What is DTV Visa?
The DTV Visa(Destination Thailand Visa), introduced in July 2024, is a new long-stay visa designed to be cheaper, faster, and attract higher-spending visitors to help boost Thailand’s post-COVID economy.
Key benefits of DTV Visa:
• Stay in Thailand for up to 5 years (vs. 60 days on a tourist visa)
• Very affordable — about 10,000 THB (320 USD), far cheaper than:
– Elite Visa: ~650,000 THB for 5 years
– LTR Visa: 50,000 THB
• Easy application — usually fully online without visiting an embassy (some may require a short interview)
• Fast processing — typically 1 week to 1 month, compared to 2–3 months for Elite or LTR visa
• Minimal documentation: Only need 500,000 THB in savings for 3 months, compared to the LTR requirement of 80,000 THB/month passive income for 1 year or the age requirement of 50 years old for a retirement visa.
Limitations of DTV Visa:
• 180 days per entry – The DTV Visa allows stays of up to 180 days per entry. Since the 1-year extension process is unclear, you must leave and re-enter after 180 days.
The advantage is you can do this unlimited times during the 5-year visa period.
• Cannot open a Thai bank account — DTV Visa holders are not allowed to open bank accounts because the Bank of Thailand has suspended account openings for all tourist-type visas after the scam crackdown.
This can make daily life slightly less convenient, but if you apply with us, we can guide you on practical ways to work around this.
• Unclear guidelines & varying embassy requirements — The DTV Visa is new, and official guidelines have not yet been released. Approval also varies across Thailand’s 65+ embassies worldwide.
However, with experience from 600+ applicants and knowledge of 40+ embassies, we can advise you on exactly what each embassy typically looks for to maximize your chance of approval.
So if you want to stay in Thailand long term and don’t mind flying in and out of the country 2–3 times per year, the DTV Visa offers the best value for you.
Comparison of DTV Visa to Other Visas(4 Types)
Before applying for the DTV Visa with us, let us show you a clear comparison of all visa types and who they best suit—so you don’t risk choosing the wrong visa and losing time reapplying for the most suitable visa for you.
Head-to-Head: Thailand’s Long-Stay Visas Compared
DTV Visa vs. Retirement Visa
Validity
• Retirement Visa: 1 year → must extend every year
• DTV Visa: 5 years → apply once, no yearly extension
Cost
• Retirement Visa:
– Agent fee + paperwork: ~15,000 THB/year
– Required health insurance: ~30,000 THB/year
→ Total: ~250,000 THB(for over 5 years)
• DTV Visa:
– About 50,000 THB total (visa fee + Muay Thai program + our visa assistant)
→ Roughly 5× cheaper
Process
• Retirement Visa: Yearly immigration visits, long queues, and multiple forms
• DTV Visa: Apply once online, valid for 5 years, no yearly hassle
Where the Retirement Visa Is Better
The only real advantages of the Retirement Visa are:
• It has been around for many years (very stable rules)
• You can open a Thai bank account with it
The DTV Visa is newer and cannot be used to open a bank account yet.
Our Experience Matters
Even though the DTV Visa is new, we manage a large volume of successful DTV applications.
We know which documents each embassy prefers, how to prepare financial proof correctly, and how to reduce the chance of mistakes or rejection.
Applying with us significantly increases your chances of approval.
When Is the Retirement Visa Better? (Our Perspective)
Honestly, only in very specific situations:
👉 You absolutely love visiting Thai immigration every year
👉 You want to improve your Thai language by studying complex Thai immigration laws(so you can save the agent fee and apply the visa by yourself)
👉 You really, really want a Thai bank account and cannot live without one
Other than these rare cases…
The DTV Visa is almost always the cheaper, easier, and more convenient choice for long-term living in Thailand.
DTV Visa vs. LTR Visa
Validity
DTV Visa:
• 5 years total
• Multiple entries
• 180 days per entry
LTR Visa:
• 10 years total
• Unlimited entries
• No per-entry limit → stay continuously
Cost
DTV Visa:
• About 50,000 THB total
– 10,000 THB visa fee
– 39,990 THB Muay Thai course + Visa assistant program with US
→ Lowest cost option for long stays (Best Value)
LTR Visa:
• About 100,000 THB Total
• Visa fee: 50,000 THB per person +Visa agent charge from 40,000-60,000 THB(You can apply LTR without agent but the required documents and process is so confusing that you should have an agent do the work for you)
Process
DTV Visa:
• Apply once online
• Fast approval (1–4 weeks)
• Minimal documents(compare to LTR)
LTR Visa:
• More documents (income proof, tax records, employer confirmation, etc.)
• 2 Months processing time
• Requires qualifications + background checks + must buy health insurance
• Apply in Bangkok not online
Where the LTR Visa Is Better than DTV
• Unlimited stay per entry vs 180 day for DTV visa
• 10 years validity vs 5 years for DTV
• Can open a Bank Account
• Tax Benefits
Where the DTV Visa Is Better than LTR
• Easier and faster to apply
• Online Application
• No income requirements(just show proof of fund)
• Does not need to buy health insurance
Who Is the LTR Visa Perfect For?
• People who don’t want to travel abroad 2–3 times a year
• Anyone who wants tax privileges
• Those who need a Thai bank account
• People with strong financial documents (pension or dividends)
The LTR Visa costs more upfront but is cheaper to maintain, more stable, and avoids frequent travel. It’s the easiest long-term solution if you qualify.
If you’re considering applying for an LTR Visa instead of a DTV Visa, feel free to contact us. We can refer you to a trusted LTR Visa agent who can handle the entire process for you.
(We receive a small referral commission, but you pay the same price as a regular customer.)
DTV Visa vs. Elite Visa
Validity
DTV Visa:
• 5-year visa
• 180 days per entry (re-enter for another 180 days)
Elite Visa:
• 5–20 years depending on package
• No stay limits per entry (usually 1 year per entry)
Cost
DTV Visa:
• Total around 50,000 THB
– 10,000 THB visa fee
– 39,990 THB Muay Thai course +Visa support
Elite Visa:
• 900,000 – 2,000,000+ THB
• Some packages include annual service fees
Process
DTV Visa:
• Apply once online
• Moderate documentation
• 1–4 week processing
• Cannot open a bank account
Elite Visa:
• Extremely easy process
• Almost zero documents
• Approval in 2 months
• Can open a Thai bank account
• No income or financial proof required
Where Elite Visa Is Better
• No income requirements
• Up to 20 years validity
• Airport VIP fast-track
• Concierge hotline
• Bank account access
• No border runs
Elite = First Class — maximum comfort, zero paperwork.
Who Elite Visa Is Perfect For
Elite Visa is for people who don’t want to prepare documents.
You simply pay the fee and receive a long-term visa — no income statements, no financial checks, no complicated requirements.
If you are a crypto millionaire, or run a business where you prefer not to reveal your income sources, the Elite Visa is the simplest option.
Airport perks are nice, but the real advantage is the zero-document requirement:
Just pay → get your visa → stay long-term.
If you’re interested in an Elite Visa, we can refer you to a trusted agent. You pay the same price as everyone else (agents are paid by the Elite Visa company), and we receive a small commission.
Who is DTV Visa perfect for
The DTV Visa is made for people who dream of living in Thailand longer but don’t want the headache of complicated visas or expensive agent fees.
Maybe you came to Thailand for a short trip and instantly fell in love — the warm people, the low cost of living, the incredible food, the lifestyle.
Until now, staying long-term was difficult. Border runs are banned. Retirement visas start at age 50. And most long-stay visas require income, sponsors, or heavy paperwork.
The DTV Visa finally gives you a simple, affordable way to stay in Thailand for months at a time.
If you want to experience Thailand at your own pace — without stress, without huge costs, and without mountains of paperwork —
The DTV Visa — officially called the Destination Thailand Visa — is perfect for you.
The name itself reflects the true purpose of the visa: it is designed for people who want Thailand to be their destination, the place they choose to stay, live, and enjoy for an extended period.
3 Types of DTV Visa
Workcation/Digital Nomad
This route is for people who can work online from anywhere in the world.
To apply through this pathway, you must show supporting documents that prove:
You have a job or freelance work
You earn enough income to support yourself in Thailand
Softpower(Muaythai or Cooking)
The Thai government knows that many people want to stay in Thailand to travel and experience local culture — and perhaps even find love! However, these travelers often don’t have a valid work contract or official documents like those applying for a workcation.
To address this, the government created a program that encourages foreigners to learn activities Thailand is proud of, such as Muay Thai and Thai cooking.
By enrolling in such a school for a long period, you become eligible to apply for a DTV Visa.
However, not every school qualifies. The Thai embassy maintains a list of approved schools for DTV Visa applications, so before enrolling, make sure your chosen school is on the eligible list.However, not every school qualifies. The Thai embassy maintains a list of approved schools for DTV Visa applications, so before enrolling, make sure your chosen school is on the eligible list.
FITFAC Muay Thai is on the eligible list for the DTV Visa, and we outline the documents needed to support your visa journey here.
Spouse/Children
This route allows the spouse and dependent children of a DTV Visa holder to join them in Thailand. Dependents can live in the country legally, enjoy the same benefits as the primary visa holder, and experience life in Thailand without applying for a separate DTV Visa.
For the DTV Visa, there are three approved support documents you must submit to the Thai Embassy: Workcation, Softpower, and Spouse.
Deciding which type of DTV Visa is most suitable for you requires considering several factors.
These factors include your passport country, the nature of your work, and the strength of your financial support documents.
It also depends on whether you plan to stay in Bangkok or elsewhere.
At FITFAC, although we are primarily a Muay Thai gym, we also offer consultation services for those who want to apply under Route 1.
If you want more information on why you should apply for a DTV Visa with us, please click the button Learn more about Why FITFAC or if you want to proceed with applying with us you can go for Apply Now
