I think of getting a DTV and would like to know if anyone here has ever had problems at immigration with a DTV.

 

In 2019, I was entering Thailand on a METV and immigration pulled me aside and asked for a flight out. The nice thing about METV is that you don't have to provide proof of leaving; once I'm in Thailand I can take my time to figure out where and when I want to go. However I didn't discuss this point with IO, she would have found another requirement that is more difficult to fulfill. On my phone, I booked a flight out and got stamped in. My point is that visa does not guarantee entry. But then what's the point of a visa? I submit more documents when applying, and the embassy takes more time to check, and still an IO can deny me entry.

 

Before Covid, I have been up to 8 months per year in Thailand on TV. Since Covid, I have been in Thailand mostly on VE, up to 180 days per year in Thailand with visa runs in SEAsia of 1-2 months each and 2-4 months in summer in Germany. I have been taken aside a few times (on average five entries no problem, one entry some questions) and would rather get a DTV or use safe entry before I ever get denied entry.

 

I am here purely for holiday, have the money fund my stay, but don't qualify for any of the visas. Not even for DTV (I'm not remote working and not interested in soft skills), but I'm sure an agency can help me with that.

 

I realize the absurdity of the situation: I come here with money to spend on hotels, restaurants, travel, museums, national parks, temples. If you asked the last 10 Thai I interacted with, 11 would say: Mr Christian, please come again. Yet I have to worry about problems at immigration.

11 minutes ago, ChristianPFC said:

. Not even for DTV (I'm not remote working and not interested in soft skills), but I'm sure an agency can help me with that.

So what's your question or you are just venting? 

DTV is an option however you indicate not going to obtain one. 

DTV is obtained outside of Thailand. 

Agents can assist however not cheap 

The issue with DTV today seems to be that it's a new enough program that we haven't seen yet whether there will be future issues. 

 

I recall reading that some holders have been asked to confirm on re-entry that they still meet the criteria under which they initially qualified.  So they theoretically may have a 5 year ME visa, or they may have a 6 month visa that they have to requalify for each time.  Hard to tell from on-the-ground reports so far.

 

I'm following it because it's an option for me if I decide to get away from monthly VE entries of a week or so each month.  So far, I'm not convinced...  I was actually looking at DTV more as a stopgap to give me time to roll the funds and fill out the foreign account forms for US tax purposes.  I may just go the full route since I do qualify for a retirement extension if I roll the funds from overseas into a Thai bank account. 

Of course, I'm interested in any first person experiences...  Not so interested in guesses or interweb links.

 

Stories go around it might be much more difficult to apply in the near future hence many now try to obtain it. The 5 year sticker or visa is whatever that is worth, at the end it is still just 6 months per extension regardless. I would not think that having obtained the 5 year one earlier changes or adds any value if it otherwise is dodgy already.

Ellie visa is still available. Would seem to fit your needs quite well.

I've had a DTV almost a year now.  I've been in and out of the country 3 times and never had any question on entry.  So far, I love the visa.  It suits me perfectly because I leave the country a few times a year anyway.   I never need to visit immigration or worry about extensions, 90 day reports, or TM30 that all the guys with other long term visas have to deal with.

32 minutes ago, Jake44 said:

I've had a DTV almost a year now.  ...   I never need to visit immigration or worry about extensions, 90 day reports, or TM30 that all the guys with other long term visas have to deal with.

The 90 day report is as needed for the DTV as it is for the other long term visas.

3 minutes ago, farang51 said:

The 90 day report is as needed for the DTV as it is for the other long term visas.

It's technically required, but why would I bother doing it?  There is no consequence of not doing it if you never visit immigration.  Many  of us with DTVs simply don't do it.

If immigration at the airport can ask you to show again all the requirements papers for getting another 180 days stamp so it doesn't make sense to use a visa agency and pay a lot of money to get this DTV 

30 minutes ago, Jake44 said:

It's technically required, but why would I bother doing it?  There is no consequence of not doing it if you never visit immigration.  Many  of us with DTVs simply don't do it.

 

I don't do it either.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

I recall reading that some holders have been asked to confirm on re-entry that they still meet the criteria under which they initially qualified.  So they theoretically may have a 5 year ME visa, or they may have a 6 month visa that they have to requalify for each time.  Hard to tell from on-the-ground reports so far.

 

 

The OP can go the "soft power" route and sign up a cooking class provided he has the 500k baht in his bank but I see this like you. Is immigration really going to let people come in and out of the country for multiple years just because they signed up for a cooking class? I would expect to get questioned eventually. There's no reason they wouldn't give the full 5 year term to a remote worker but for those other categories it's hard to say.

1 hour ago, Jake44 said:

I've had a DTV almost a year now.  I've been in and out of the country 3 times and never had any question on entry.  So far, I love the visa.  It suits me perfectly because I leave the country a few times a year anyway.   I never need to visit immigration or worry about extensions, 90 day reports, or TM30 that all the guys with other long term visas have to deal with.

 

That's a great 1st person data point.  Thanks! 

 

Which category did you apply under?  I was planning to apply under health tourism since I visit Bumrungrad and Samitivej (with receipts) just about every month because they have my health records and scan images since my bypass surgery 10 years ago in Bangkok.

 

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

Is immigration really going to let people come in and out of the country for multiple years just because they signed up for a cooking class? I would expect to get questioned eventually. There's no reason they wouldn't give the full 5 year term to a remote worker but for those other categories it's hard to say.

On the DTV, it doesn't say whether you got it for a cooking class or for remote work. It only says DTV. So, unless they have that information on their screen, they wouldn't know if they should ask for proof or not.

2 hours ago, impulse said:

Which category did you apply under?  I was planning to apply under health tourism since I visit Bumrungrad and Samitivej (with receipts) just about every month because they have my health records and scan images since my bypass surgery 10 years ago in Bangkok.

 

I have my own business.  I'm an app developer.  I applied for the category that includes freelancers.

 

22 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

So what's your question or you are just venting? 

DTV is an option however you indicate not going to obtain one. 

DTV is obtained outside of Thailand. 

Agents can assist however not cheap 

If other people had problems at immigration with DTV, that would speak against getting one. 

 

I forgot one point that speaks for DTV: the current 60 days visa free suits me well, but there is possibility it is reversed to 30 days which is tight in time for me. DTV would be better than SETVs if visa free is reduced to 30 days.

 

Another question: transfer of a DTV from old passport to new passport is just a trip to immigration? My current passport will be full in one to two years.

36 minutes ago, ChristianPFC said:

Another question: transfer of a DTV from old passport to new passport is just a trip to immigration? My current passport will be full in one to two years.

Seems you are just kicking tyres. 

There is 3 or more Pinned threads on DTV. 

There are threads of first hand experiences of doing the bounce at/before the 180 days. 

Also reports of obtaining extension at immigration rather than exiting Thailand. 

As for your new pp in future that is a minor concern. Immigration will sort that. 

Decide what's best for you after research. 

Having stated that... You stated

" (I'm not remote working and not interested in soft skills)"

Sorta rules you out. 

On 6/26/2025 at 11:50 AM, impulse said:

I recall reading that some holders have been asked to confirm on re-entry that they still meet the criteria under which they initially qualified.  So they theoretically may have a 5 year ME visa, or they may have a 6 month visa that they have to requalify for each time.  Hard to tell from on-the-ground reports so far.

I have only seen such reports for those attempting to get an in-country extension.  That said, if I got a DTV, I would budget for "safe entry" or agent-van runs at some point in the future - and if not needed, great! 

 

On 6/27/2025 at 10:23 AM, ChristianPFC said:

If other people had problems at immigration with DTV, that would speak against getting one. 

No. Only issue is being demoted in society after having non-b. 

Specifically risks of frozen bank accounts and demoted from 5 year license to 2 year.

That's my only negatives so far, otherwise I love it.

However I wouldn't even consider doing the possible extension at immigration after 6 months and prefer to have a short holiday.

That sounds like a possible ball ache. 

Well, here's one from the FB group from today. Take these with a grain of salt tho. Even if it's true, it's not that common.

I've only entered twice on DTV so far so idk if it will be different with next entries.

On 6/26/2025 at 1:38 PM, NorthernRyland said:

 

The OP can go the "soft power" route and sign up a cooking class provided he has the 500k baht in his bank but I see this like you. Is immigration really going to let people come in and out of the country for multiple years just because they signed up for a cooking class? I would expect to get questioned eventually. There's no reason they wouldn't give the full 5 year term to a remote worker but for those other categories it's hard to say.

 

 

With the DTV being granted by the MFA at a Thai Embassy, I doubt that immigration would have access to the precise category that the applicant used as their reason when applying for the DTV.

 

The MFA and Immigration work independently.

11 hours ago, Jabatron said:

Well, here's one from the FB group from today. Take these with a grain of salt tho. Even if it's true, it's not that common.

I've only entered twice on DTV so far so idk if it will be different with next entries.

The DTV is relatively new visa, and this IO wasn't sure what to do, hence the visit from a colleague to help

13 minutes ago, Jaggg88 said:

The DTV is relatively new visa, and this IO wasn't sure what to do, hence the visit from a colleague to help

 

Incompetence and / or lack of training is no excuse. If someone has met the requirements to be issued with the visa, and is legally using it, then they shouldn't be asked such questions upon entry.

On 6/26/2025 at 2:54 PM, impulse said:

 

That's a great 1st person data point.  Thanks! 

 

Which category did you apply under?  I was planning to apply under health tourism since I visit Bumrungrad and Samitivej (with receipts) just about every month because they have my health records and scan images since my bypass surgery 10 years ago in Bangkok.

 

Bumrungrad provided a sponsor letter to me and also the Vancouver Thai embassy/consulate. The DTV was approved in a couple of hours. But then again, I've spent almost 3m baht there in the last couple of years. YMMV of course.

10 minutes ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

 

Incompetence and / or lack of training is no excuse. If someone has met the requirements to be issued with the visa, and is legally using it, then they shouldn't be asked such questions upon entry.

I've had my LTR for almost 2 years now and still have issues sometimes with very long wait times while the officers process it.  With the amount of flip-flopping and changes the government pushes on the immigration officers, I pity them.  Not only do they have to navigate constantly changing and sometimes archaic rules and laws, they also have to deal with entitled people that think they shouldn't have to show certain requirements or even their visa in order to enter.

3 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

I've had my LTR for almost 2 years now and still have issues sometimes with very long wait times while the officers process it.  With the amount of flip-flopping and changes the government pushes on the immigration officers, I pity them.  Not only do they have to navigate constantly changing and sometimes archaic rules and laws, they also have to deal with entitled people that think they shouldn't have to show certain requirements or even their visa in order to enter.

 

Come on, any supermarket cashier gets to see a lot more entitled people than them, and the prices change daily. No sympathy from me, they could have chosen another job if they aren't up for this one.

3 hours ago, Caldera said:

 

Come on, any supermarket cashier gets to see a lot more entitled people than them, and the prices change daily. No sympathy from me, they could have chosen another job if they aren't up for this one.

Your entitlement is showing.

I’ve been in and out of both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang a few times on my DTV and had no questions or other problems.

 

I don’t think it is unreasonable for an immigration officer to ask questions and maybe they will in the future.  I can show things like company registration on my phone and normally have my laptop with me if they need other evidence.

 

Haven’t tried to extend in country which may need more paperwork from some accounts I’ve heard.

 

I also normally stay out for a week, two weeks or longer. Don’t know if same day border bounces or short trips to Cambodia / Laos might trigger questions potentially?

 

 

2 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

Your entitlement is showing.

 

Nonsense. If you have legally obtained a visa or extension (such as you with your LTR), expecting that the IO you're dealing with knows about your visa and how to process your entry isn't "entitled". It's a perfectly reasonable expectation in line with their job description. They expect me to show up at certain times, fill in certain forms and supply certain documents as well. Reasonable expectations!

Now that I got my DTV and entered Thailand, I can answer my own question. 

 

Hand over passport, boarding pass, DTV, TDAC and expect a quick processing. However, young lady officer calls senior male officer and I can understand a bit of their chat (my first entry with DTV, before many times on VE). They ask how long I want to stay here (2 months) and return flight (I don't have any), but drop the subject. They want to know what I do in Thailand (medical tourism, tell them details). Male officer asks me to follow him to another counter. There goes through my documents again and I have the idea to hand him my various receipts and medical certificates from previous treatments. Asks me if I'm sick (no, I come for check-up and well-being). He scans some documents (with the scanner for passport, has to fold A4-paper so relevant part is in passport size). Checks one of my conditions from medical certificate on google on his phone and asks if that is my ailment. I confirm. Stamps me in with 180 days.

 

https://web.facebook.com/groups/destinationthailandvisa/permalink/2225372571319020

Here a report by someone who got grilled over rental contract and address. 

 

For future entries, I will be well prepared (except flight out of Thailand, the beauty of a visa is that I should be able to enter Thailand without proof of leaving, I like the flexibility of when and where to go next. 

16 hours ago, ChristianPFC said:

Hand over passport, boarding pass, DTV, TDAC and expect a quick processing. However, young lady officer calls senior male officer and I can understand a bit of their chat (my first entry with DTV, before many times on VE).

 

Did you apply for your DTV in your home country or in a country nearby Thailand?

 

From reports I've seen so far, DTV holders who do get questioned by immigration are those who applied nearby, as immigration may suspect that it was an "agent-assisted" application for bogus reasons. Which could explain why they wanted to establish your medical condition that you had used to apply for a visa based on medical tourism.