# 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!

Hi everyone. I’ve just had my DTV visa rejected and wondering if anyone has any tips for getting this thing approved.

Back story to help:

I first applied in Shanghai at the Thai embassy on Jan 18 2026. After almost 70 days of waiting and countless times of being asked for documents I don’t have (such as Chinese social insurance - impossible to get) as well as being asked to upload the same documents repeatedly. I eventually decided to cancel that application.

That was on March 27. Since there is no cancelation channel on the application site, they told me to submit a signed request. I did, then asked for cancellation confirmation - silence. Followed up- silence. Today (April 15) that is still not cancelled and has been 87 days since the application date and “pending document check”

Anyway, I reached out to an agency who helped with my partners DTV. They said to fly to Hanoi and apply there. I did. I’m in Hanoi now. Rejection came today after 1 week.

I don’t really understand why.

My bank account has significantly more than the required 500k baht.

I am self employed- showed company registration cert from Hong Kong (where my business is registered) , signifiant controller docs, share allocations etc,

I submitted 1 personal bank account, 1 company bank account, transactions over a certain period, cover letter and all that. I don’t make any money in Thailand or from Thailand which was clearly stated. Nothing was fabricated in my application and I genuinely believe my application was strong. Yet for some reason was rejected.

The agent told me it may be the embassy here in Hanoi - that they sometimes hit limits on what visas they can approve over a period and that even a “perfect” application can get rejected at times.

They’ve suggested going to Ho Chi Minh City and applying from there stating they have faster processing times and are generally easier to work with but also ask for more documentation (which is fine)

Anyone else been in a similar position? Any insight would be helpful because I’m at a loss as to why it was rejected tbh.

TIA

Wooohoo! Its my turn. I have been following this group for some time, reading and learning from your posts. This has been a wealth of information and I just got approved for the DTV. So in case its helpful to anyone since my case is a little unique. My job doesn't issue personalized letters and I changed my name last year.

Type: Workcation

Applied on Monday 3/16

Location: Washington DC

Submitted

-cover letter with explanation for each section of docs

-court orders for name change

-old and new license confirming official name change

-6 mth savings

-PDF generated from HR site of Job Details ( job title, length of service, full time status and 100% virtual h8ghlighted)

-PDF generated from HR with compensation

-work samples

-about us page from company website

-3mths bank statements with pay deposits highlighted

Wednesday more documents requested (letter from my job for work verification, recent pay slip and taxes)

We use The Work Number for verification so I printed a sheet from there and sent my last pay stub + 2024 taxes since I have not filed yet this year.

And approved this morning 3/20. Yall are the first to know. Thanks so much for all the information ❤️🇹🇭

Hey all, I recently applied for a 60 day tourist e-visa from Penang, Malaysia, with a 5-6 week gap from my last time in Thailand. I supplied my back statement which showed more than double of what is required (20k THB), hotel booking, Malaysian entry stamp in the passport and biometrics etc, they have emailed me today asking for every single page in my passport, 3 months bank statement and 'proper travel booking confirmation'- unsure what that is, is it proof of return or onward ticket or ticket into Thailand? I won't book a ticket until my visa is confirmed. Any help or advice would be appreciated. I have a few visa exceptions from last year already and wondering if this might be a factor and a good reason for rejection.

Hey guys, the group has been very helpful so I just wanted to share my timeline.

Embassy: Ottawa, Canada

Application: Sunday March 1st as digital nomad

Request for further docs on March 11th: proof that my employer allows me to work remotely without any conditions. I sent it the day of.

Request for further docs on March 12: 3 last pay stubs and corporation information of my employer. I sent it the day of.

Approval on March 13th!

DTV - workation approved.

Applied through Sweden on 4 feb, and just got approved. My work is starting in 2 months, so I have no history about work to show.

I submit :

The 500k have not been sitting in the bank for more than 2 days when I applied, but showed 3 months history with about 300k.

Work contract.

Confirm employment letter.

Confirm no work inside Thailand + remote work letter.

Company registration ( screenshot ).

My own letter confirms I will not seek work in thailand + signed.

I only put a hotel for 1 week as my place to stay, since I will find apartment when I get there.

Smooth sailing and I'm very happy now!

No need for extra documents since I gave all I could at first.

🙏🎉 DTV - London - Muay Thai (Soft Power) APPROVED 🙏🎉

Applied 31st December

More docs required Jan 13th

Approved Jan 22nd

What I initially provided and why I was asked for further docs ⬇️

- Official documents from Muay Thai Fever in Chiang Mai (Expertly put together by Derry and his team at Muay Thai Fever. Very professional, excellent coaches and more importantly great people! I recommend training at your choice of gym before applying if you're able to.)

- Cover letter explaining why I’m applying, my plans for the duration of the visa, my love for Thailand, how I plan to participate in Thai society respectfully and abide by all laws and immigration rules, how I will support myself and WON’T seek employment in Thailand.

- 3 months PDF bank statements with over 500k Baht.

- Scan of my passport, previous entry and exit stamps from Thailand to show that I comply with all immigration rules (especially stay duration).

- Scan of my international drivers license.

- Certificate from Preply showing my progress of learning the Thai language for 6+ months.

- Pictures of me training and fighting in both Thailand and the UK.

- Flight out confirmation and initial hotel booking in Thailand.

- Utility bill showing my current location.

I was asked for further docs as I initially showed a pdf of my flight booking from bookingdotcom (where I booked the flight) instead of the official airline website, so make sure you get it from the airline website. You can just type in your booking reference and download your e-ticket. The only other thing I needed to provide was a letter of consent to say that I will stay in the UK until my visa has been approved.

My application went pending approval and then approved in the same afternoon. 🙏

If applying from London, give yourself at least 4 weeks before your flight to save any headaches.

Thank you to all who help in this group and good luck 🙏

Hi all. In the Thai evisa website. My application is in the "processing pending approval" stage. Is that mean that all the documents are fine and nothing is missing? How long will that be in this stage usually? That's 3rd day today since my application and we are soon entering the weekend, which I suppose they will not process in the weekend.

DTV APPROVED TODAY IN MANILA 😊 7 Working days.

(Philippine Passport holder)

Soft power (Cooking class: Arun Thai Cooking)

Submitted: January 13,2026

Approved: January 21,2026

Documents Submitted

1. Passport Biodata Page

2. Thailand stamps

3. ID-style photograph

4.Address in Submission country ( I submitted my driver's license)

5.Bank Statement( 6 months bank statement with ending balance more than 500,000 THB)

6.Address in thailand ( Hotel booking)

7. Evidence of Financial support

8. Photos of me cooking😃

9. Letter of Enrollment from the school

* I USED ISSA COMPASS

Further Document Requests..

I have been asked to provide more documents for my DTV and I’m unsure what to do about this one:

• “Please contact Revolut to issue your recently personal bank statements with an official stamp on them or a formal letter stating your name and details and the balance equivalent to Pound Sterling, US Dollar , EURO ( minimum closing balance of 11,000 GB”

I had already provided a pdf of my bank statements showing at least £11,000 already. So what are they asking for now?

Thanks!