Here’s some clarification based on our experience assisting other DTV applicants:

180-day rule: Yes, with the DTV visa, you can stay up to 180 days in a calendar year. If you’d like to stay longer, the recommended approach is to exit and re-enter Thailand — even a short trip (e.g., 1 day) is usually fine. This allows you to get a new entry stamp for the following calendar year.

Visa extension: While it’s technically possible to apply for an extension at a Thai immigration office, we don’t recommend this. Your entire case will be reviewed again and often under greater scrutiny, which increases the risk of delays or rejection. A border run is much simpler and more predictable.

90-day report: Yes, if you stay in Thailand for 90 consecutive days, you’ll need to submit a TM47 form. This needs to be done in person each time you re-enter Thailand, there are several agencies that assist to do this reporting for you so you don't have to spend half a day waiting there.

Tax clarification: You are only taxed on foreign income remitted into Thailand. If you don't transfer money into Thai banks or use it in-country, it may not be taxed — but always best to seek advice depending on your setup.

Happy to share that we’ve assisted over 100+ DTV applicants so are quite familiar with the process. Feel free to ask anymore questions you have.

Thanks for sharing, Samgan! Yes, we’ve heard similar feedback .. the Hanoi consulate has been a bit stricter recently, with more document checks and slower processing times. Your one-year stay shouldn’t be a problem as long as your documents (entry stamp, bank proof, and employment evidence) are ok.

As for applying under the Workation category vs Thai Soft Power (like Muay Thai or Cooking School), both are valid, and your choice should depend on which documentation is easier for you to provide. Most applicants take the Thai Soft Power route if they don’t have clear employment contracts or freelance invoices. Thai Soft Power route has generally had an easier time getting approval as well compared to Workation category.

You don’t necessarily need an agent, but it helps if you're unsure about how to present your case. We’ve worked with several visa agencies and helped over 120 successful applicants through our cooking school so we are quite familiar with the process. Happy to share more if you'd like guidance or a second opinion.

Wishing you the best whichever path you take!

Thanks for sharing your experience Roman! It’s very helpful, especially for applicants going through non-standard financial setups liked fixed deposit accounts.

From what we’ve seen helping over 100+ DTV applicants (including many business owners), it’s quite common for embassies to request a clear 3-month continuous statement showing the required THB 500,000 balance. Even if the money is moved around for interest purposes, they usually want to see that the funds are consistently available and traceable.

Cover letters explaining deposit activity (as both you and Frederick mentioned) will normally clear things up with the embassies.

As of now, there’s no official announcement about how long the DTV program will remain active — it’s still quite new and evolving, and policies may change depending on the Thai government. So if you’re eligible and interested, we’d recommend applying sooner rather than waiting until 2026, as there’s no guarantee the program will still be available in the same form.

Also, keep in mind that different embassies have different processing styles. Some only require proof of funds at the time of application, while others are becoming stricter — for example, asking for 3 or 6 month bank statements or proof that the applicant is physically in the country (like entry stamps or local receipts).

Another important update: some embassies that previously accepted 3-month programs now only approve DTV visas for 6-month or longer programs. We're not sure if the minimum course duration or criteria will change again in the future — another reason to consider applying sooner if possible.

Congratulations! That is indeed very quick and thank you for sharing your experience with the community.

- Do print out your supporting documents especially your e-visa when coming into Thailand.

- Check your passport stamp when passing the immigration as there has been cases that the officer mistakenly uses the day visit visa instead of 180 days DTV stamp.

- Will be good to 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.

Based on our experience assisting DTV applicants. In most cases, sponsorship letters or showing a parent’s bank account are not accepted. Embassies generally require the 500,000 THB to be in your own personal account.

That said, some embassies are more flexible with how long the funds have been held, as long as the full amount is clearly in your name at the time of application. So even if it’s a recent transfer, it may still be accepted depending on the country you apply from.

Hi Natalie! From our experience assisting DTV applicants:

Yes, you can enter Thailand as a tourist on since your work visa would have expired before your return.

Many of our DTV applicants have followed a similar route.. cancelling, exiting and then re-entering on a tourist stamp before applying from a neighboring country.

We've successfully assisted over 110 applicants in the past 3 months with their DTV visa application so we are quite familiar with the process, feel free to ask anymore questions you have!

From our experience assisting applicants, the Thai embassies in Indonesia (including Jakarta) have accepted bank accounts with funds held for a shorter period than the official 3-month guideline in some cases.

That said, other factors can play an important role, such as having funds above the 500,000 THB minimum, and showing some form of regular or passive income. These can help strengthen the application even if the seasoning period is shorter.

Each embassy still has discretion, so it’s best to prepare as strong a financial profile as possible.

Sorry I wasn't clear earlier! It is ok to travel between cities in Vietnam. Just not to exit the country

Yes, the DTV visa must be applied from outside Thailand — popular options are Vietnam (Da Nang, HCMC), Philippines (Manila), or Indonesia (Bali, Jakarta).

Flying in and out on visa on arrival can work short term, but immigration is getting stricter with people doing it too frequently.

There are 2 main ways to apply for the DTV visa:

1. Workation – for remote workers or business owners. You’ll need:

- Client contracts / employment letter

- Business registration or freelance proof

- Income documentation

2. Thai Soft Power – for those joining cultural programs in Thailand like:

- Muay Thai

- Thai Cooking Classes

*This option has been easier and faster for many applicants, and less scrutiny of documents than applying under Workation

Happy to share that we've supported over 90+ DTV applicants through our cooking school and partner with some of the leading visa agencies and law firms. So feel free to ask more questions as we're quite familiar with the process.