@Tony *****

100K? Where did you get that from? The visa itself costs around 10-15K baht.. One time payment. Not yearly.

It's correct. Got an email from my university a few days ago stating the same.

If you are from one of the following countries it is now a requirement to get a new one every 3 months:

Afghanistan

 Algeria

 Bangladesh

 Cameroon

 Central African Republic

 China

 Democratic Republic of the Congo

 Egypt

 Equatorial Guinea

 Ghana

 Guinea

 Iran

 Iraq

 Lebanon

 Liberia

 Libya

 Nepal

 Nigeria

 North Korea

 Pakistan

 Palestine

 Republic of Congo

 Sao Tome and Principe

 Sierra Leone

 Somalia

 South Africa

 Sri Lanka

 Sudan

 Syria

 Yemen

@Tod ********

Thai Airways asked me if I had done it, before boarding me from Copenhagen to Bangkok on 7th May. They didn't ask to see it. Just asked.

When arriving in Thailand, going through the Thai passport passport control (not using the foreign passport control because I was with my Thai family) they did want to see it on my phone.

I guess it may vary.

@John ********

if you are married to a Thai national, and can muster the 400K thai baht that is needed for yearly extensions, that's your safest bet. The visa is not connected to you studying in any way. Your stay is secured, as long as you keep 400K in the bank, at least for 2 months before applying for your visa. Each time...

For an ED visa, it varies. It can be from having to get a new extension every 90 days, to having a year at a time. Ranging from low level Thai language courses, to actual university courses (Bachelor or masters for example).

The latter will even give you up to a year of extension of stay after graduation. To give you time to look for a job.

You are allowed to study under any visa/extension of stay. You do not need an ED visa. So I can see how you might utilize a 5 year DTV for that purpose. But.. i do not think requirements for a soft power visa under the DTV scheme align with going to university. There is already a better visa for that (from their perspective). The ED visa. Though from your perspective it might be different. Just leave out uni from your DTV visa then. Find something else that covers such a visa.

Cons compared to what? Depending on why you got that ED visa, the expectations and rules will be different. For example studying university level diplomas will get you up to a year at a time for extension. Compared to a maximum of 6 months on a language course. There's also a new yearly extension made for those already graduating uni, and looking for work.

Shady language school that you might not even have attended? Different story.

@Ashley *********

I don't know what powers you mean. Thailand lets you do the TDAC from 72 hours before arrival and up until the last minute. They even installed terminals airside in the airport, so that you can fill it out even after landing, and if you don't have a phone/wifi/whatever to do it by your own device.

On the other hand airlines are surely just making sure to cover their own behinds. If you were for some reason denied entry to Thailand after they flew you there, it's on them to fly you out again many times. They just want to be sure everything is in order before letting you board.

Personally I just entered Thailand again last week. And the airline (Thai Airways) at my check-in from Denmark only asked if I had done it. Didn't need to see it. Up to them, and nothing about the form itself. The form is just general information on who is arriving when.

@Ashley *********

a 30 day electronic tourist visa for Thailand does not exist. A tourist visa applied through the e-visa website before traveling will get you a 60 day stamp when entering. Not buying a visa beforehand is still, as of now, and since way back in 2024, also 60 days visa exempt entry (meaning you haven't got a visa at all).

There has been talks of reversing the 60 day visa exempt entry back to 30 days as it was before. Not happened yet though.

Finally the TDAC is not a visa and have absolutely nothing to do with how long you are allowed to stay. It is only for your entry. Just as they used to use paper slips (TM6) that you would get handed in the airplane before landing.

@Jean *****

the problems that could come would not be at the airport. It would be next time you need to use your local immigration office for whatever reason. They will see that you have an extension that you didn't cancel properly, and potentially see you as being on overstay since, bringing up a fine of up to 20K, plus the hassle of actually getting the extension canceled correctly.

@James *******

in that case there's of course the seasoning requirement of having 400K in the bank at least 2 months before applying. If the OP has another Thai account and the total was never below the 400K in the seasoning period, it could be possible that immigration would consider that enough. I would surely talk to them as soon as possible to find out.

@Sean ******

not same.. The extension of a non O based on having Thai kids (being the guardian of them) only requires the money to be present on the day of application. No requirement to have the money seasoned at all. On the other hand, a non O based on being over 50, requires, if using banked money, that the account never dips below 400K. It has to be a minimum of 800K from 2 months before, until 3 months after applying too.