Kevin Lee No, from our experience business accounts are not accepted. Same for brokerage accounts, investment accounts and Crypto wallets. I would recommend transferring the funds into a checking or savings account.
Hi Oscar! Happy to share some info based on our experience assisting applicants through our cooking school and visa agent partners:
1) ED Visa: Your current ED visa won’t affect your DTV application. Many of our students either let their ED visa expire first or cancel it before applying — both have worked without issue.
2) Bank Balance: While the guideline mentions a 3-month minimum, we’ve seen successful approvals from certain embassies (like Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam) even with only 1–2 months of THB 500,000+ in the account. Approval also depends on the overall strength of your profile.
3) Not all embassies strictly enforce this. Most of our applicants did not need to translate or notarize documents.
Congratulations! Do print out your supporting documents especially your e-visa when coming into Thailand. Do also mentally prepare the small chance that they ask some questions about your intention in Thailand and how you will support yourself.
It doesn't happen often but it's good to be prepared if it comes to that. Overall your answers should match your intention of being here (i.e. workation or soft power)
Congratulations! Do print out your supporting documents especially your e-visa when coming into Thailand. Do also mentally prepare the small chance that they ask some questions about your intention in Thailand and how you will support yourself.
It doesn't happen often but it's good to be prepared if it comes to that. Overall your answers should match your intention of being here.
To clarify, If you’re applying under the DTV Soft Power category (e.g. Muay Thai or Cooking Classes), your main purpose in Thailand should be cultural participation, not remote work. However, there’s no official restriction that forbids you from working online for an overseas company, as long as:
- You’re not working with Thai clients or companies
- You’re not generating Thai-sourced income
In fact, many approved applicants under Soft Power do show income from overseas sources (bank statements, proof of savings, etc.) to meet the THB 500,000+ requirement — and this has not caused issues, because it's not considered “working in Thailand.”
From an immigration/legal standpoint, it's still a grey area technically, but in practice, Thai embassies have been accepting this setup — especially if you clearly state your reason for entering as cultural learning and have already paid for a qualified program.
If you’re unsure what to write on the form (e.g. “Occupation” or “Purpose of visit”), most applicants choose:
“Student” (since you're enrolling in a cultural course)
And for occupation, something like “Freelancer”, “Remote worker”, or simply leave it as unemployed if unsure — what matters more is proof of funds and program enrollment.
We’ve helped over 90 DTV applicants through our cooking school and partner agencies and this has been our experience. Hope this clarifies
Hi! You actually have two options under the DTV visa — Workation or Thai Soft Power.
Applying under the Workation category does have a bit more scrutiny with the requirement of employment letter, regular salary (for remote worker) or contracts and previous work samples for freelance workers.
Based on your situation, the Workation category may be difficult as you have applied for Preply but are not active yet.
An easier alternative might be the Thai Soft Power route, which has fewer requirements. For example, you can enroll in cultural activities like Muay Thai or Thai cooking classes, which are eligible under this category.
We’ve successfully supported over 90 DTV applicants through our cooking school, in partnership with leading visa agents and law firms who regularly use our programs for their clients. So if you need help understanding the process or want guidance, feel free to reach out. Happy to answer any other questions you may have 🙏
It is not often that Vietnam embassies request for an interview, most of our applicants that we have supported travel around freely within Vietnam. All the best with your application!
Congratulations! Do print out your supporting documents especially your e-visa when coming into Thailand. Do also mentally prepare the small chance that they ask some questions about your intention in Thailand and how you will support yourself.
It doesn't happen often but it's good to be prepared if it comes to that. Overall your answers should match your intention of being here (i.e. your deep interest in Muay Thai or Cooking classes)