DTV Only in Your Home Country: New Rules From 31 Aug 2026

Since 31 August 2026 (00:00 Thai time), the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) can be filed only at a Thai embassy or consulate in a country where you are a citizen or a permanent resident. The rule applies worldwide. If you are a visitor in Vietnam, Bali or Thailand, you can no longer file the DTV there. Applications that were submitted and paid before 31 August 2026 are handled under the old rules. If you file from your home country, the DTV is still available and works as before.

What changed on 31 August 2026

The change was announced by Thai missions on 28 August 2026. According to the Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and the Thai embassy in Vientiane, the new requirements take effect worldwide. In practice, three things are different:

• Where you can file. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the country where you submit the application.
• Proof of residence. The old "document indicating current location" is replaced by proof of permanent residence in the country where the application is submitted.
• Criminal record. You need a certificate of criminal record clearance from your country of nationality or from the country where you submit.

The announcement did not change the financial and activity requirements. You still need to show the funds and a qualifying purpose. Our DTV requirements guide and the article on the 500,000 THB financial requirement cover them in detail.

Who is affected

Citizens applying at home. Little changes for you. Your passport is your proof, and you add the criminal record certificate.

Permanent residents abroad. You can file in the country where you hold permanent residence, if you can prove it to that mission.

Visitors and short-term residents. This group is hit hardest. Many guides, including older ones, recommended Ho Chi Minh City for the DTV. That advice is out of date. The Ho Chi Minh City consulate states that it no longer takes DTV applications from non-residents of Vietnam. Every mission now asks for proof of permanent residence, and a tourist stamp or a hotel booking is not that.

People who are in Thailand now. Your local mission is not an option. You would have to use the mission of your country of citizenship or permanent residence.

Indonesia and Bali. We did not find published guidance from the Thai embassy in Jakarta on how it reads "permanent residence". Treat any claim that the DTV is open to visitors there as unconfirmed.

How missions treat "permanent residence"

There is no single definition. According to Thaiger (15 September 2026), each mission decides for itself, and the missions publish their own wording. Check your mission's page before you plan anything.

Ho Chi Minh City sends mixed signals. The 28 August 2026 announcement says "permanent residence", while the consulate's DTV page accepts a TRC. Thaiger reads this as "a TRC is accepted". Which text applies in practice is not clear, so confirm it before you file.

What to do if you are not in your own country

1. Check whether your status counts. If you live in Vietnam with a TRC or PRC, Ho Chi Minh City is still open to you. Residents there need at least 500,000 THB in the account for three months, a criminal record certificate and a document showing the purpose of the trip. The consular fee is $340 and processing is 5 working days. A stay can last up to 180 days, with one extension of another 180.

2. File the DTV at your home mission. If you are a citizen of a country with a Thai embassy or consulate, that mission is your route. This is where the DTV still works. Prepare the funds, the criminal record certificate and proof of your activity, for example proof of remote work.

3. Use a tourist visa now and the DTV later. The multiple-entry tourist visa (METV) is valid for 6 months and allows up to 60 days per entry. Immigration can extend each stay once, by up to 30 days. A tourist visa does not allow employment in Thailand. We regularly file METV applications in Vietnam and Indonesia for clients who are not residents there. Read the full METV guide and the article on where to apply for METV abroad.

4. Check whether the visa exemption is enough. Since 15 September 2026 the visa-free stay for many nationalities is 30 days. For a short trip that may be all you need. See visa exemption, SETV, METV or DTV for how to choose.

Whatever you choose, submit only genuine documents. We help clients assemble a complete package under current requirements. We do not make forged documents.

If you file from your home country

The DTV is still a five-year visa, and the process is the one you already know. The main additions are the criminal record certificate and proof of your status in the country of filing. Our service for DTV applications starts from 8,000 THB. The consular fee is paid separately and depends on the mission. We confirm the amount before you pay.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a DTV in Vietnam?

Only if you are a citizen of Vietnam or hold residence there that the Ho Chi Minh City consulate accepts (a TRC or PRC). The consulate has confirmed that non-residents are not accepted.

What counts as permanent residence?

It depends on the mission. Ho Chi Minh City names the TRC and PRC. Vientiane names Lao citizens and permanent residents. Other missions publish their own wording, and Thaiger reports that there is no single definition. Ask the mission or us before you file.

Do I need to be physically in the country where I file?

The announcements we reviewed do not say. The official e-Visa portal asks for your current location in tourist applications, so plan on being there, and confirm with the mission before you travel.

I submitted and paid my DTV application before 31 August 2026. Is it affected?

No. According to the Vientiane embassy, the new requirements do not affect applications submitted and paid before that date. The announcements we reviewed cover new applications only.

Is a criminal record certificate required now?

Yes. The e-Visa checklist asks for a certificate from your country of nationality or from the country where you file.

I cannot file the DTV where I am. What are my options?

Wait and file at your home mission, or use a tourist visa, such as the METV, or the 30-day visa exemption in the meantime.

If you are not in your own country, we file your METV from Vietnam or Indonesia in about 7 working days, from $300. If you can file from home, we will handle your DTV.