On 8/9/2025 at 10:07 AM, BrandonJT said:

 

They will look at your visa, ensure the passport number on your visa matches your old passport, and then they will stamp you in on your new passport with your 180 day DTV stamp.  This is the process.

 

You can then either continue to use both passports for the remainder of the 5 years of your visa, or you can go to your immigration office in Thailand and have them put a notation in your new passport that will reference your old passport number.  This will remove the need to carry your old passport with you, since the number is now embedded in your new passport.

In an ideal world it should be that simple.  We shall see.

Does anyone have experience with the Washington DC embassy?

My main question is about the 500,000 seasoning policy. The site says "A copy of a recent saving or checking bank statement for the last three months with an ending balance of no less than 500,000 THB or ($16,000 USD)..."

Question 1: How strictly do they adhere to this wording?

Question 2: What else do they look for in the statements? What's the point of requesting 3 months worth?

Question 3: Anyone have info on the current visa processing times for this embassy?

Question 4: Anything else I should know or be cautious of before submitting my application?

1 hour ago, JDangle said:

Does anyone have experience with the Washington DC embassy?

My main question is about the 500,000 seasoning policy. The site says "A copy of a recent saving or checking bank statement for the last three months with an ending balance of no less than 500,000 THB or ($16,000 USD)..."

Question 1: How strictly do they adhere to this wording?

Question 2: What else do they look for in the statements? What's the point of requesting 3 months worth?

Question 3: Anyone have info on the current visa processing times for this embassy?

Question 4: Anything else I should know or be cautious of before submitting my application?

The requirements tend to be strict. The reason why they want 3 months worth is because they don't want people just borrowing money, dumping it in, then withdrawing it. They want it to really be your money.

Removed an off-topic post about extensions.

11 hours ago, JDangle said:

Does anyone have experience with the Washington DC embassy?

My main question is about the 500,000 seasoning policy. The site says "A copy of a recent saving or checking bank statement for the last three months with an ending balance of no less than 500,000 THB or ($16,000 USD)..."

Question 1: How strictly do they adhere to this wording?

Question 2: What else do they look for in the statements? What's the point of requesting 3 months worth?

Question 3: Anyone have info on the current visa processing times for this embassy?

Question 4: Anything else I should know or be cautious of before submitting my application?

I downloaded 3 monthly statements showing I had the required amount each month. I combined my 3 statements into a single PDF file, along with the other required documents. I was approved in about two weeks.

On 8/16/2025 at 9:46 PM, howlee101 said:

I downloaded 3 monthly statements showing I had the required amount each month. I combined my 3 statements into a single PDF file, along with the other required documents. I was approved in about two weeks.

ok, thanks for the info

 

 

On 8/16/2025 at 11:05 AM, Mark1969 said:

The requirements tend to be strict. The reason why they want 3 months worth is because they don't want people just borrowing money, dumping it in, then withdrawing it. They want it to really be your money.

yeah, I'm sure I'm just over thinking things... just trying to lawyer the wording of the requirement. 🤷‍♂️

 

It sucks having to season the cash- oh well

2 hours ago, JDangle said:

ok, thanks for the info

 

 

yeah, I'm sure I'm just over thinking things... just trying to lawyer the wording of the requirement. 🤷‍♂️

 

It sucks having to season the cash- oh well

You seem kind of flakey. Do you meet the requirements or not?

On 8/19/2025 at 11:11 PM, Mark1969 said:

You seem kind of flakey. Do you meet the requirements or not?

"Seasoning Cash" = taking that money out of getting "Return on Investment" and putting it into an account with a crappy return for an extended-time. 

This not an issue with smaller amounts needed for Tourist visas (SETV, METV), for which that requirement makes sense, if/when the applicant is coming from a low-wage country, and might be financially-incentivized to work in Thailand illegally.

6 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

"Seasoning Cash" = taking that money out of getting "Return on Investment" and putting it into an account with a crappy return for an extended-time. 

This not an issue with smaller amounts needed for Tourist visas (SETV, METV), for which that requirement makes sense, if/when the applicant is coming from a low-wage country, and might be financially-incentivized to work in Thailand illegally.

I normally find your posts very informative and useful but this is a bit of an odd one.

 

500k seasoned for 3 months is a very low bar for a 5 year visa! 
 

Assuming a very reasonable 7% a year return on investment and that you don’t earn anything for those 3 months, it would be a “loss” of under 9k (500k x 0.07% x 0.25 year).

 

If you add on the cost of the visa at 10k, you get 19k so 3,800 a year.  

 

Anyone that struggles to afford that shouldn’t be here for 5 years and visa exempt for 2 months would be a better fit for them in my opinion.

 

On 8/21/2025 at 10:41 PM, Chalky0w said:

I normally find your posts very informative and useful but this is a bit of an odd one.

 

500k seasoned for 3 months is a very low bar for a 5 year visa! 
 

Assuming a very reasonable 7% a year return on investment and that you don’t earn anything for those 3 months, it would be a “loss” of under 9k (500k x 0.07% x 0.25 year).

 

If you add on the cost of the visa at 10k, you get 19k so 3,800 a year.  

 

Anyone that struggles to afford that shouldn’t be here for 5 years and visa exempt for 2 months would be a better fit for them in my opinion.

 

It isn't the "cost" as much as it is not normal to have that much cash in a low-yield account.  So, you decide to get a DTV, and - oops, I don't qualify because I don't (stupidly) keep a pile of money in a low-yield account.  The goal should be to make this process easy - to maximize those spending money here - so, allow use of brokerage accounts, etc for this application - or, even better, just show the balance was there for a week or so. 

4 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

It isn't the "cost" as much as it is not normal to have that much cash in a low-yield account.  So, you decide to get a DTV, and - oops, I don't qualify because I don't (stupidly) keep a pile of money in a low-yield account.  The goal should be to make this process easy - to maximize those spending money here - so, allow use of brokerage accounts, etc for this application - or, even better, just show the balance was there for a week or so. 

The need to season for 3 months may vary by embassy and even depend on the consular officer and the stage of the application.

 

When I applied and successfully received my DTV from the London Embassy, my initial application led to a standard template reply that the £13,000 or 500,000 Baht equivalent needed to be in an account that issued monthly statements. In the UK, this is going to be a standard non-interest-bearing current account.

 

I wrote a polite explanation with attached statements from savings accounts. Savings accounts in the UK typically provide statements annually. I stated I would be happy to move the money to a current account but would require further time to wait for the next monthly statement from the current account. The application was approved without the need to do this.

 

Embassies have their requirements but they also consider applications with a degree of interpretative leeway.

6 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

or, even better, just show the balance was there for a week or so.

I think the purpose of “seasoning” is to prevent people borrowing the money (and then working illegally).

 

I maintain that 500k for 3 months is a very low bar for a 5 year visa. 

On 8/23/2025 at 10:11 PM, Chalky0w said:

I think the purpose of “seasoning” is to prevent people borrowing the money (and then working illegally).

 

I maintain that 500k for 3 months is a very low bar for a 5 year visa. 

Yes, if coming from a country where wages are lower than Thailand, working illegally could be a valid concern.  The idea that Westerners are coming here to work "under the table" (illegally) for less than McDonalds pays back home is ridiculous, though.

On 8/25/2025 at 6:00 PM, Rob Browder said:

Yes, if coming from a country where wages are lower than Thailand, working illegally could be a valid concern.  The idea that Westerners are coming here to work "under the table" (illegally) for less than McDonalds pays back home is ridiculous, though.

It mystifies me but people do it. The wages on ajarn.com are significantly under a McD’s employee or at least one in UK and a teacher is a “legitimate” job with WP. There are lots with less qualifications or just looking to escape a war 

20 hours ago, Chalky0w said:

It mystifies me but people do it. The wages on ajarn.com are significantly under a McD’s employee or at least one in UK and a teacher is a “legitimate” job with WP. There are lots with less qualifications or just looking to escape a war 

We are getting very off topic but rent, council tax, utilities, phone contract and broadband are not much less than £1000 (43,800 Baht) per month in the UK. You can easily get all of these for 7000 Baht per month here. Apples and oranges.

 

Remember the old adage, "If it is possible, someone will do it."

On 8/11/2025 at 10:29 PM, shdmn said:

In an ideal world it should be that simple.  We shall see.

 

Confirmed it's that simple as of yesterday, presented old and new passport + DTV at Suvarnabhumi, got stamped on the new passport for 6 months without even a word

Got my DTV visa from the Chicago consulate in the category "digital nomad." I submitted the following documents. 1. The past three months of my Ally Bank accounts. 2. My Arizona LLC registration certificate. 3. Resume. 4. A digital nomad portfolio, created by ChatGPT.

19 hours ago, Knight Rider said:

 …A digital nomad portfolio, created by ChatGPT.

 

Great idea, using Chat GPT.

Are there reports of anyone being asked to show their bank balance upon re-entering Thailand after 6 months or when getting the 180 day extension? 

16 hours ago, sordidmike said:

Are there reports of anyone being asked to show their bank balance upon re-entering Thailand after 6 months or when getting the 180 day extension? 

Haven’t done it myself but have heard reports that if you apply for an in-country extension you need to show bank balance again (and other docs).

 

I’ve never been asked to show bank balance or other details upon re-entry and I’ve come in multiple times at different airports.

got my DTV from the Washington DC embassy... it took 10 days (8 business days), no extra doc requests or any other hang ups.

 

I know it's recommended to print the DTV, but is it mandatory? As I won't easily have access to a printer before my trip... 

another quick question: should I have an onward flight (legit or otherwise) prepared on arrival? 

4 hours ago, JDangle said:

another quick question: should I have an onward flight (legit or otherwise) prepared on arrival? 

Not a requirement for DTV.

On 11/1/2025 at 2:50 AM, JDangle said:

I know it's recommended to print the DTV, but is it mandatory? As I won't easily have access to a printer before my trip... 

Whilst I would definitely recommend a printout, it is not a requirement.

 

However do download and save the pdf. The reason I say this is when Thai e-visa make software changes, they are reflected on the way the visa details are shown on the visa that can be downloaded from your Thai evisa account.

 

They really really struggle with the nation of The United Kingdom and it can be changed to all sorts of inaccurate names. If you have downloaded the pdf, any software changes won't affect your copy. 

22 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Whilst I would definitely recommend a printout, it is not a requirement.

 

However do download and save the pdf. The reason I say this is when Thai e-visa make software changes, they are reflected on the way the visa details are shown on the visa that can be downloaded from your Thai evisa account.

 

They really really struggle with the nation of The United Kingdom and it can be changed to all sorts of inaccurate names. If you have downloaded the pdf, any software changes won't affect your copy. 

 

thanks

 

already on my phone and ready to present

Hello, everyone!

I am about to re-enter Thailand with new passport and the old expired passport that's linked to my DTV e-visa. How many of you have done that already?

I saw a report of someone being stamped for visa exempt instead because the IO was insisting the new passport number is not linked to the DTV visa. Hopefully, it was just a one time IO mistake.

Thank you!

On 11/10/2025 at 8:08 PM, Jabatron said:

Hello, everyone!

I am about to re-enter Thailand with new passport and the old expired passport that's linked to my DTV e-visa. How many of you have done that already?

I saw a report of someone being stamped for visa exempt instead because the IO was insisting the new passport number is not linked to the DTV visa. Hopefully, it was just a one time IO mistake.

Thank you!

 

Just look exactly 10 messages up, the answer’s already waiting for you.

On 8/28/2025 at 12:13 AM, jpresto said:

 

Confirmed it's that simple as of yesterday, presented old and new passport + DTV at Suvarnabhumi, got stamped on the new passport for 6 months without even a word

I was talking about going into immigration after entering Thailand and getting it noted/change/whatever so I don't have to carry around the old passport anymore.  Confirmed yesterday at Jomtien immigration it's not possible.  The agent told me they can't do anything and that I will have to continue to carry around my old expired passport for the duration of the e-visa for the next 4 years (in my case).

 

That was just one person at immigration.  This being Thailand, I would not be surprised if someone else tries to do the same thing and a different agent or a different immigration office somewhere says something completely different to them.

On 6/16/2025 at 3:15 PM, RAZZELL said:

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is classified as a tourist visa. Employment, opening a bank account, or engaging in business activities in Thailand while holding this visa is strictly prohibited.

 

Can I use my existing Thailand bank account for the 500,000 baht bank balance, or is that frowned upon?

On 5/30/2024 at 9:43 AM, solidad90 said:

quote from pattayanews

 

The DTV visa does NOT allow “any” digital nomad to stay in Thailand for five years, as incorrectly noted by some media. To be clear, once obtained, it can be used within a five year period, for 180 days, and extended once for another 180 days, with a 10,000 Baht filing fee each time. After being used twice, the DTV visa would expire. As stated, additional requirements will be released in the near future by the Thai government and are subject to change.

 

So, one gets up to 360 days total within a 5-year term?