@Kevin ******

Last year, it was enough to simply pay the visa fee and receive the visa. However, in 2026, much stricter controls have been introduced. The requirements are becoming higher all the time, and many of these are not officially listed but are requested additionally during the process.

We deal with this every day, unlike someone who applied for a visa once a year ago. We see real-time changes. Even now, after the Songkran Festival holidays, stricter controls have come into effect in most Thai embassies across Asia, especially where there are mass applications.

Embassies are requesting more and more supporting documents. This is partly because different applicants and agencies submit documents above the standard requirements in order to achieve the best possible results. As a result, embassy staff begin to expect these additional documents from everyone. For example, if 10 applicants provide extra documents and 4 only meet the basic requirements, those 4 are often refused a DTV visa.

Regarding documentation, some schools do not meet the newer standards already applied by certain embassies. In many cases, their documents are unclear—for example, they may only state “6 months” without specifying the total number of study hours. Some schools already know which embassies are stricter and advise where to apply and where not to apply, because they understand their programs may not meet the requirements.

From our real experience: when we previously offered a less qualified course of around 100 hours, visa approval results were inconsistent across different Thai embassies. Now, with a minimum of 180 hours over 6 months, we see consistent and positive results. At present, with a proper 6-month program and proof of funds, visa approval rates are around 99% across most Thai embassies.

Yes — people are already using 6-month Thai cooking courses for the DTV, but you need to choose carefully because not all schools are structured properly for visa approval.

Important tip (this is key)

For DTV approval, embassies care about:

Total study hours (usually ~180–200 hours expected)

Clear schedule (weekly or consistent classes)

Real course structure (not just a few casual sessions)

That’s why schools with more classes and a fixed schedule have a higher success rate.

If you are both qualified, it is best to apply separately, as the process will be faster and more flexible.

However, if one person is not fully qualified in terms of proof of funds or income, it may be better to apply together. Keep in mind that most Thai embassies nowadays require at least 500,000 THB remaining in a bank account per visa application.

So, whether applying as spouses or separately for a DTV visa, it is best to have up to 1,000,000 THB in the bank. Maintaining this balance for 6 months is preferable to just 3 months, and you should provide a clear explanation with supporting documents regarding your income or source of funds.

Many applicants mistakenly believe that enrolling in a 6-month or 12-month course automatically qualifies them for the DTV visa. However, this is not always the case. Even reputable schools may offer 12-month programs that do not meet DTV requirements due to the course structure and insufficient total study hours. In many cases, these programs were originally designed for flexible, tourist-oriented learning rather than for visa qualification.

Based on current practice, the most suitable format for DTV applications is a structured 6-month program. Importantly, this should not exceed 180 days of continuous stay. Many Thai embassies are cautious about applicants who appear to intend long-term residence without leaving the country. The general expectation is that DTV applicants participate in a genuine “soft power” course—one that is structured, has a fixed schedule, and includes a minimum of approximately 180–220 study hours, similar to the Ministry of Education guidelines for a 6-month ED visa program.

It is also important to understand the purpose of the 5-year DTV multiple-entry visa. It is not intended for continuous long-term residence in Thailand. Instead, applicants are expected to enter Thailand for a defined period (typically up to 180 days), complete their course, and then leave the country—returning later if needed. This cycle can be repeated during the 5-year validity period.

In this sense, the DTV visa is aligned with a “Workcation” or flexible lifestyle approach: individuals come to Thailand for a specific purpose (such as a soft power course or as remote work), stay for a limited time, and then continue traveling or return to their home country before re-entering again in the future.

40 hours is not sufficient to qualify for a DTV visa ❌. You typically need around 6 months, which equals approximately 180–200 hours. It is also very likely that the documents are from a school that is not for the DTV visa, and the course appears to be more like a tourist program rather than a valid DTV visa-supporting course.

You can upgrade the program for at least 180 hours for 6 months it's 3 sessions per week minimum for DTV visa approval as well as proper license and documents from school.

Anonymous participant you are absolutely right these two reasons mostly lead to rejection in Hanoi ( you got two of them at the same time )

Definitely don't apply with Ho Chi Minh they will view the situation differently and you cannot explain to them the truth plus your western nationalities have extra focus especially in Ho Chi Minh Thai Embassy, plus there is almost mandatory for pay slips and agreement.

Anonymous participant you need to do more deep due diligence some schools are very flexible and can help with everything.

Anonymous participant please advise what passport did you use in Hanoi Thai Embassy application? Because Hanoi Thai Embassy very sensitive for some regions and nationalities.

I believe an Australian passport should work well if there is no pending application placed under it before

Anonymous participant if you apply and paid visa fee and did not satisfied all requirements and request from Thai embassy they rejected your visa application.

After payment for government fee there is only 3 possible ways

Approved DTV Visa request

Rejected DTV Visa request

Cancelled due to passport information miss matching

You cannot cancel on your own if you already paid a visa fee

If your old visa application still *check documents or pending approval* you never get any other visa especially from Hanoi Thai Embassy they never accept if they check and found this.

Better you go login old application and check status, only when it's rejected or ( cancel less likely) you can start new application with different location.

So if your story as you told you have records

Any records for Hanoi Thai Embassy is bad records they mostly want clean new Applicants without any background history records.

Don't go for these trap recommendations for Ho Chi Minh.

If you have strong documents, go for a personal interview in Laos and you can explain everything to Thai embassy.