DTV Visa Service for long-term visitors to Thailand

What is the DTV Visa?

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a 5-year, multiple-entry visa designed for people who want to spend long periods in Thailand without becoming full residents. Each time you enter Thailand on DTV you get up to 180 days. Once per entry you can extend that stay for another 180 days at immigration. After the 180 + 180 days you must leave and re-enter to start a new stay. You can do this as many times as you like during the 5-year validity.

On paper it is a tourist-class visa, not a work visa. You cannot get a Thai work permit or take a job with a Thai company under DTV. You also cannot use it for things that need non-immigrant status (permanent residency track, domestic adoption, etc). But for remote workers, Muay Thai students, long-term patients and lifestyle visitors, it behaves like a “super tourist visa” – long stays, easy re-entry, and far less visa stress than running on normal tourist visas.

Who is it for?

The Thai government created DTV for three main groups:

1. Workcation / digital nomad / remote worker / freelancer / foreign talent
   You work for a foreign company, run your own online business, or freelance for overseas clients and want to base yourself in Thailand legally for months at a time.
2. Thai soft-power activities
   You want to spend serious time in Thailand for Muay Thai, Thai cooking schools, film/creative projects, cultural programs, wellness or long-term medical treatment.
3. Family of a DTV holder
   Your spouse or children (under 20) want to stay with you in Thailand while you are on DTV.

You must be at least 20 years old to be the main DTV holder. Dependents can be under 20.

Requirements

Requirements vary slightly by embassy, but the core DTV rules are consistent. We confirm the exact version for your case; here is what DTV usually demands.

General rules (all DTV applicants)

• Age 20+ (for the main applicant).
• Passport valid at least 6 months from your travel date.
• Recent passport-style photo (taken within the last 6 months).
• Proof of current location or residence (driver’s licence, utility bill, bank statement or local visa).
• Bank statement for the last 3 months showing at least 500,000 THB (or equivalent) in savings in your name.
• Clean immigration and criminal history (no serious overstays or bans).

Category: Workcation / Digital Nomad / Remote Worker / Freelancer

• All general rules above.
• Employment contract, employment certificate or service agreements showing you work for an overseas employer or clients.
• Salary slips or income statements for the last 6 months.
• Professional portfolio or website/LinkedIn profile that clearly shows what you do.

Category: Thai soft-power (Muay Thai, culinary, medical, wellness, etc.)

• All general rules above.
• Letter of acceptance or booking from the camp, school, studio, production company or hospital.
• Clear description of the program (dates, location, contact person).
• If medical: confirmation from the hospital/clinic about your treatment plan.

Category: Spouse and children of a DTV holder

• Passport and photo for each family member.
• Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate).
• Copy of the main DTV holder’s passport and DTV approval.
• Bank statement showing the same 500,000 THB minimum (family account is often acceptable with proof of relationship).
• Sometimes salary slips / income proof of the main DTV holder.

We turn these raw requirements into a clean file that fits what your specific Thai embassy or e-Visa office wants to see.

Starting the process while in Thailand

You cannot actually apply for DTV inside Thailand. The rules require you to lodge the application from outside the country, either online through the Thai e-Visa system or at a Thai embassy/consulate. However, many future DTV holders are already in Thailand on a tourist visa or exemption when they decide to switch.

Here is how we handle that situation:

1. We review your current stamps, remaining days, income, and documents while you are still in Thailand.
2. We build your full DTV application pack and choose the best Thai embassy/consulate in a nearby country (for example Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, etc.) that commonly handles DTV for your nationality.
3. We plan the timing so you leave Thailand once, submit the application correctly, wait the processing time, and re-enter with a fresh DTV instead of bouncing around doing risky border runs.

You get one clean exit and re-entry, not a messy chain of emergency visa trips.

Starting the process from your home country

If you are still at home, you can start on the strongest footing.

1. We confirm eligibility. You tell us your age, nationality, type of work or activity, income and savings. We tell you directly if DTV is realistic, or if you should consider a different visa.
2. We prepare every document. We complete the visa application, craft a clear cover letter, list and prepare your income proof, contracts, portfolio links and bank statements in the exact format the embassy likes to see. If your embassy uses the Thai e-Visa system, we also map every upload and field.
3. You submit once, correctly. You either attend your local Thai consulate or submit everything online. If they ask for extra documents, we draft and organize those responses. When the visa is approved, we double-check the label and explain how to use it at immigration.

You start your DTV life in Thailand with no visa drama at the airport.

Entering and exiting Thailand on a DTV visa

A DTV visa is valid for 5 years and is multiple entry. That means:

• Each entry gives you up to 180 days in Thailand.
• Once per entry you can extend another 180 days at immigration (extra fee).
• After 180 + 180 days you must leave and re-enter to reset the clock.
• You do not need a re-entry permit; the DTV itself acts as your multi-entry permission.
• You must still complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before each trip, just like other foreigners.

If at some point you change to another visa type inside Thailand (for example work, marriage, or retirement), your DTV is cancelled the moment the new status is granted. That is sometimes a smart move; we will tell you when.

Special process for digital nomads

Digital nomads and remote workers are the core DTV audience – and also the group that confuses immigration the most. Loose job titles, vague “crypto trading,” and messy freelance histories cause refusals. Our job is to make your profile easy for the officer to understand and accept.

Here is what we do for you:

• We map your income clearly: salary slips, invoices, PayPal/Stripe reports, bank transfers – turned into a simple, believable income record.
• We clean your story: job title, duties, employer or client details, and country of taxation written in plain language that matches your contracts and online presence.
• We polish your public profile: LinkedIn, website, portfolio, Upwork/Fiverr pages – aligned with what you claim in the application so nothing looks fake or risky.
• If you run your own company, we help you present it as a real foreign business with registration documents, website, and service descriptions that immigration can understand at a glance.

You keep working for your foreign clients from Thailand. We make sure your paperwork makes sense to the people checking it.

FAQ

1. Can I work for a Thai company on a DTV visa?

No. DTV is still a tourist-class visa. You may work remotely for foreign clients or your foreign company, but you cannot take a job with a Thai employer or be paid in Thailand as a local worker.

2. What is the minimum age to apply?

You must be 20 years old or older to be the main DTV visa holder. Spouses and children under 20 can apply as dependents.

3. How much money do I need in the bank?

You need at least 500,000 THB (or equivalent) in savings, shown on bank statements for the last 3 months. Some embassies also expect proof of ongoing income; we confirm the exact target for your case.

4. How long does the DTV visa process take?

Most embassies and e-Visa offices issue decisions within 10–30 working days once your file is complete. If documents are missing or unclear, it can take longer. Our job is to make it complete from day one.

5. Can I switch from DTV to another visa inside Thailand?

In many cases, yes. You can change from DTV to a work, family, retirement, or other long-stay visa inside Thailand if you meet the requirements. Once the change is approved, the DTV is cancelled and you follow the new visa’s rules.

6. Do I still need 90-day reporting?

If you stay longer than 90 days in a single stretch (for example using the 180-day entry or extension), you must follow normal 90-day address reporting rules. We can handle this for you as part of our service.

7. Do I need health insurance for a DTV?

Right now DTV does not have a universal mandatory health insurance requirement like some retirement visas, but certain posts may ask for proof of coverage, especially for long-term medical stays. We will tell you what your embassy expects and can connect you with suitable policies.

8. Can I bring my family with me?

Yes. Your spouse and children under 20 can apply as dependents if you meet the financial requirements and can prove the relationship. We prepare their files together with yours so the story is consistent.

9. What happens if I stay over 180 days without extending?

You would be overstaying, which leads to fines and possible bans. If you want to stay more than 180 days in one visit, you must file the 180-day extension while still legal, or leave and re-enter before your last day. We track these dates for you.

10. How many times can I enter Thailand on a DTV?

There is no fixed limit on entries during the 5-year validity. As long as your visa is valid, you can enter and stay up to 180 days each time (with one 180-day extension per entry if you choose).

11. Can I study in Thailand with a DTV instead of an ED visa?

For short or flexible courses (Muay Thai camps, cooking schools, certain creative or wellness programs), DTV is often easier than ED. For formal full-time study at universities or long academic programs, an ED visa may still be better. We compare both options for you.

12. What does Thai Kru actually do for my DTV case?

We do three things: check if DTV is realistic, build a full application file that your embassy can understand, and stay with you until the visa is issued and you enter Thailand with the correct stamp. For digital nomads, we go further and shape your contracts, income proof and online profiles so immigration sees a clear, honest remote-worker story that fits the DTV rules.