# Got my DTV Visa (Remote Work) approved in HCMC, Vietnam.

I will share the full story (I was asked twice for additional documents), but first here are some short notes:

- Applied from Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam

- Used Revolut account (including Pockets)

- German Passport

- Remote work with a US LLC

Short Timeline:

Monday, November 10 – 10:11 am – submitted application

Wednesday, November 12 – 4:40 pm – requested further documents

Friday, November 14 – 11:45 am – submitted additional documents

Monday, November 17 – 3:30 pm – requested further documents

Monday, November 17 – 11:48 pm – submitted additional documents

Tuesday, November 18 – 10:11 am – visa approved ✅

Because not many people share this, and I was a bit confused at the beginning about these parts:

— Address information: You must first enter your current location address, then click “No” when asked if this is also your permanent address. After that, add the address where you live most of the time.

— Intended Date of Arrival: The date when you plan to enter Thailand.

— Intended Date of Departure: The date when you plan to leave Thailand (within 180 days).

— Last Port of Embarkation: The country you were in right before entering Thailand on your last entry.

— Flight number: If you have not booked a flight yet, just check Google Flights and enter a flight number.

⸻————————

And now, the full story:

Applied in HCMC, Vietnam (from Phu Quoc Island).

For everyone staying in Phu Quoc and confused that the district (Kien Giang) is listed for the Hanoi embassy: I called the Hanoi embassy, and they told me I can apply at both, but I should apply in HCMC. I think it’s better there, but Hanoi would also accept.

Applied as Business owner with a US LLC – income more than 80,000 USD / year.

Submitted documents (10th of November 2025):

—> Passport bio-data page

—> Photograph

—> Financial evidence:

(1) Self-written letter with an overview of my bank statements, including total balances on August 1, in between, and on November 7 (more than 500,000 THB). I added the euro amounts from personal and Pocket accounts and converted them to THB.

(2) Revolut bank statements (33 pages) with highlighted income payments. Most of the funds were in Pockets and only a small amount in my personal account. For those using Revolut: I explained in the letter on the first page that both are part of the same personal account—they are just separated in the statements.

—> Business:

(1) Cover letter + information about additional documents

(2) Business registration certificate (US LLC)

(3) Full portfolio (including an introduction about me, how I work, what I offer, tools I use, visual work examples, website links, pictures, sample pricing packages, client feedback)

(4) Cooperation agreement with one of my clients

(5) Four business invoices from 2024 and 2025

(6) Table with an overview of business income in 2025

(7) Proof of remote work letter

(8) Screenshots from my website

—> Current location

(1) Accommodation booking confirmation on Phu Quoc (two weeks via Agoda)

(2) Flight confirmation from Koh Samui, Thailand to Phu Quoc, Vietnam

(3) Boarding pass

(4) Vietnam entry stamp

(5) Photo of me with my passport in front of the hotel

To be honest, I thought I had already given more than enough, but after two days they asked for additional documents (12th of November 2025):

***Povide your income tax for the last 2 years.

***Provide more information about your experience in this field and details about your current work, including (1) your CV or portfolio and (2) examples of your work, along with any supporting materials demonstrating your experience and qualifications.

Submitted additional documents (14th of November 2025):

—> For income tax:

(1) Income tax return from 2023 from Germany (English certified translation + German original)

(2) Letter explaining that I was temporarily residing in Thailand in 2024 (stayed over 180 days) and paid taxes according to Thai rules (only money transferred to Thailand), and listing the attached documents

(3) Thai income tax declaration (Thai and English versions)

(4) Overview (Excel screenshot) of income in 2024

(5) Official business statements from Wise Business Account for 2 months in 2024 (to support the Excel data)

Explanation: The 2024 tax declaration does not show my full real income because I did not transfer everything into Thailand. To avoid further questions about my income in 2024, I proactively added the income overview and statements.

—> For business:

(1) Letter outlining professional background and experience

(2) CV listing all relevant periods since becoming self-employed / founding my company, to show the timeline and development

(3) Additional portfolio pages covering services I offer (again!), 2 detailed project examples (with screenshots, descriptions, results, project dates), client feedback (again!), screenshots and website links (again!)

I did not expect another request, but they asked again.

This time they asked for (17th of November 2025):

***Please provide evidence of all previous employment listed in your CV, including employment contracts from former companies, photos at previous workplaces, and any other relevant documentation.

***Document indicating current location (e.g., valid visa, receipts / proofs of payment for airline tickets or accommodation, etc.): Provide the full passport, including empty pages (TAKE A PHOTO, DO NOT SCAN). The date the photograph was taken is required.

***Please describe your journey entering the job market, including your starting salary and the steps you took to negotiate and reach your current salary level.

Documents I submitted (17th of November 2025):

—> For employment evidence:

(1) Letter explaining that I am not employed and cannot provide employment contracts. Everything listed in the CV is self-employment / business activity, and I added proof of my self-employed work since 2022.

(2) Another client cooperation agreement (client since 2022)

(3) Another business invoice (from 2022 – to show when I started; English + German)

(4) A photo of me working on my laptop in an apartment while traveling

—> For passport:

(1) Photos with timestamp and location (there is an app like “Timestamp Camera”) of all passport pages — do not forget the cover page and the last outer page!

—> For job journey:

(1) A letter describing how everything started, where I found clients, how my expertise grew, the natural progression of improving my services and increasing income, and where I stand today.

I submitted everything on November 17 late in the evening (just before midnight) and finally received approval on November 18 around 10 am. 🥳

Overall, it took about one week, which is okay.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Hi I want to apply for DTV visa via London and wondering what to give for question 4 below,

Employment contract or employment certificate in their country or professional portfolio showcasing digital nomad, remote worker, foreign talent or freelancer status.

I don’t have a company or employment contract but im am self employed and have HMRC self assessment tax returns so wondering if thats ok.

Appreciate your help.

I’m after a suggestion for an agent regarding ways of getting a DTV visa. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have set up an overseas company and was wondering about whether I could employ myself overseas and get the DTV visa that way ?

Hello :) Please help :)

I’d like to ask for some advice.

I’m going to apply in Poland, and I have a sole proprietorship (one-person business). I’d like to ask which option I should choose — “business owner” or “freelancer”?

Also, what documents might be required from me?

I have already prepared the confirmation of my business registration, but what other documents should I submit?

Thank you very much for your help.

Business owner in USA, need to write a letter, this is what I've come up with, obviously redacted. How does this look?

"[NAME]

[ADDRESS]

[CONTACT INFO]

Email: [EMAIL]

Phone: [PHONE]

Date: [DATE]

Royal Thai Embassy

[EMBASSY ADDRESS]

(Submitted via Hanoi Embassy Processing)

Subject: Self-Employment Letter for Destination Thailand Visa (Workcation Category)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I, [NAME], am the sole founder, owner, and operator of [BUSINESS NAME], a well-established enterprise registered in the United States ([BUSINESS ID]). I established the company single-handedly in [FOUNDING YEAR], and over the past two decades, it has evolved into a robust operation based in [LOCATION], delivering top-tier services to a diverse, international clientele, with all revenue sourced exclusively from non-Thai markets.

I am applying for the Destination Thailand Visa to manage my business remotely from Thailand, drawing on my extensive expertise in entrepreneurship and remote leadership.

As the visionary who built [BUSINESS NAME] from scratch, I oversee all critical aspects remotely, including financial management (such as bill payments and credit transactions), staff compensation through secure digital platforms, innovative marketing to expand my global client base, and comprehensive operational coordination.

These duties are performed entirely online using advanced tools like email, cloud-based systems, and virtual communication, ensuring I maintain full control without any need for a physical presence in Thailand or engagement in local work.

On-site daily operations in [LOCATION], such as client scheduling and equipment upkeep, are expertly handled by my brother, [BROTHER'S NAME], who serves as the on-site manager, guaranteeing smooth functionality while I focus on strategic oversight from afar.

My income is derived solely from [BUSINESS NAME], with regular weekly transfers of [WEEKLY AMOUNT] from the business account to my personal account at [BANK NAME], yielding an annual income of approximately [ANNUAL AMOUNT].

Additionally, I maintain a substantial personal savings balance of [SAVINGS AMOUNT] at [BANK NAME], as evidenced by the enclosed bank statements, tax returns, and supporting financial documents.

These resources affirm my financial independence and ability to sustain myself during my stay in Thailand.

I solemnly affirm that my professional activities fully comply with Thai immigration regulations, as all income originates outside Thailand from non-Thai sources, and I will not participate in any local employment, business ventures, or services within Thailand.

I am fully committed to adhering to all visa conditions and am prepared to submit additional documentation, such as my business registration or further financial proof, if required.

Thank you for considering my application. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of enriching Thailand's dynamic workcation community while continuing to expand my business remotely. Please feel free to contact me at [EMAIL] or [PHONE] for any additional information.

Sincerely,

[Your Handwritten Signature if Printed]

[NAME]

Owner, [BUSINESS NAME]

I’m applying for a DTV Workcation visa in Hanoi, where I’m currently located, as a U.S. business owner.

I have all my documents ready: bank statements (USD 17,000 savings, weekly USD 1,000 transfers), tax returns, self-employment letter, and hotel confirmation.

I’m confused about the apostille for my business registration. The embassy says it proves my business’s legitimacy, but it takes 1-2 weeks to get from Utah. Some say Hanoi might accept a non-apostilled certified copy if financial proof is strong.

Has anyone applied for the Workcation DTV as a business owner in Hanoi? Did you need the apostille, or was a certified business registration enough? Any tips? Thanks!

🎉 DTV Approved! 🎉

Great news - I just got my Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) approved today under the Self-Employment/Business category! 🇹🇭💼

Here’s my timeline:

📅 Submitted: 6th October (Ho Chi Minh City)

📄 Additional Docs Requested: Proof of company income (10th October)

📈 Submitted: Company’s yearly turnover data

✅ Approved: Around 2 hours ago! (14th October)

Initial Documents Submitted:

* Passport (India)

* Client Invoices

* Personal & Company Bank Statements

* Vietnam Entry Stamps

* Tentative Arrival & Stay Details in Thailand

Feeling relieved and excited to start the next chapter! 🙌✨

Thank you so much for all the help and support in this group - really appreciate it!

Hello I'm applying in Hanoi in 2 weeks.

I’m a remote software engineer and self-employed, should I apply through the freelance or business owner pathway ?

I don’t have a salary or employment contract per se, since I pay myself through dividends and cash compensations.

However, I do have a tax return showing a good income (under a different tax/company structure last year).

I’d appreciate any guidance on how to best structure or present my application.

I only stay 6 days in Hanoi before moving back in Thailand by the way, hope it's enough...

Which country would you recommend for applying the DTV? I've heard that, Vietnam should be good?

I should have all requirements and i work online Self-employed as digital Onlinemarketing Freelancer. I have around 600.000 THB on my private wise account since 6 months and contracts with my clients. Should I also apply as freelancer or owner with LLC? I happy to hear from you guys :)

Would like some advice / insights 🙂

DTV on brand new company?

I’ve been working for my employer in my homecountry for years.

I’m going to quit this job, start my own business (so it’s completely new) and work on projects from my current employer.

The only difference is I was salaried until now, and will be self-employed then.

My current employer can write a letter, explaining the situation and letting me work online from Thailand. Of course I can also write a letter myself / from my company.

Would you think this will be accepted for the DTV, as my company will be brand new?