Just got my DTV in Cambodia today, no interview. So thankful for all your help. Good luck everyone. 😀

DTV Visa Success from Jakarta!

But I wanted to share an unusual document request I encountered during the process.

Context:

* French passport

* Four previous consecutive visa exemptions

* Six months of bank statements with a balance over 500,000 THB

* Six-month soft power course at Arun Thai Cooking School

I received my DTV visa in two weeks. However, the Thai embassy first requested a copy of every page of my passport, and then something unexpected: official documentation confirming that the soft power course is offered by a school accredited by the Thai Ministry of Education.

I was surprised by this requirement, as I wasn’t aware it was necessary for the DTV visa. I contacted Arun Thai Cooking School and discovered that they are not officially accredited. In fact, it turns out that in Bangkok, the only accredited cooking school is the expensive Bangkok Thai Cooking School.

Following advice from my visa agent, we asked Arun Thai Cooking School to provide a clarification letter explaining the situation. The letter highlighted their professionalism and commitment to the DTV program and included a few photos. Fortunately, they responded quickly with a perfect letter — and my visa was approved the very next day.

I highly recommend Arun Thai Cooking School for their great support, and a big thanks to my visa agent Ben (Line: bkjan), who provided excellent and affordable assistance throughout the application process (3,000 THB for assistance!).

Today I did my second 90 day reporting at central Festival Chiang Mai. Very straightforward. The shopping centre opens at 11, but you can go to immigration from 9. Just ask the guy on the gate.

I also picked up a re-entry form for my imminent visit to the Uk.

[English version below]

🇫🇷 hello to all! I'm contacting you to know if anyone here is currently living in Thailand on a Digital Work Visa (DTV) while being employed on a Permanent Contract (CDI) in a French company. I’m exploring this avenue myself and would really appreciate the opportunity to ask some practical questions about how you set things up, both with your employer and from a administrative/legal perspective. If you're up for a quick chat or share your experience, feel free to send me a private message or leave a comment below. Thanks in advance for your help! 🙏😊

🇫🇷 Hello everyone!

I’m reaching out to see if anyone here is currently living in Thailand on a Digital Work Visa (DTV) while being employed on a permanent contract (CDI) with a French company.

I’m exploring this path myself and would really appreciate the chance to ask a few practical questions about how you set things up—both with your employer and from an administrative/legal point of view.

If you’re open to a quick chat or sharing your experience, please feel free to DM me or drop a comment below. Thanks in advance for your help! 🙏😊

-------------

[English version below]

🇫🇷 Bonjour à tous ! Je vous contacte pour savoir si quelqu'un ici vit actuellement en Thaïlande avec un visa de travail numérique (DTV) tout en étant employé en contrat permanent (CDI) dans une entreprise française. J'explore moi-même cette voie et j'apprécierais vraiment d'avoir l'opportunité de poser quelques questions pratiques sur la façon dont vous mettez les choses en place, tant avec votre employeur que d'un point de vue administratif/juridique. Si vous êtes prêt à discuter rapidement ou à partager votre expérience, n'hésitez pas à m'envoyer un message privé ou à laisser un commentaire ci-dessous. Merci d'avance pour votre aide ! 🙏😊

🇫🇷 Hello everyone!

I’m reaching out to see if anyone here is currently living in Thailand on a Digital Work Visa (DTV) while being employed on a permanent contract (CDI) with a French company.

I’m exploring this path myself and would really appreciate the chance to ask a few practical questions about how you set things up—both with your employer and from an administrative/legal point of view.

If you’re open to a quick chat or sharing your experience, please feel free to DM me or drop a comment below. Thanks in advance for your help! 🙏😊

Hi guy's just some details of my successful DTV application in Vientiane.

46yr old male retired fighter.

Application for soft power Muay Thai.

Landed in Vientiane on Sunday 18/05.

Went to the embassy Monday 19/05 to complete payment for my application.

Received an email Wednesday 21/05 to send a different passport photo, the one I originally sent is the same one used on previous official thai government documents so I just sent the same one again and it was accepted lol, it seems in Vientiane no matter how perfect your application is they will find at least 1 fault, I've seen this with almost everyone I've spoken to in Vientiane that applied. Maybe it's a way for them to gain more time to deal with the high volume of applicant's 🤷.

Monday the 26/05 it went to pending approval.

Wednesday the 28/05 I received an email to attend an interview on 05/06.

Saturday 31/05 I received an email to say my interview had been cancelled and will be rescheduled, 4 hrs later I received another email with an interview date on the same day it was originally set for but just 4 hrs later.

Thursday 05/06 I attended my interview, something to be aware of when attending your interview. The wifi and 5g are extremely bad around the embassy area, this caused problems opening the banking apps to show proof of funds and transactions and it wasn't only me there was several of us freaking out as we waited for our turn.

Thankfully after 30 mins of trying to open my banking apps just as I was about to walk up the stairs for my interview my app opened, I can't tell you the relief and happiness it brought 🤣🤣🤣.

I walked into the interview room and before he even got to say a word i said please sir can you check my banking app straight away please, I explained about the issues and he said yes no problem and understand as it was happening often to others.

He looked at my UK account statement's which has a high balance in it and asked me to show the transitions going from my UK account to my investment account (crypto) and from there to my Thai bank account.

This took under 1 minute.

He then asked what will you do in Thailand, I said I will be training Muay Thai everyday as I've been doing it almost every day for the last 35 yrs.

I'm a retired fighter but still train every day.

I had a letter from the Muay Thai school confirming that I paid for 1 yr and pictures of me on the Muay Thai gym's official Facebook page training there.

I also attached 1 yr of medical insurance to cover extreme sports in Asia, this wasn't required but it made my application stronger.

The whole interview was 2-3 minutes as I had everything well prepared and ready to show.

He said ok that's all I need from you and you will get an email today with the results of your application.

As I was walking down the stairs from my interview I received my approval email, around 20 seconds after leaving the interview room.

I went to the print shop near by to get my DTV certificate printed for immigration then jumped in a taxi and straight to the airport.

I had booked my flights the day prior, if you book them on the same day they are usually double the price.

For anyone thinking about applying in Laos I would advise to choose a different country. There are so many better options.

Vientiane is a horrible city, the rds and paths are all torn up, the pollution and dust are crazy on your throat and chest there is litter everywhere and there is absolutely nothing to do and very few people around.

I got stuck there for 8 days.

I then moved to Vang veing for 6 days, it is an absolutely beautiful area with lots of outdoor activities to do, it's 1 hr on the train for Vientiane. Again all paths etc torn up but anything is better than Vientiane 🤣🤣

I then moved to Luang prabang for 3 days, 1 hr from Vang veing on the train which was very different from the other places, good rds and paths and a very clean town. There are lots of little restaurants and bars but again not many people around.

Also allow for an extra $2-3,000 for expenses over the 3+ week stay

Hope this information helps.

If anyone needs some help or advice I'm more than happy to help.

It can be quite a stressful experience but it really doesn't need to be.

It's better to take advice from people that have been through the process rather than from people that read about it.

Have a great Day guy's 😎😎😀

Approved Vientiane.

Get me out of this Horrible place.

I will write up the full details tomorrow.

I was just curious has anyone with a LTR ever done the 1 year reporting. I doubt many have because most people will fly out a least once a year. Were you notified? what was the process?

Do not apply DTV visa with the Embassy in Canberra…so slow

Just got my DTV in Ho Chi Minh city! Landed on the 15th May, sent in my application via Issa Compass ([members only]/) and it was approved on the 26th May. They're a great visa agent that doesn't charge too much, and they also offer a refund if your application is unsuccessful!

I applied via Thai soft power with Arun Thai Cooking school for a 12 month program which offers a variety of different programs depending on your need. The entire process was really smooth and they were responsive and answered all the questions I had.

Highly recommend!

Hi Guys, normal ? it's been 4-5 working days (not including local national holidays) :/