Hi everyone,

I’m from the UK but currently in Bangkok, Thailand, and I’m looking to apply for the 5-year DTV visa. I understand that I need to leave the country to complete the application. Could anyone recommend the best nearby country where I can get my application approved in the shortest amount of time?

Additionally, do I need to physically visit a Thai embassy to complete the application, or is there an option to apply online? I already have all the required documentation, including proof of 500,000 THB in funds.

Thanks in advance for your advice in advance!

Has anyone in Australia applied for a workaction DTV recently and supplied their girlfriend's address as where they will be staying? Any problems encountered with this or additional questions asked (e.g. need copy of house book, ID card etc)?

I am going to get her to right a short letter of invite, but not sure if it needs to be handwritten and hand signed (as opposed to signed digitally which does not prove it came from her) , or whether it is better to be in Thai or English?

TIA.

Hi all,

I recently had my DTV approved in just 72 hours! I’m from the UK and applied from London.

This forum has been incredibly helpful during my process, so I thought I’d give back by sharing my experience and offering to answer any questions about the process.

For my application, I was asked to provide an employment contract and a recent utility bill, and I was approved the next day.

One piece of advice: Be super thorough when checking the details on your application. For example, the numbers automatically uploaded from your passport can sometimes be incorrect and may need to be manually corrected.

Also, don’t leave anything to chance. If you’re unsure about a particular question, don’t guess—take the time to find the correct information.

Taipei - DTV

Hi! I'm applying for a DTV visa workcation (freelancer) next week and I just wanted to check if I got all the documents I need. I've scanned these forums several times but I want to make sure I didn't miss anything.

* Application form with a visa photo

* Passport and passport copy

* Application fee 11,000 TWD

* Visa stamp Taiwan

* Hotel booking Taiwan

* Flight ticket to Taiwan and to Thailand

* Personal cover letter - Saying I'd love to work remotely in Thailand

* Company letter - Confirming that I work for them, I can work remotely from Thailand and they have no business presence in Thailand. Signed by the CTO

* Resume

* Work portfolio (UI/UX design)

* My 3 most recent invoices

* Bank account summary showing 500,000 THB

* Bank statement from past 6 months (incoming invoice payments highlighted)

Potential concerns

1. I'm a freelancer without a company so I don't have a company registration document etc. since I freelance as a private person. Neither am I an employee. I hope that wont be an issue.

2. I've only freelanced for 2 months but I have 1 paying customer who I have invoiced about 5000 Euros. Hope that will be OK as well.

Would love to get some feedback.

Thank you very much.

Which visa type is the DTV listed under?

Also, has anyone gone through the process in Singapore before?

DTV Success under workcation category from Vientiane, Laos.

Hi everyone,

First off, a big thank you to all the members here for sharing your valuable information and experiences! While this might not be relevant for many since Laos is transitioning to an eVisa system starting January 1st, 2025, I wanted to share my recent experience in case it helps anyone who secured an appointment before December 20th, 2024.

I applied under the *workcation* category as a remote worker for my US-based company. Here’s how my journey went:

I arrived in Vientiane on December 8th and visited the Thai Embassy on December 9th. They scheduled my passport collection for December 12th. The three-day wait was nerve-wracking, but everything turned out well in the end.

Here's how it went:

1.) I got to the Embassy gates at 8:15 AM and was second in line. Trust me, arriving early helps! By 8:45 AM, the line had grown to 30-40 people. Outside the gates, there were "agents" (or scammers) offering to "help" with documents. Avoid them—they charge 100 THB for the visa form that's available for free inside.

If you need Thai Baht for the visa fee, there’s a Thai bank (Kasikorn Bank) across the street. They open at 8:30 AM and offer currency exchange and ATM services.

2.) The gates opened promptly at 9:00 AM. A security officer guided us to a bench, where another officer casually reviewed our documents. He checked my appointment confirmation and marked my attendance. Once he confirmed I had all the required documents, he sent me to Counter #1.

3.) At Counter #1, I handed over my documents to the visa officer. Here are the documents I submitted:

* Laos eVisa letter + a copy of my Laos visa stamp.

* Passport and a copy of the ID page.

* Visa application form with two photos.

* Screenshot of my Thai Embassy appointment confirmation email.

* Laos hotel booking receipt.

* Rent agreement for my apartment in Thailand + Thai ID of my landlord.

* 6 months of personal bank statements showing over 500K THB (highlighted key info).

* 6 months of payslips.

* Employment verification and NOC letter (stating I’m allowed to work remotely).

* Copy of my employment contract.

* USA business registration documents of my company + ID of the owner.

* Personal portfolio booklet (professionally printed and bound).

* Screenshots of my LinkedIn and professional website.

* Last year’s income tax receipt from my home country.

4.) The officer was thorough, especially with my bank statements. She cross-checked them against my payslips and even asked me to show the current balance live on my banking app. After verifying everything, she accepted the documents, asked for 10K THB for the visa fee, and gave me a slip to collect my passport on December 12th between 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM.

5.) On December 12th, I arrived at the Embassy at 1:15 PM and was seventh in line. This time, the queue moved very quickly, with people receiving their passports within seconds once they reached the counter. I was in and out of the Embassy with my passport within 3 minutes.

I’m incredibly grateful for the advice I found in this group—it helped me navigate the process smoothly. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Good luck to everyone applying, and happy travels!

Hello everyone,

My husband applied and got his DTV visa in Hong Kong last month and we have moved to Thailand, and are in Bangkok currently. He entered with his DTV while I entered on visa exemption 60 days and now getting ready to apply for my spousal DTV.

Does anyone know if I have to go back to Hong Kong to apply or can I go to a Thai embassy in any neighbouring country?

Thanks in advance

Looking at submitting an application while in Laos in January. Tried to make appointment for the but system says none available and mentions the e-visa will start 1 January. Will it be online only started January 1 in Laos. If I am there, I apply online to Vientiane?

Hello

I am currently applying for the DTV visa from South Korea and have received an additional document request:

"Proof of Accommodation in Thailand: Lease Agreement or Invitation letter to the Royal Thai Embassy, Seoul. (Typed with sponsor’s signature including reason, period, pp no) to certify your stay (Upload Sponsor's PP and ID copy, etc)"

Since this visa cannot be applied for from within Thailand, how is it possible to submit a Lease Agreement? It is unrealistic to sign a rental contract online without even seeing the place.

Has anyone else encountered this request? If so, I would appreciate it if you could share how you resolved this issue.

Hi DVT Group, a few questions i need help with. When applying for the DTV via the Thai Embassy website in Aust, it requests flight dates including a return date. If buying a one way ticket what should this date be? Also, can you provide a flight number that has not yet been booked or do you recommend paying for flights before the DTV has been approved? Finally, is it a requirement to a minimum balance of 500,000 THB (approximately 22,985 AUD) in your bank account for at least three months prior to application?