Currently in Thailand on a tourist visa but want to get a DTV visa for workcation. Do I have to leave the country to get a DTV visa? Going through the online website it asks me when I am arriving - do I put a date in the past? Bit confused

Hi everyone!

With the workcation option, do you need to be already working to get the DTV or is it possible to get the DTV while not currently in work and start a remote business afterwards?

Many thanks

I'm on the DTV for Workcation (remote work) but am leaving Thailand today after staying for just 3 weeks. I will be gone for 3 months because I have other stuff to take care of outside Thailand. Could there be any issues with staying for a short time on the DTV, then being away from Thailand for some months, then coming back again to stay a month or two? I imagine for the Soft Power version of the DTV that may seems questionable, but for a remote worker like me it shouldn't be an issue, right?

Has the government still not confirmed the difference between getting the "Workcation" and the "Soft Power" versions of the DTV? If someone gets a DTV for a business in 3 years will they need to show its still operating or will Soft Power DTV holders need to show they are still enrolled in a Soft Power activity down the line? If the registration part is different but everyone gets the same visa then wouldn't everyone just get the Soft Power version because its easier if you dont have to prove you still do the Soft Power?

Here are the requirements for an extension, as published on the website of Immigration Division 1

Item 39

DTV approved in Vientiane 🎉

This group was super helpful so wanted to share my experience. Overall it a super smooth process in Vientiane, and much faster than the timeline currently on the embassy website.

* Applied online Sunday 19 January for workcation

* Paid at the embassy on Monday 20 January

* Tuesday 21 January at about 9pm received an email with an interview on Thursday 23 January.

* Went for my interview Thursday morning

* I got an email not even 10 minutes after leaving the embassy saying my visa was approved

* Back in Thailand on Friday, no issues at immigration

Total processing time: 4 business days

The interview was very straightforward, asked me about my job then made me login to my online banking to check it was my name on the account and then verified some transactions. Took less than 5 minutes.

## Documents included in application:

Passport

Photo

Current location:

Photo of Laos entry stamp and visa

Confirmation of hotel booking in Vientiane

Proof of funds:

Included three full months statements plus my January balance so far. Had over 500K each month.

Employment confirmation:

Letter from my employer confirming employment and remote work status, specifically mentioning I can work remotely from anywhere including Thailand

Employment contract

Copy of employer’s Singaporean business registration

After 5 Business Days, exactly, I’ve been APPROVED in HCMC! Workcation! I’m on my way back to Bangkok on Saturday 🙌🏽🥳

Editing per request in comments:

I applied on Wednesday, Jan 15th at 3p. On Thurs, they requested 6 months of bank statements (I only submitted sponsorship letters and screenshots of deposits as income, initially). I was approved Thurs, Jan 23rd.

My complete submission was around 90 pages- 45 for Financial and 45 for Portfolio. I compressed right in Adobe to meet 3mb.

Financial Package:

Cover Letter

6 months statements showing just my savings balance at $17k USD.

2 sponsorship letters from clients (I am an independent consultant, I build and manage training platforms, among other operational & finance responsibilities)

6 invoices for my clients (3 for each, with screen shots of payments)

My lease for my condo in Bangkok, with proof of payment

My 2023 tax return doc to show previous work experience

Portfolio

My business registration

EIN files with IRS

My Business Operating Agreement

My contract with my business

My Independent Business Organization agreement with one client

My Service Agreement with another client

Screenshots of works- my website, the learning platform for one client, screen shots of a website I built for another client

My Bachelors Degree

My MBA transcripts

A couple screenshots of things I intend to learn in Bangkok- classes at a language school and short courses at Sasin Univ

That’s it, I think lol

Are you allowed to do remote work with the "soft power" version of the DTV? Or is there no difference between "workcation" and "soft power" DTV.

DTV (workcation) approved today (13th Jan) from London Embassy. Applied 29th December with supporting documents submitted a few days later.

I am flying out on Thursday from UK so sent an email to [email protected] (with flight details attached) on Sunday night with a request to speed it up. Got an email this morning saying they had forwarded a message to the approval team and it was approved at 4pm today. Very relieved and I know others are in the same situation as theres a backlog from Christmas so thought I'd share my experience.

From my experience applying for visas before, that email address is usually quite responsive. Good luck to everyone, I know how stressful it can be!

🎉 Successful Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) Application! 🎉

I’m thrilled to share that my DTV application with the Royal Thai Embassy in Berne, Switzerland, has been approved!

* Category:

Workcation (Freelancer)

* **Timeline:

**Submitted: January 6, 9:30 PM

Approved: January 9, 4:00 PM

The process went super smoothly—no additional documentation or clarifications were requested! Here's what I included in my application:

## 1️⃣ Personal Documentation & FINANCIAL :

* Biodata page of my passport

* A recent photograph

* Proof of current location (Switzerland)

## 2️⃣ Financial Evidence:

* Bank statements covering the past year

## 3️⃣ Supporting Documents:

* Self-Declaration (partially in Thai)

* Professional Portfolio

* Company registration confirmation from the commercial register

* Lease agreement for my previous residence in Thailand (I was on an ED visa, canceled before traveling to Switzerland for the holidays)

* Reservation confirmation for my next place in Thailand

* Payment receipt for the 7-month Thai language course I’ve already completed

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the process—I’m happy to help! 😊

I’m super excited to start this new chapter of my life in Thailand in just a few weeks!