Has anyone had the experience of being asked for a photo of every page of their passport... I'm applying at HCMC..they asked for this 3 days after I applied, just a little worried incase I did one too many border runs.thanks

Has anyone submitted bank documents using a JOINT BANK account? Is it ok to submit a joint account statement?

Hi all, my work in Singapore will likely end in March 2025 and I'm considering applying for DTV. Curious to know if I apply for it now, would there be an "expiry date" or deadline on when I need to enter Thailand with it? I'd like to apply for it early enough to make other plans in the event that it was unsuccessful. I'm holding a Canadian passport. Also, I'm not eligible to apply online through the Thai e-visa system in Singapore, do most people apply at their nearest Thai embassy? Thank you for your help!!

Does anyone have experience of applying for a DTV at the embassy in Lisbon? If not, can I ask for tips on how best to find out the requirements of specific embassies? (I now have the 500,000 baht but am wondering for how long Lisbon will expect to see it sitting in my bank account.)

Also, is it necessary for me to apply in Lisbon because I happen to be here at the moment? Or could one apply anywhere else (other than in Thailand itself)? Part of me would like to get on a plane asap and go out to South East Asia rather than waiting around here.

Hello Everyone!

My agent keeps telling me I need to leave Thailand to apply for for the Non B Visa.

It is curious because for the previous 2 times I did not have to. Is there a way to apply for a Non B while being in Thailand?

In case I do need to leave: Wheres the best embassy to apply and go to nearby Thailand that will take the least amount of days?

Thanks!

Can a Swedish citizen apply and pay online (while in Sweden) and then (if approved) bring their passport to the Embassy of Thailand in Stockholm to have the visa inserted into their passport? Or will the application and issuance require 2 separate visits to the Embassy? Apologies if this has already been stated before and my inability to use the search function annoys some members 🥲

I have 2 questions in the bottom.

But for some explanation.

I am pending approval for the DTV

Requirements 1 to 4 I have.

I am only missing no 5

I have paid the fee and they wanted additional information regarding being a freelancer.

( I have been self-employed since I was young )

Most of my customers and wholesale is done online from Danish customers ( I been living in Bulgaria since 2020 )

I have provided additional documents showing statements of remote work.

( I hope that it will get approved ).

However IF the additional documents is not proof enough, maybe because my income from this source is diminishing.

My focus since I left Denmark, is more on my investments.

Sow if not approved I am ready to apply again an the use the Thai soft power approach.

Proof of confirmation to attempt the activity.

Under Eligible Foreingers is sad

2 participates in activities such as

- Thai cooking classes

- Muay Thai courses 

I called the embassy in Bucharest to ask about the 5b and what Thai cocking class school / classes will count towards no 5 b Thai soft power. ?

The only answer I got it was a question back, if I was a cook.

That confuse me !

Is this correct that if I want to apply via 5 b Thai soft power Thai cooking classes.

I shall be a Cook first ?

Next question will be if I choose to take Muay Thai courses

Do I have to be a karate black belt 

 hope somebody can clarify this for me or point me in a direction where it stayed it more clearly than in the picture below.

Thanks 



DTV *DENIED* in Vientiane

TLDR: make sure the 500K THB is on your *personal checking* account.

Long version:

I was applying for the DTV as a digital nomad aka for the "workcation" reason, as I have a SMLLC in the US which I use for occasional consulting back home. My paperwork was all completely legit, and I was extremely careful to have everything printed out in advance, several copies, plenty of everything, nice presentation. Ran through a whole toner cartridge on it. I was keeping the funds in my business account precisely in order to underline how legit the whole thing was: it's a real company, I am the 100% sole owner, I have complete control of the money, etc.

Got to Vientiane -- if at all possible you should do the e-Visa in advance, on-arrival was 1700 THB and about 45 minutes of waiting in line. Prepared to go to the embassy in the morning. NOTE: the Consular Section is not the same buiding as the regular Embassy! Check the address on the visa website and make sure your cabbie goes to the right one.

Per advice on this forum I got there an hour early and they let me queue up. I was dressed respectfully, super polite. I had a photocopy of the Lao Visa on Arrival -- which takes up a full page in your passport -- but they also required a copy of the arrival stamp, which to my surprise was taking up another 1/4 page. (Random complaint but that means it's 1.5 pages in your passport to enter/exit Lao, in case you are running low.)

Wait in line, chat with a friendly fellow Falang next to me, and after about 20 minutes it was my turn. The lady behind the window was a bit curt but whatever, officials. She started going through the papers, handed back a few she didn't need, asked me if I'm the company owner, and after going through the company and bank docs she tells me:

"You need the money in your personal checking account, company account not OK."

I explained that I own the company 100% and for that and other reasons, I have full access to the money, it is in fact *my* money, as the company is *my* company. You could almost hear the gears grinding slowly in her head. She asked if I could transfer the money to my personal account? Sure, could do, but it's USA, that would take about four days, and I'm pretty sure if I come back again they will say "need six months." And anyway, the next appointment is in a month.

Her supervisor walked by and shook her head and that was that.

From that moment she went from curt to dismissive. In a moment fit for TikTok she pointed to the requirements (I'd brought a printout) and jabbed her finger at the spot that says "Financial evidence: amount of no less than 500,000 THB, e.g. bank statements, payslips, sponsorship letter" and said "personal checking account only!"

Then she waved me out with the rudest little table-dusting gesture I've ever seen. Off you go, little animal, better luck next time.

OK, fine, I'll season the money in a personal account and do it again in six months or so, but online and for a Thai basket-weaving class. Message received.

My takeaways, in case anybody might find them useful:

- Personal checking account only!

- Getting there early is worth it. Note the two embassy locations!

- Photocopying is easy across the street, 10 THB per.

- They're not trying to facilitate anything, just going down a checklist.

- Which is different at each Embassy of course, and not published anywhere.

- Your Serious Business is not "better" than online basket-weaving for this purpose.

- Don't overprepare, but do simplify: explaining is useless.

- Dressing up was unnecessary, shorts are fine.

On Vientiane:

- Visa On Arrival is a shit-show.

- Taxis are infrequent and overpriced; Tuktuks more common and you can bargain.

- THB is preferred in many establishments.

- BeerLao is pretty cheap, wine and hard alcohol expensive like Bangkok.

- Food prices and quality vary wildly (compared to BKK) but not bad.

- Overall it's a pleasant, sleepy little city. GF is reminded of a smaller Ubon.

- ATMs are reasonable ($2 fee) but have a low limit (~ $90 or 2,000,000 kip).

- Coffee places mostly close early but a few are open later and they have Amazon and Starbucks.

- Lots of Vietnamese working here, I didn't expect that.

- AIS roaming data package works great; hotel and restaurant WiFi not so much.

PS, the Fellow Falang had been working illegally selling condos in-country on Visa Exempt for almost a year and had a fixer set up the appointment and had strict instructions on which window to use, so I guess that's a thing already. I'm sure he'll be flying home with his DTV on Monday. Nice guy, I wish him well.

DTV question - I qualify for this visa in everyway except the 500,000 bhat saved up. If my family loaned me the money just for the visa application process would that work? I would be sending my family the money back after the DVT was issued. Any advice on this?

Hello! I am wanting to apply for DTV soft power Muay Thai. Embassy will be Vientiane in person. I have some questions. I have been on leave without pay from my job for the last year after having a baby and living off my partners income so I have not had any income in my bank account coming in. However I meet the $$$ criteria based on our joint savings account having over 1 million thai baht. Will that be sufficient? What additional information if any should I provide?