Arrived in Bangkok 11 December

This is not something I dreamed up.

Previous retirement visa but COVID and a death in the family screwed that up. So in

November 2024 Visa exempt with 30 day extention. Left the country for a week and back from Vientiane to get another Visa exempt and left before the 60 days in April 2025. That entry did raise a few eyebrows and required input of a senior IO but nothing was said. That was the only visa run done.

For the record, no over stays or any other issues in 35 odd years. A clean slate as far as I am aware.

On arrival got taken out the queue to the immigration office. Had to fill out a Passenger Information Form and was told I needed a Wife visa. The IO supervisor, firm but polite, wanted to see Baht 20,000 CASH, marriage certificate 35 years married to a Thai, wife ID card and a ticket out of Thailand. I had a genuine reservation to Ho Chi Ming city, thought that might be helpful.

I was given a 60 day visa exempt and TOLD in no uncertain terms to get the correct visa. I doubt if a 30 day extension will be given

On a side note there was another Brit who seemed to have been stopped for visa "irregularities" and told to return to the UK. When he asked if he could buy a ticket to Loas he was told no, go back to the UK.

There were at least 6 others in the office, the one where seniors over 70 can fast track, being interviewed.

So there will be two types people that will read this.

1. Those who think this will not happen to them and continue to think visa exempt is the way to long term stays. Your entitlement will be your undoing.

2. Those that will take on my experience and be prepared. I honestly believed that the ticket to Vietnam saved me from being sent back to the UK.

So why did not get the correct visa before coming. I have been trying to get funds out of a fund run by STM Malta, useless company, for 4 months. They keep changing the goal posts.

Far too many posts thinking this is a joke it is not. Long term stays require a visa.

My friend applied for his marriage visa on the website in America. Took 6 weeks to get it. He got it the day before his flight. I got my marriage visa the same way took 4 weeks. I'm reading all about the crackdowns and difficulties people are having. Any thoughts on why this is getting more complicated in recent years?

Hey guys, I was approved for my DTV and have already entered the country and have been here about 2 weeks now, but as I’m currently in the proceeds of renting a condo they’ve asked for certain documentation like proof of visa stamp etc, I’ve gone to check and they’ve stamped me for a TR-60, not DTV. Am I going to have to leave the country and re-enter or can I go to the immigration office and get it rectified?

Thanks!

any one known about this?

Can i go another way used Airport

anybody know?

i have thai e visa.

Can’t access my KrungThai Bank Acct!!

I opened my KrungThai bank account 2yrs ago when I was in Thailand using my educational visa paperwork. All good, used the account for loads of transactions and daily life.

I am now back in the UK. No plans to return to Thailand anytime soon. Changed my mobile and can’t access the Krunghtai app. It prompts me for my passport number. I give it. Then it says more ID required and go to the branch in person.

Going to the branch in person is not possible. They must have a ID verification process for foreign account holders who are not in Thailand??

Can someone advise?

Has anyone ever been REFUSED to exit Thailand??? Today I drove all the way from Korat to the friendship boarder in Laos .. my visa was good until the end of today so I’m not over staying .. I was to depart Thailand to go make a proper non o visa online while in Laos.. the female immigration officer refused to let me leave! Even having all the documents to support my intention of the Non O Visa.. She did mention about doing repeat visa runs, last entry I returned from China by air … which is fine I’m leaving to go get the proper visa. I understand not being let back in, but not being able to leave, she told me to go get a flight out. Also should mention the same thing happend to a few others while I was there.

Morning, Anyone know where/how to apply for international drivers license before arriving in Thailand?

* EDIT *

- Drivers PERMITTTT

“Can’t believe how ppl like this survive”

Well my friend i don’t know how ppl around you survive.

GEEEEEEZ to those of jumping on my axxx perhaps a hobbie… passion project… arts n craft …..

My situation isn’t as simple as do it in ur home country …

define home, I haven’t lived in Australia for 3.5 years have been living Spain for the last year point whatever and hold a long term visa to live here in Spain with Spanish IDs, am a Spanish tax resident, AND APPLYING FOR MY DTV from Spain, but passport still Australian.

I can’t get any answers in Spain nor through my Thai agent …

and geez didn’t think a damn war would break out l.

To those of you actually giving me suggestions much appreciated. 🙏

To the rest of u…

Hope to never meet u in Thailand

I have zero interest in ppl who’s first choice is hate sooooo GR8 M8 (if ur Australian u know)

I’m Soooooo saving this post to cross reference ppl I meet 😂🤦‍♀️ and in the famous worlds of a great man “ Swasdi Never”

Hello everyone 👋, I’m planning to return to Thailand soon and I’d like to check if anyone has had recent experiences with immigration.

I previously had an ED visa which I used for about 8 months and I left the country a month ago as required. I’ve now applied for a tourist visa in Kuala Lumpur and it has been approved.

My question is: Has anyone faced any issues with immigration at the airport when entering Thailand on a tourist visa shortly after holding an ED visa?

Pick up on another site. Krunthai bank are actively closing accountshelp by DTV (tourist) visas, its a policy introduced 2025.

Bank limitations for DTV, response from Krungthai

My Krungthai account has stopped working today: card payments were declined, and the app is locked.

I opened this account while was on an ED visa (2024), and later (2025) switched to a DTV visa (workcation category for remote workers).

I visited a branch and spent about 2 hours resolving the issue.

The outcome was:

• The account itself works, and I can receive transfers

• My debit card was unlocked for online payments until its expiry date, so I can pay in Grab, online, and at stores.

However, the Krungthai NEXT (bank application) is still soft-locked: I cannot log in; the app shows: "Additional verification required, please visit a branch."

The branch teller informed me: "Since you are on a DTV visa, we cannot unlock your app unless you change your visa."

So, there is a lock: you can not login app because verification needed, you can not verify because of DTV is limited.

There is a response from krungthai support email:

Dear Mr. ***

Please be advised that Krungthai Bank has implemented updated conditions governing account opening for foreign nationals and authorization for the use of the Krungthai NEXT Application.

2. DTV Visa Restrictions: Please note that the bank currently does not accept new account openings for customers holding a DTV Visa, nor can this visa type be used for applying for other bank products or services.

These updated conditions are effective from April 3, 2025, and remain current.

The new policy entails the following key limitations, impacting both new and existing customers. New Account Opening is no longer permitted for foreign nationals holding student visas (specifically those attending language schools or special, non-degree courses).

Furthermore, for Existing Customers, this policy impacts service access in two main areas: if you encounter issues with the Krungthai NEXT Application and require identity re-verification to regain access, you will be unable to complete this process. Additionally, existing foreign customers are currently unable to issue a new or renew an expired Debit Card.

We again sincerely apologies that our branch staff were unable to provide the requested service. Please understand that our employees are strictly obligated to adhere to the rules and conditions established by the bank, ensuring consistent operational policy across all locations.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact our Krungthai Contact Center at 02-1111111 , 24 hours every day.

For more information and benefits, please kindly visit our Website or via application Line@Krungthai Connext

Sincerely yours,

Krungthai Contact Center

KrungThai Bank PCL.

I contacted to a few random agents, in hope that prob they have any workaround.

There are their responses:

#1:

Unfortunately, because the DTV is treated as a tourist-type visa, most Thai banks no longer allow DTV holders to open accounts, and some have recently begun deactivating tourist-visa accounts. This policy was updated recently, and based on what we have seen, it is unlikely to change soon.

#2:

That right for DTV visa it 's same tourist visa can't unlock. But you can used true money or if you have Thai friends can give they bank for you. I feel sad that I can't help you with this matter.🙏🙏🙏

So, it seems impossible to have a bank account on DTV at all, even existing ones will be limited. I had a hope that this won't occur to existing customers (like in my case: opened account on ED, then switched to DTV), but it did not work.

Quite sad that while being allowed to live and work remotely from a country for 5 years period you have no access the local banking.

Even re-issuing existing card is impossible (so if one day you will see fraudulent transactions, that may happen after any random data breach, like recent AirAsia one - you can either tolerate or block your card forever, e.g. lose ability to pay online).

According the Krungthai response, it seems that even ED visa holders will be affected (existing and new ones), just matter of time.

For Promptpay (QR payments) the workaround is to use TrueMoney app: after passing verification you will be able to pay by QR, receive money by QR, for both company and personal accounts. It may take A LOT of attempts to pass verification: attaching the same docs may lead to different outcomes: mine was verified from 1st attempt, my wife still can't pass it after >5 attempts.

Anybody have this problem before and how did you solve it?