP here. There are no restrictions who I worked with and who I employed. I think your understanding of Thai immigration and employment law might not be correct

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Pedro *******

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

but it shouldn't apply to this case.

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Pedro *******

miss typed I meant can instead of can't

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Greg ********

You are missing the point. I think we may have a language issue here so no problem. Foreigners do not get a WP for a restricted job. If you have a WP can deal with anyone.

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Pedro *******

I didn't say you could.

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Pedro *******

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

May I know which airport of bangkok and the date? I also heard the same issue with my friends who entered bkk with DTV.

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Pavel ************

Morroco have SE?

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Pavel ***********

what do you mean?

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

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

If you had flown First Class, that would make the story more believable.

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Steven *******

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

creased 😂😂😂😂😂

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CaddyCash *********

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

Bro ,if who has DTV can pass without TDAC ? 😂😂 and no more reason about first class hahha

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Greg ********

@CaddyCash ********

TDAC is on screen. When IO scans passport. I never had to show mine

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CaddyCash *********

oh ok

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Greg ********

@CaddyCash ********

Correct cannot pass without one

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Greg ********

@CaddyCash ********

I came in other week and was pulling it up on my phone and IO pointed at screen and said No Need

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Greg ********

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Marcus ******

Good you flew business class??? 🤔

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

flew with Thai Airlines, thought that would make immigration happy 🙂😂

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Travis ********

Anonymous participant they don't care one bit about that

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Travis ********

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

He flew business class with Neverlander Airlines.

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Steven *******

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

Air India 🇮🇳

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

ok via the Neverlands.. got it

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Steven *******

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

From Philippines 😂

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

He obviously loves going the extra mile in more ways than one

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

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

He didn’t ask for TDAC because he can see on his screen that you completed it

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Gunner **********

Ai story. Nice try.

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Gunner *********

lol, literally no AI was involved in this. But if you say so, then ok

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Gunner **********

Anonymous participant nice try anonymous boy.

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

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Gunner *********

oh man, glad people like you exist so that I can be grateful of what I’m.

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Sophie *********

Anonymous participant Just ignore him. Trolls are abundant on these pages. Glad you were stamped in btw.

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Gunner **********

@Sophie ********

you're the only one trolling here hunni

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Sophie *********

@Gunner *********

A troll and a patronising sexist - great combination.

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Gunner **********

@Sophie ********

if calling out anonymous potshots makes me a troll, I guess honesty’s the new sexism. Appreciate the label though. Keep white knighting those Ai posts though.

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Gunner **********

Anonymous participant someone hiding from your wife?

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Gunner **********

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Mo ******

@Gunner *********

why do you say that?

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

c'est inventé

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Mo ******

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

but how do you guys know?

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

Tu n'es pas naïf. You have been thru the process, easy to see by the Q and A and the pièce de résistance "i flew business class"

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Mo ******

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

haha ok maybe I am naïve. I don’t understand what the point is to do this kind of thing here. But ok

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

Mostly attention seeking.

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J.P. *********

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

I don't understand why Would A.I. make up a story or someone do that here? There are plenty of legit Anonymous posts and also lots of strange stories.

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

Some people get off on this kind of thing, often seeking attention which they can't get anywhere else.

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

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