Is it difficult to apply for a DTV visa at the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur?

Hi lovely people 🌞 Does anyone have experience with applying for the DTV from Singapore on the basis of freelance work even when you aren’t a Singaporean citizen? Any guidance and experience is much appreciated, thanks! 🙏

Hi everyone!

First of all, I’d like to sincerely thank all members of this group for sharing your experiences, insights, and real cases.

It’s incredibly helpful and honestly makes this whole DTV journey feel much more clear and achievable 🙏❤️

I’ve been reading a lot, but I still have a few questions and would really appreciate your advice:

✅1. Workation vs Soft Power (financial requirements)

Am I correct in understanding that there is a difference in how financial proof is evaluated between Workation and Soft Power categories?

🧐Workation seems to imply having a stable ongoing income (like a digital nomad model),

while Soft Power might be more about demonstrating a sufficient total balance on the account.

❓Is this interpretation correct? Or are both categories assessed in the same way in practice?

➡️My situation:

I’m a freelancer based in the Middle East with a small licensed freelance business (trade license).

Due to the current situation in the region, my bank account activity in the past month hasn’t been very active, although I do have the required total balance.

❓Has anyone applied recently from the Middle East?

Have you experienced any issues or additional scrutiny based on that region?

✅2. Bank statements (format issue)

My bank provides statements instantly via email, but they come without a physical stamp (only a digitally printed one).

❓Do you think this could be an issue for the embassy?

Would it be safer to request a hard copy with an official stamp?

🧐Also, if yes — how do people usually handle scanning large statements (3–6 months)?

That would be quite a lot of pages and a heavy PDF file.

➡️Application location

I’m planning to apply in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Russian passport + UAE residency.

Would appreciate if anyone with a similar case could share their experience 🙏❤️

My DTV just got approved from Jakarta.

Total application time: 23 days. No interview. 3 additional document requests.

Type: Workation. I work remotely for a company.

Applied on 2nd March. Uploaded 3 months proof of funds, proof I'm in Indonesia, a letter from my employer stating remote work capability and salary.

10th march - request proof I'm still in Indonesia, and upload all pages of passport.

16th march - request proof of company registration and 3 months bank statement that salary was paid into.

17th march - request 3 months bank statement with salary paid into with salary payments highlighted.

25th march - visa approved.

Hi Everyone,

I am looking to apply for a DTV1 workation visa, as a PhD student/academic with a regular income (stipend from the Economic Social & Research Council).

Does anyone have any experience with this type of application? There isn't really any other suitable visa that I can apply for?

Thanks for any input!

Has anyone experience with handing in non-English bank statements (and payslips) at an embassy outside of your home country?

For example I’m German and I apply for workation DTV in Vietnam and I am a bit lost of how to provide TRANSLATIONS of the bank statements of the last 3-6 months. It basically consists of numbers only and is like 20 pages long, so it would take forever to translate that. It’s an actual German bank so no wise or revolut account. Does anyone have an idea for that? Thanks in advance

Has anyone applied from Australia?

Looking for what that process & wait time would look like? TIA

Applied on March 10 at 11:30 → Pending approval on March 11 → Approved on March 17 at 12:30 (Workation Visa).

Thanks to the awesome people in this group supporting each other. ❤️

So I submitted at Los Angeles consulate yesterday under workation. Pretty quickly in 2 hours they asked for additional documents - some of which didn’t make sense.

1) they asked for proof of funds again as if they didn’t understand or even see my proof of funds. I believe the issue with that is my latest statement isn’t ready till end of month so the front account activity page even though had my name and bank account and well over required balance (32ku$d) showing wasn’t “counted” by them. So I have to request a VOD and stamped letter from my bank and try again. Or what else can I do?

2) tax document is only new item they requested which I will give.

3) document relevant to DTV visa - again I had a over 6 page portfolio pdf as free lancer for workcation explaining even income showing, but it appears they didn’t even look at it. My cover letter even explained I will not work with any Thai company or get a thai bank account and$ is the least of my concerns.

But having said that - I will try again to clearly give them what they need and hope I get approved. Thanks and appreciate your thoughts 🙏

I applied to DTV with the Hong Kong Thai Embassy under Workation.

They are requesting additional documents:

* Financial evidence: an amount of no less than 500,000 THB, (e.g., bank statements for the last three months, sponsor letter): [Information without redacted/withheld] ‘latest 3-month’ full bank statement with applicant’s name showing account activity details in English [balance each month not less than 150,000HKD or equivalent]

* Letter issued by employer addressed to the Royal Thai Consulate-General Hong Kong stating status/position of applicant, duration of position details, salary/remuneration and work space detail/condition with authorized person signature, with signatory's ID

It seems they are requesting >500,000 THB for each month (not only the latest month). Month 3 fills this requirement but for month 1 and 2, I can prove with Interactive Brokers but not with a bank account.

Also, for the letter issued by employer, I am the owner of the company and already drafted a work authorization letter. I did not disclose duration of position, or salary or work space details (not sure what that means).

Anyone else went through the same request for additional documents?