DTV Visa Approved in Just 4 Working Days

I recently helped my friend successfully apply for a Digital Thailand Visa (DTV). As an immigration case worker, I have experience in this field, but I found the DTV process straightforward enough for anyone to handle with the right preparation.

APPLICATION TIMELINE:

• Submission Date: Dec 10, 12:03 AM

• Request for Additional Documents: Dec 12, 11:48 AM

• Approval Received: Dec 13, 6:48 PM

Processing Time: 4 working days

Submission Route: Workcation

Issue Place: Royal Thai Embassy, Hanoi

Application Method: Thai eVisa Portal ([members only]/)

APPLICANT’S BACKGROUND:

• Employment: Remote worker since July 2022

• Immigration history: Applicant has traveled to Thailand and stayed multiple times using the 60-day visa exemption. He has also extended a tourist visa while inside Thailand. I initially thought about addressing this point to the visa officer but ultimately decided to ignore it.

DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED (DEC 10, 12:03 AM):

1. Cover Letter (Optional but Recommended): Helps visa officers understand your circumstances, reasons for applying, and facilitates faster decision-making.

2. Employment Reference Letter

3. Employment Contract

4. Payslips (Last 6 Months)

5. Bank Statements (Last 3 Months): Showed a minimum balance of 500,000 THB. (Tip: The fund doesn't need to have been in the account for months; transferring it before submission is acceptable.)

6. Passport

7. Resume

8. National ID (Proof of Current Location for Vietnamese applicants)

Note: All documents must be translated into English.

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS (DEC 12, 11:48 AM):

After submission, we received a request for the following:

1. Employment Contract, Certificate, or Professional Portfolio: Must showcase status as a digital nomad, remote worker, freelancer, or foreign talent.

2. Company's Business Registration

***Important Note for Remote Workers:

• Ensure your employer’s business registration document is ready for submission in case it's requested.

• Your employment reference letter must explicitly state that you are a “remote worker.”

APPROVAL RECEIVED (DEC 13, 6:48 PM):

After submitting the additional documents, the visa was approved in just 18 hours.

TIPS FOR A SMOOTH DTV APPLICATION:

1. Organize Employment Documents:

- Combine the following into a single PDF file: Cover Letter, Employment Reference Lette, Payslips, Employment Contract, Resume

- Add a table of contents for clarity. (See the attached image for reference.)

2. File Naming:

Use clear and organized file names for each document. (Example: "Your Full Name_Document Name.pdf")

3. Employer Business Registration:

Request this document from your employer in advance.

4. Clear Mention of Remote Work:

Ensure your employment contract or reference letter states you are a “remote worker.”