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Can I apply for a Thai visa while entering Thailand on visa exemption?

Visa ExemptionVisa Application ProcessThailand VisaDTV VisaEntering ThailandVisa Approval RisksExpats in Thailand
Oct 8, 2024
4 months ago
Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Entering Thailand during the application process?

I am outside of Thailand right now but will enter Thailand soon (on visa exemption). Can I apply now although I will most probably be inside Thailand at the time the embassy in this other country would approve it or do I need to stay outside Thailand during the whole process?

Thanks!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster asks whether they can apply for a Thai visa while entering the country on a visa exemption, as they will likely be inside Thailand when the embassy approves their application. Several commenters provide mixed advice: some confirm it is possible to apply while physically in Thailand, but caution that doing so may risk rejection of the visa due to being inside the country during processing. There's also mention of practical steps, like needing to leave Thailand to activate the visa post-approval.
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Paul *******
If for whatever reason you must leave Vietnam (although I think you should be able to seek an extension of stay) then go to Cambodia or Laos and wait there. Do NOT enter Thailand until the visa has been approved. Perhaps wait at the Thai border in Koh Kong, Vientiane or Savannakhet if you must, so you can immediately enter Thailand once the approval letter has come through.
4 months ago
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Ros ************
Yes you can only but for activate the visa you supposed to go out and come in again
4 months ago
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Luit *****************
@Ros ***********
 Of course it is possible for him to apply, but there is a risk it will be rejected, because you should not be in Thailand during the processing of the application.

The visa will be active from the moment of approval, that has nothing to do with the moment you get in, but of course you have to get a stamp first to have the right to stay for 180 days.
4 months ago
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Ros ************
@Luit ****************
 I answered from personally experience and I did it when I’ve been in Thailand and it was improved and I already activated it
4 months ago
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Luit *****************
@Ros ***********
 the fact that in your case they did not actually check you were in Thailand, is no guarantee they always will skip this check, so telling the topicstarter het can do this is not without risk.
4 months ago
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Petio ********
@Luit ****************
 do you think that getting rejected once for being in Thailand during application will reduce the chances of approval on a subsequent application from outside the country?
4 months ago
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Luit *****************
@Petio *******
 No idea if it will reduce chances, but rejected means loosing your money.
4 months ago
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Luit *****************
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Henrik *****
Evaluate the costs of extending your present stay in Vietnam, until you get the DTV, with the option to have to go 1 more time outside Thailand to apply for DTV.
4 months ago
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Tod *********
Nothing personal but you kinda shot yourself in the foot 😮 if you were IN vietnam and waited until they went online to try to get a DTV,

that thai consulate in HCMC was an EASY walk up consulate to apply at (needed to book an appt though)

Still good luck with your endeavor (y)
4 months ago
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Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Not really. I'm going back to my home country soon and planned to apply there. Now that I heard about the online option I thought: Maybe I could get it sooner. I don't need it soon as we have 60 days exempt but I was interested to see if I can get it done now. So no, I would not have walked in and travelled to HCM or Hanoi solely for that purpose.
4 months ago
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Dean *******
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Carlos *********
You can apply, then come to Thailand on visa exemption. Once it’s approved you go out of Thailand and enter again with the DTV. I did exactly that a month ago
4 months ago
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Maryam ****
@Carlos ********
 what country you applied dtv?
4 months ago
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Carlos *********
@Maryam ***
 China (Beijing). It was taking too long so I decided to come on visa exemption first
4 months ago
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Carlos *********
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Luit *****************
@Carlos ********
 That might work, but there is a possibility they reject the DTV application when you are inside Thailand at the moment of the decision.
4 months ago
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Carlos *********
@Luit ****************
 True, I took the risk and it worked for me
4 months ago
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Carlos *********
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Rob *********
@Carlos ********
 Yeah, it is very surrealistic but it works like that 😂
4 months ago
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Rob *********
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Ulrich ***********
Bottled water
4 months ago
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Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for the tip. I prefer Pepsi but you do you.
4 months ago
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Dean *******
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Tod *********
wanna say WHERE you are now?

The cambodian thai consulate told someone they had to be IN cambodia to apply for the DTV thru the eVisa system but they could then leave the country and go anywhere else as long as they DID NOT go to thailand (they evidently can see if you enter thailand).

So how about mentioning where you are now and where you think you're applying for the DTV from?
4 months ago
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Vincent *********
@Tod ********
 Im curious, how would the consulate know he entered Thailand on a visa exemption in the middle of his DTV application, as I've read multiple times here that MFA and immigration do not communicate?
4 months ago
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Tod *********
@Vincent ********
 dunno that's what the thai consulate in cambodia said,
4 months ago
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Tod *********
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Luit *****************
@Tod ********
 This is a rule most countries use for visa, apply outside the country, be in the country at the moment of application, and stay outside during processing application.

It not always will hurt if you ignore these rules, but there is a certain risk, even when officers might tell there is no problem.

Another officer always might use the rules more strictly.
4 months ago
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Tod *********
@Luit ****************
 the consulate in Cambodia made it seem like the can/will deny people if they see after they apply that they entered thailand before they are approved for the visa (so they must have a way to check that)
4 months ago
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Tod *********
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Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Currently in Vietnam. Not close to any embassy though and therefore need the process to be online only.
4 months ago
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Tod *********
umm, news flash there
@Dean ******
, BOTH consulates in Vietnam went on the eVisa system today.

So make a log in to the eVisa system, apply online, pay, and wait out the 5 day processing (which is what Hanoi said they'd have). Once they email you the DTV you can enter thailand

That's the screen shot showing you can select Hanoi or HCMC
4 months ago
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Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 I know that and this is why I started thinking about it today and not earlier. Unfortunately it is during the last couple of days for me in Vietnam. So I will be going to Thailand on Saturday on visa exempt. And I'm sure they will not have it processed by then. So that's why I'm asking...I will most probably be in Thailand DURING the process but right now I'm outside Thailand...which is my point and question.
4 months ago
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Tod *********
from what the cambodian consulate is telling people
@Dean ******
 it will not work ,

they are saying you can go anywhere BUT thailand.

So dunno if that's for the viet consulates too or not

I mean apply, come here and then and see if it gets approved or rejected.

Either that OR come here visa exempt and make a plan to go to a walk up consulate to apply (Vientiane/Savannakhet, Yangon, Jakarta or Taipei) or go back to a country that has eVisa (Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam)
4 months ago
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Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 The problem is I'm not quite interested in wasting $340 😅 I will contact the embassy via email and see what they say. Thank you for your input!
4 months ago
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Tod *********
@Dean ******
 I emailed them and they just sent me the press release announcing that they were switching to eVisa, but if you get a different answer post it and let people know

Like I said, come in free stamp get the 60 day entry, and make a plan to GO and apply for the DTV
4 months ago
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Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Ok. I emailed both embassies just in case. Will update once I get a response.
4 months ago
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Jacob **********
@Dean ******
 Any update?
4 months ago
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Jacob **********
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Andi ***********
Some embassies detail they may request an in-person interview for further questioning of an online application.
4 months ago
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Rob *********
@Andi **********
 Yes I did in Penang a month ago a personal interview, that's true.
4 months ago
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Tod *********
penang WAS a walk up consulate a month ago
@Rob ********
 🙁 Now it's an eVisa online consulate just like Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur Kota Bharu, Hanoi and HCMC
4 months ago
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Andi ***********
@Rob ********
 you made an online application?
4 months ago
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Rob *********
@Andi **********
 no, it was in person all the process, I was rejected due to a few reasons (main reason my money was in a broker not in a bank ).
4 months ago
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Andi ***********
@Rob ********
 Oh, your funds were easily accessible in the brokerage account? You got the DTV elsewhere ?
4 months ago
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Rob *********
@Andi **********
 Yes my funds was 100% accessible but the "nice" officer in there, did not want to understand my explanations, anyway I got a different solution (I am married with a Thai Citizen), to me it was ok, but many people can have the same issues I had.
4 months ago
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Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rob ********
 Actually I even asked my embassy for their opinion on having stocks and not cash as assets and they told me explicitly that this is not a problem. Seems to depend on the country.
4 months ago
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Rob *********
@Dean ******
 Your country does nothing to say what Thailand won't or doesn't want mate. Even every Thai embassy has different rules/opinions. I was rejected, maybe with the same documents you won't, who knows 🤔?, I just shared my experience to help others.
4 months ago
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Dean *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rob ********
 Sorry, should have been more clear: The Thai embassy in my home country. So it was Thailand and not my country which obviously has nothing to do with it. 😛 So it seems (like I said) that your chosen embassy is more strict and that it depends on the embassy.
4 months ago
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Rob *********
@Dean ******
 Yes every Thai embassy has their own rules, that's why deal with visas can be a nightmare sometimes. To me , the reason for the rejection was that the broker account, was NOT VALID. As you can imagine, I did not want to move my funds (that day), to make the officer happy, that's why I was rejected.
4 months ago
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Rob *********
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Tod *********
I saw that in the Hanoi announcement for eVisa (here) but I think they're blowing smoke because not one of the 40 odd thai consulates now on the eVisa system have "in person interviews"
4 months ago
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Andi ***********
@Tod ********
 London also stipulates you can be bought in for questioning on your online application.. Not heard of anyone having to do it. Taipei said today in their email the consular officer reserves the right to request additional documents or interview as necessary.
4 months ago
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Tod *********
@Andi **********
 I think it's a boiler plate blurb from MFA (the people that run the embassies/consulates)
4 months ago
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Gerry ********
@Tod ********
 yeah. I would not have been pleased if the embassy in Canberra asked me to fly halfway across Australia to visit them....
4 months ago
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Andi ***********
@Tod ********
 yeah or maybe if they doubt your presence in the country they ask for you to come in?
4 months ago
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Andi ***********
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