In theory within 24 hours, but there are no checks so any time seems ok. Major requirement is to have a valid one for any immigration office visits eg extensions etc

@Tod ********

and the first 90 day after entry into thailand is still in person Tod? Not online possible?

Chinese new year isnt a thai public holiday

Pasport, visa, insurance doc, bording pass

Suvarnabhumi, international exit 2 after security control, just before immigration control, far left as you face the passport control desks ...

1200 baht, only passport needed, altho if you prefill the form and have a passport sized photo ready its a bit quicker than the usual 20 minutes and cheaper at 1000 baht

Easy

@Peter **********

you need tm30, your tabien baan is a yellow book yes? The house 'master' your wife or maybe you, can register for giving you a tm30 ...register via the tm30 website

@Matthew *******

agree, am waiting to see some examples ...

Presumably that would apply for any visa type extension?

I am currently on rolling non imm o (retirement) extensions but do have an option of applying for a DVT ...presumably I would have to let the extension expire then apply for a DVT out of country? Can not apply for a DVT with a valid non imm o extension? The attraction being of course the 5 year nature of the DVT visa (I spend only 6 month or less time slots in thailand).

The Thai Soft Power aspect is intriguing ...offering some specific examples buy also suitably vague ... is there really a cooking class that requires a 5 year visa? Can you get a 5 year visa by attending a 1 day cooking class, a 5 year visa to attend a 1 hour seminar?

Will be interesting to hear from experiences of people applying under the Soft Power option ...what is acceptable and what not.

Examples so far seem to be medical ...even that one, can you get a 5 year visa for a single medical appointment?

Or am I completely missunderstanding the category?

Best guess