French citizen rejected in Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam for soft power with 1 month course in a reputable Muay Thai gym in Phuket. I shown 3 months of >500k bank statements and highly-paid freelance invoices as proof of funds. I don't know what to do more, contacting an agent? I have only 2 weeks left in Vietnam, I can maybe modify my plans to have 2 weeks more.

Sorry if it’s asked a lot but re: freelancers on a DTV visa staying more than 6 months per year ..how hard is it to get a tax ID to start paying tax in Thailand? I’ve heard banks are reluctant to give them to folk on DTV

Hi, can you apply for workation dtv if you don't have tax slips or even pay tax. Where I come from if you are not living there you don't pay tax on income earned abroad or even income from local companies you freelance for.

I have not been in a country long enough to become tax resident either since turning freelance a few months ago.

I have an exclusive contract as consultant and can provide contract and invoices but those invoices are in my name not a business name, I don't have a business. Can of course provide screenshot, proof of work, company will write a letter and so it is just this tax thing that concerns me.

Thanks very much

I just had my DTV (workcation) approved from Canberra, Australian Embassy.

Applied July 1st, asked for more documentation (proof of being able to work overseas) on the 4th and approval came through last night (30th of July).

A few things I've seen people ask about:

I had a sponsorship letter from my parents

I am a freelancer and wrote a letter on behalf of myself with my own company letterhead.

There was some good advice in this FB page, so thank you!

I just got my DTV visa in Dubai - and it was a mistake 😅

A little background about me. I’m a content creator based in Dubai. I have a 10-year Golden Visa residency in the UAE thanks to my work with the Dubai Media Office. This kind of visa allows me to live, work, and even open a business in Dubai without the need for a sponsor (like an employer), which regular work visas don’t allow.

But I recently quit that job to become a freelancer and travel more.

Excited about the new chapter, I started my DTV application in Dubai on June 8, 2025. I prepared all the required documents:

* A full portfolio as a freelance content creator, with contracts and receipts for paid work (shout-out to a helpful group member who guided me with this!)

* Financial proof of having more than 500K THB in my bank account

* My apartment lease in Dubai and a recent electricity bill as proof that I reside outside Thailand

I submitted the application and paid 1,500 AED (around $408).

A week later, I got a request for additional documents: a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from an employer and a work permit in Dubai, which I didn’t have anymore, since I had quit.

So I wrote myself an NOC explaining that I’m a freelancer and outlined my visa status in the UAE, and then resubmitted the application.

A week after that, they asked for a freelancer permit (in Dubai, it’s mandatory to have one if you’re working with brands or doing paid collaborations as a content creator). I was already in the process of applying for it and once it was issued (which cost me 7,500 AED, approx. $2,000 per year), I uploaded it and waited for their response.

A few days later, I got an email from the Royal Consulate of Thailand in Dubai requesting an in-person interview. They asked me to bring my:

* Original passport

* Emirates ID

* New bank statement from the past 3 months showing over 500K THB with a wet stamp from the bank

* Round-trip plane tickets

* Confirmed hotel reservation

The appointment was within a week.

I prepared everything and I went to the consulate, I was the first person there.

A nice lady came over, took my passport and residency ID, and began the interview, right there, standing in the waiting area. She asked me to:

* Show my social media profile

* Share examples of paid collaborations

* Show my bank balance using my bank’s mobile app, including some payment transactions from clients

* Explain my intentions for the DTV visa, whether I planned to work in Thailand or create travel content (I told her I make science and technology videos only)

Then she said, “Okay, please upload all of these documents to the online portal.”

When I got home, I found new document requests on the Thai visa portal (as written on the online portal):

1. Financial evidence (again, the same one I showed in the interview)

2. Fully-paid round-trip airline tickets from airline

3. A condo rental agreement in Bangkok or a PDF file of a confirmed hotel reservation covering the full trip

4. My Dubai apartment rental agreement (which I had already uploaded before)

I uploaded all the new documents.And just like that… the next day, the visa was approved!

I’m so happy it worked out in the end, but the process was long, stressful, and expensive, it took almost 40 days. Looking back, I probably should’ve just gone to Vietnam or another country where people seem to get the DTV in a week or so.

Also, I think my Iraqi passport may have raised some red flags, which could have made the process more complicated. Honestly, I might be the first Iraqi to ever get a DTV visa 😅

So yeah… I don’t recommend applying for the DTV from Dubai, especially if you’re a freelancer and don’t already have all the official permits in place.

Thanks to this group for all the support and helpful info! Wishing everyone good luck with your applications 💙🌏✈️

Hello all, would appreciate your input!

I am looking to apply for my DTV in a few months, through the Australian Canberra Embassy.

I've very recently started freelancing (less than a month ago), so my current income is still quite low (indefinite/permanent contract for $1000 AUD a month, but potential to increase with more clients in the coming months). I'll also definitely be able to fulfill the 500k THB requirement.

Does anyone have experience as a freelancer getting approved for your DTV, especially with a "lower" income?

Hello, I am currently in Thailand and will soon start freelancing. I have seen several people doing the DTV process from Vietnam. I would like to know if I can telework for a few weeks from Vietnam to justify my income? Is it legally allowed? and which kind of visa do I need in Vietnam? (I am French)

For those of you who applied soft power in Hanoi were you asked for proof of income? I can't really tell if this is an informal requirement or not. I have ~650k in savings but I'm currently unemployed and unsure if this is an issue. In my free time I would like to pick up some freelance work but don't currently have any clients or paystubs.

Hey folks!

I’m considering to apply for the Digital Tourist Visa (DTV) from Singapore and trying to figure out the Digital Nomad vs Soft Power routes.

For the Digital Nomad track—does anyone know if you *have* to have a registered business, or can freelancers get by with just a portfolio? Also, if you have your own company, does your own company letter work for the “letter from company” thing?

And for Soft Power—are there specific companies or activities you have to be with? Any minimum time you need to do them?

Would love to hear how it worked for you or what you’ve heard. Thanks!

Hello group ✨

I have a question about the legality of online employment when applying for the Soft power Muay Thai DTV visa. Is it legal to work online for an overseas company in this visa category? From what I’ve read in the group and online, many who applied for soft power are showing income from overseas (and they ask for proof) so it seems ok, but it’s not the workcation option and legally it seems a bit grey.

Is it better to say unemployed or student?

I’m applying from Hanoi this week and a little worried now with posts about rejections…

Thank you 🙏🏼