I just arrived from Taipei to Chiang Mai 12/13/26 11:00.

The airport was not crowded.

Immigration had many officers waiting for us.

I showed the officer my DTV Visa stapled in the passport.

He asked no questions, smiled and said “ Welcome to Thailand."

I checked my passport and was correctly stamped in for 180 days.

NOTE: there was a typed document in multiple languages pasted on the immigration window saying, “Please show your hotel or address where you will be staying".

Remember this is one of the "3 Proofs"that we hear about. I was not asked but I had a reservation for a $4 hotel.

How many of you remember the other 2 "Proofs"?

We're a family of four, two kids aged one and five. We want an extended period here in Thailand before our oldest starts school in August 2026. Initially our holiday was 59 days with flight booked home. We'll have been here sixty days when we fly to Vietnam instead, where our plan is to apply for a six month multiple entry visa. We're more than happy to do some travel in other nearby countries during this six months to meet requirements. This should get us to July after which we plan to go home and not return to Thailand for several years.

Is this line of thinking reasonable and legal?

Hope this helps others:

I've applied for the DTV and the embassy wrote back to me with this comment: "DTV is not a tourist visa application, meaning of DTV is Destination Thailand Visa, omit the word Tourist visa".

Hopefully this helps others avoid that wording problem as I've seen many others in DTV-related facebook groups referring to DTV as a kind of tourist visa, apparently the Thai Embassy does not consider it as such.

So in short when referring to the visa in any of your application documents (e.g. letter from your employer) it can say "DTV" or "Destination Thailand Visa" but not "DTV Tourist Visa".

I’ve got tickets booked to arrive in Thailand next week. This will be my fourth visit for the year. Others being in March, June and October. Each visit, I stay for 3 weeks. Genuine tourist. Have return flight back to Australia paid for. Accomodation booked. Enough cash to pass the 20,000 baht test. Have I got anything to be concerned about? As in, entry refusal?

Been living and teaching in Vietnam for the almost 10 years but I feel like I need a change of scenery, so planning on moving to Bangkok sometime next year. On top of teaching, I also run a semi-successful YT channel on the side so don't want to teach full time, 15hrs a week is more than enough for me. Due to the channel, I haven't had time to get a PGCE unfortunately so I only have a TEFL.

I read online that I need to earn a certain amount each month in order to keep my visa, and that most schools don't support the visa costs/application, especially for a part timer - is this true? What are my options? I'm from the UK if that matters.

I see that you now can only travel to thailand on visa exemption two times in a calendar year (not 12 months), I have been there tree times this year and are traveling again in march, since that is a new calendar year, my previous trips don’t count anymore?

I have tried multiple times to submit my question about our situation which is obviously too complex for anyone to answer. But I will try again. Everyone is saying “Just get the right long term visa”and we would if we could. We are Kiwis so our visa application fees are literally four times the cost of every other country. Yes $2,000 for DTV or Retirement. DTV is not a great option for us because while we qualify for it, (I have ongoing contract software dev work) we do not know if we will want to keep going back for five years. So a rip off if we only use it once or twice for two months stay(s). Retirement is just a complete rip because we have to keep reapplying for it every year if we do keep going back to Thailand. We spent 140 days there this year and planning two x 60 day stays in 2026, who knows for 2027. Can’t work out what to do. Given the costs, what would be the right visa for us?

Hello 😊

I'm new here 👋

I'd like to ask you guys if I'm allowed to apply DTV Visa or what to do to get this visa.

I'm not working remote for company but only for myself. I have portfolio as I'm web designer and I have also real estate for rent in my country. But I'm not sure if this is ok for DTV visa. I have ofc 500k in Thai bank.

If above information is not enough what another way can I use to get this visa?

Thank for any advices.

Once the DTV visa approved how many days do you have to use it ?

Hey everybody, I don’t normally overshare but I definitely overthink! I’ve seen some very helpful responses within this group so I’m hoping that I get some solid advice. I’m a 54 year old Australian man who recently lost my job after going through a midlife crisis or mental breakdown & now a few health issues that are seemingly stress related!…. I’m currently receiving the help & medical so now looking for a recovery method plan.

On the 14/11/25 I sold an investment & I put the equivalent of $1.7 million baht into a interest savings account & plan to apply for the DTV visa on the 14/1/25 to fill the required 3 months without touching those funds.

I plan to utilise the soft power option & use a reputable Thai cooking class for 6 months! Due to my inexperience, I thought it best to apply from Australia but use an agent in conjunction with the Thai cooking class.

I will use seperate savings to fund the DVT, purchase flights accommodation etc. & have the equivalent value in cash on me of $150000 Thai baht on arrival. While I’ve travelled a lot to SE Asia over, Thailand in particular, I’ve only ever travelled as a tourist, never done border runs. My passport would be close to being within 6 months of expiry so I’ve purchased & received a new passport less than a month ago!

My questions are will the Embassy consider this application due to the fact that I’m currently unemployed?

The funds or time limit?

I was planning to purchase flights now for mid to late February? Can I book 1 way? Should I book return flights? Am I jumping the gun?

I know a lot hinges on my visa application but I really would like to get the ball rolling with confidence

TIA everyone

I appreciate any advice 🙏