Report Confusion Plagues Thailand's New Digital Nomad Visa, Leaving Applicants Stranded

[harryviking]

On 6/10/2025 at 4:34 PM, Magictoad said:

But Thai brains have grown the tourist industry enormously 

Already passed the point of having control! They have created so many different visas they have lost counts now.....😆😆

[ujayujay]

This DTV Visa seems to me to be a perfectly thought out

[JJ-Thailand]

DTV was never a good idea. 

[findlay13]

On 6/10/2025 at 1:34 PM, lrntpattaya said:

I applied for the DTV visa using a cooking school in Pattaya on the 28th of April and now, after 6 weeks, it's still pending.  I paid 95,000 baht to let them take care of everything. The school now says they have no idea when to expect it.

 

Just wait....

 

And otherwise I expect a full refund.

Expect a full refund ? Good luck with that.

[SunsetT]

On 6/9/2025 at 10:35 AM, snoop1130 said:

 

Picture courtesy of Global Residence Index, Unsplash

 

Thailand's recently launched Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), aimed at attracting digital nomads, has faced significant challenges, leaving many applicants stranded across Southeast Asia. Delays, confusion, and inconsistent procedures at regional embassies have complicated the application process, turning it into a bureaucratic ordeal.

 

Digital nomads in Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia, who travelled specifically to apply for the DTV, are experiencing considerable delays. They face extended wait times, backlogged appointments, and changing requirements. The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh has drawn particular criticism, with some applicants reporting no response for more than ten days after submitting their applications. Complaints include embassy staff resetting application timelines by requesting additional documents days after initial submissions.

 

One European applicant, stranded for five weeks, expressed frustration on social media: "I've run out of money. When they asked for one more document, the 15-day timeline restarted."

 

In Laos, particularly in Vientiane and Savannakhet, the process is fraught with appointment backlogs of two to three weeks. This delay poses serious challenges for digital nomads managing accommodation costs and aligning with visa expiry deadlines in neighbouring countries.

 

Discrepancies in the application process across various embassies are also causing confusion. While some consulates process applications quickly, others are following more stringent and time-consuming procedures. Applicants must remain in the country where they applied until a decision is reached, and leaving even temporarily can lead to cancellations or additional delays, heightening stress for those with limited funds or expiring visas.

 

The DTV visa was introduced as a progressive measure to attract digital workers, content creators, and location-independent professionals. While the initiative was initially well-received, its inconsistent implementation has led to widespread dissatisfaction.

 

Visa agents and applicants are urging Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Bureau to provide clearer, standardized instructions to embassies and implement a digital tracking system to allow real-time monitoring of application progress.

 

As the situation stands, many hopeful digital nomads find their plans to relocate to Thailand stalled amid the visa backlog, awaiting more streamlined procedures to realise their ambitions.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-09

 

 

Welcome to Thailand's wonderful immigration bureaucracy.....nightmare.

[SunsetT]

Can anyone say from experience what the procedure and waiting times for applying for a tourist visa at Vientiane are currently please? It used to be to book appointment online, attend appointment to submit application and return the following day to collect it.

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, SunsetT said:

Can anyone say from experience what the procedure and waiting times for applying for a tourist visa at Vientiane are currently please? It used to be to book appointment online, attend appointment to submit application and return the following day to collect it.

 

It might be hard to get a recent firsthand report, because it currently doesn't make any sense to apply for a tourist visa in Vientiane. 

[DonniePeverley]

If they are running out funds waiting for this visa, then it tells you all you need to know how wrong this visa is. It's not designed for backpackers - but is being abused by them (and criminals). 

[Satcommlee]

If you truly are a NOMAD then you can afford to hang around for a while, you should be used to working from a hotel room.... 

It is clear what Thailand's strategy is here, particularly at neighbouring embassies which are the cheapest to get to, if you can't afford to fly home to apply for the VISA then they will do this to you, it has kind of been going on for years.

 

[Satcommlee]

9 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

If they are running out funds waiting for this visa, then it tells you all you need to know how wrong this visa is. It's not designed for backpackers - but is being abused by them (and criminals). 

Particularly Criminals, if you apply for a Visa in your home country, then at least they know with some certainty that you are not wanted..

[gargamon]

Funny. I got my DTV in Canada. Wasn't within thousands of km of anywhere in Canada at any time during the process. Did I break some rule?

[Karma80]

22 hours ago, gargamon said:

Funny. I got my DTV in Canada. Wasn't within thousands of km of anywhere in Canada at any time during the process. Did I break some rule?

No. You just can't apply from within Thailand. You can apply online from anywhere if you're eligible.