Hi all ! Just wanted to share back my experience about my DTV application (and a successful one 🥳) in case it can help someone here.

I am french, sole owner of my company, I applied for workcation as freelancer, at the embassy of Hanoi, Vietnam.

Applied as soon as I passed immigration at Hanoi's airport, added my passport stamp with the booking of my hotel to the website, everything else was already uploaded and saved, validated, and payed arround 3pm Monday 28th of October.

I believe the next morning (tuesday 29/10), the website was showing "Pending approuval" and it was the case until Tuesday the week after, when it got approuved at 9:50am (05/11) 🥳. It took 7 working days counting the day I applied and the day I received it.

No extra document were requested, it was simple, but a bit stressful to wait, and check the website regurlarly.

I saw someone give that advice on this goup, and I have to agree and give the same one. Save yourself some stress, and book yourself a week even though you could have it in less 😊

Documents I gave :

- Passport + identity picture

- Stamp of entry in Vietnam + booking of my hotel

- Document signed by my bank confirming in english that I had more than 500 000 THB on one of my banking account + a monthly from 2 months ago of that banking account

- A PDF document with on the first page a summary of the documents inside the pdf, which were :

- Letter to explain nature of sole proprietorship business, with links to my website, YouTube channel, Instagram, and LinkedIn profile

- English translation of my website (screenshots translated on Deepl)

- 1 invoice in french and english

- Document of ownership of sole proprietorship business in french and english

- Tax certificate of 2023 of my company in french and english

- August 2023 Turnover in french and english

Hope it can help someone :)

Los Angeles Consulate - I've been a freelancer/remote worker for 3 years but I now only have one main long-term client I've been with since February 2023 (almost 2 years, we renew our contract every year as I usually increase my retainer rates). Has anyone had similar experience and/or will this timeframe impact my application in anyway?

Has anyone received a dtv visa in HCMC as a freelancer but without company? Is it even possible?

Under freelance self employed dtv, has anyone tried putting in trading your own stock portfolio for income as a freelance digital nomad skill?

Was it accepted?

Got my DTV Visa today, woohoo!!

Thanks for all the help from this group!

I applied in Penang, Malaysia (I'm Malaysian).

Application Fee: RM 0 (For Malaysians and some other nationalities).

Applied for DTV Freelance.

Started the application on 20/10/2024.

Received it on 24/10/2024.

Documents I provided:

* Passport page

* Photo (I just took a normal photo and cropped it to the required size)

* Bank statement (I initially provided a screenshot of my current bank statement online. They asked for additional financial documents, so I submitted a 3-month bank statement and 6 months of my current Thailand bank statement. Only my current bank statement showed more than 500k. I also provided an explanation letter as to why the usual bank statement didn't show over 500k, and they accepted it.)

* My portfolio with income tax records and contracts (I applied as a freelancer).

That's all I did to get my DTV Visa. Hoping to enter Thailand with a big smile at immigration!

DTV approved in Hanoi.

Applied on Monday and I was emailed yesterday saying it’s approved. Collected today. Here’s my experience in some detail:

For context, I’m a UK citizen working in freelance digital marketing. I booked the appointment online through the embassy website a week before (plenty availability).

I provided:

- Airbnb confirmation showing I was in Hanoi.

- Flight confirmation showing when I arrived in Hanoi (likely unnecessary as passport stamp will show this)

- Last 6 months of bank statements showing more than the 500k requirement. Submitted month descending showing the latest on top.

- A letter from a client saying I do freelance work for them.

- Contractor agreement from that one client.

- Invoices for the last 4 months from that client.

TLDR:

- write a contents page and make it easy for someone to read and understand your supporting documents.

- Have a read of the generic application form online first before arriving at the embassy so you know what to write.

- Search “Hanoi” in this group and read the posts from other people.

- Have patience and stay cool.

I had around 65 pages of supporting documents. I got this all printed at a copy shop in da nang for 30k. I saw others in this group write a contents page so I did the same. Each supporting documents type had a number with a circle on each front page and then referenced on the contents page in a very short summary. Makes it’s much easier to digest each document. All documents stapled together for each document type.

On Monday I showed up 20 mins before the appointment time. No one checked if I had an appointment. Went in and filled out the generic visa application form. Tick other and write DTV as there’s no option on the form. For reference it’s the same form that’s available on the HCMC embassy website. I joined the line for the counter. Two people serving but not many people in the line (at 11am). Other people in the line were asked for further evidence such as tax forms/latest bank statement before the application can be submitted but not sure if they were applying for DTV.

The staff checked over my application. Only feedback was a few missing fields on the generic visa application. The lady helped me with what to write. She reviewed all my documents and didn’t ask for anything more. Took the 340USD (crisp bills which I got from Quang Huy Gemstone shop). She then gives you a paper to keep with reference number on it. My time at the counter was much quicker than others and I think it’s down to the contents page making it easier for them to check. Highly recommend doing one. Was told it will take 3 working days to process but it took 2.

I returned to the embassy today with the reference paper. Staff told me to wait at the window outside and the same lady returned my passport with the visa sticker inside. Overall a pleasant experience with no problems.

Before I applying I did search “Hanoi” in this group and read most posts. It was really helpful and thanks to all who contributed 🙏.

Comment with any questions.

DTV visa approved today as a nomad photographer, I sell photos through online microstock agencies.

E-visa from the Thai Embassy in France.

* Screenshots of the first page of several portfolios, with text introduction explaining my work and clarifying that I do not receive any money from a Thai agency.

* Very important: copy of my registered personal business status (INSEE in France)

* 1 month of bank account statements

Submitted the application online on September 3rd, and a lady from the embassy called 14 days later to request clickable links to my portfolios for verification, while noting that my file was excellent. September 26th: DTV visa approval.

Looking for suggestions for a DTV category to apply under. There are so many options and I'm trying to narrow it down. What are some of the easiest ones to get?

DTV (freelance) application approved ✅

I haven’t read of any freelancers applying, mainly remote workers and soft power so thought i’d share my experience.

Friday 16th. application sent with following evidence

- Passport photo

- Photo of actual passport

- Bank statement showing current address in the UK

- The same bank statement to show proof of funds

- Pdf document with links to my “professional portfolio”

Monday 19th.

Application status update.

Additional info required.

- Professional portfolio links supplied not working, please provide alternative

- Self assessment tax return / Statement of accounts / Accountant's letter / Personal tax calculation or computation statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

Additional info supplied

- Pdf document with screenshots of portfolio instead of links

- Pdf document with cover letter explaining what i do as a freelancer and proof of where my funds came from (house sale)

Tuesday 20th - visa approved

Worth mentioning that i’m a British Citizen and currently in the UK so went through the London consulate.

Would like you guys' advice on my situation:

I would like to get the DTV, but having some doubts.

Context:

I have been in-and-out of Thailand trying to maximize my stay for about 5 years, always on a TR visa. This is because my boyfriend moved to Bangkok in 2019, and he was able to get a Thai passport because he was born in Thailand.

I always brought supporting documents like our appartment lease and his invitation letter + his ID card copy to help me pass immigration. During my last stay this started becoming harder. Despite having a multiple entry TR visa, the immigration officers started grilling me extensively on every entry, and despite being understanding of my situation, they insisted every time I had to get a different visa and I might be refused entry next time.

At this point I am not comfortable anymore going back on a TR visa and facing this same scenario again (being grilled, facing the risk of being rejected at immigration, doing visa runs every 2 months...)

Since I am a freelance web developer, the DTV seems ideal for me.

However:

- With the TR visa, immigration makes issues if they suspect you of trying to stay in Thailand year-round. I wonder if this also applies to the DTV. Because technically I would like to be able to stay year-round, aside from the occasional trip.

- I do not have a bank account with 500k THB or equivalent. I can loan this from my parents and put it on an account, but this won't make for a 6-month statement of 500k+.

This makes me worry I will face an issue getting it.

Alternatively, we could look into a spouse visa. But this might require me to wait for a while. Thailand is due to allow same-sex marriage this year, which will be a matter of months now. It is not clear yet how this will play into our ability to get married in Thailand (as a Thai national and a foreign national), or the ability to have a foreign marriage recognized. We aren't married yet but we've been together for 11 years now and we are engaged. That being said, the DTV seems like a better solution while we wait this out.

Any advice or insights much appreciated :)