Getting your Thailand e-Visa approval email and noticing it’s not the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) you applied for is stressful, but it’s fixable. The key is to act quickly, avoid using the “wrong” visa by accident, and keep your next steps evidence-based (what the system and the issuing post can actually do).
Confirm what was actually issued
Thailand’s e-Visa is “stickerless,” meaning your visa approval is electronic. Your airline and Thai Immigration will look at the details on the approval/confirmation and your passport at travel time.
Before you do anything else, verify these items on the visa approval:
- Visa type/class (does it explicitly say DTV, or something else such as TR tourist, Non-Immigrant category, etc.)
- Validity dates (issue date and last date you can enter)
- Number of entries (single vs multiple, if stated)
- Your personal data (name, passport number, date of birth)
Why this matters: once approved, many posts state the information cannot be manually edited by consular officers in the system; if details are incorrect, you typically must submit a new application and pay again.
Why you might receive a different visa than DTV
Different visa issued usually comes from one of these situations:
- The application data or uploaded evidence didn’t match DTV requirements
DTV applications have specific financial and eligibility proofs for example, evidence of funds and proof of qualifying activity/work. Different embassies/consulates publish DTV checklists and required documents, and if your upload set doesn’t support DTV clearly, the result may be refusal or sometimes a different outcome depending on the post’s handling.
2. Selected the wrong visa type or your answers routed you into another category
Thailand’s MFA explicitly warns that applying for the wrong visa type can lead to rejection and that fees are not refundable
What you should do next
Step 1: Do not travel until you’re comfortable with what you’re entering on
Airlines and Thai Immigration will assess you based on what is issued and what you present. If you board using an approval that is not DTV, you should assume you’ll be admitted on that non-DTV basis.
Step 2: If the visa is clearly wrong: prepare to reapply
Royal Thai consulate FAQ pages state that after approval, information cannot be revised/overridden manually, and if your information is incorrect you must reapply and pay again.
That means:
a) If you truly need DTV (because your plan, length of stay, or compliance depends on it), reapply for DTV with corrected inputs and stronger evidence.
b) Treat this as a fresh application. Use the official e-Visa portal.
Step 3: Contact the issuing post, but plan for “reapply”
You can still email the embassy/consulate that processed your application to ask what happened and whether any remedy exists. Some posts publish an inquiry channel and request you include your name and application reference number.
That said, based on published guidance from multiple posts, you should be prepared that the practical answer will still be: the system can’t be edited; submit a new application.
Step 4: If you already entered Thailand on the “wrong” status
If you entered Thailand and only later realized the visa/status wasn’t DTV, you generally have two realities:
- Your lawful stay is governed by what you were admitted under at entry (the entry permission/stamp/status).
- If DTV must be issued outside Thailand (common for many visa types processed by consulates), you may need to exit and re-enter with the correctly issued visa.
How to reapply for DTV without repeating the problem
When you reapply, your goal is not “more documents.” It’s “clear documents that match the DTV checklist.”
Use the DTV checklist used by the consulate you’re applying through and ensure your evidence matches the required categories (identity, location, financial evidence, and proof of qualifying work/activity).
Also:
- Ensure your passport data and selections match exactly.
- Don’t upload poor substitutes (e.g., unclear proof of location).
- Choose the correct visa type and be consistent throughout the form.
- Follow the official e-Visa application workflow (account → form → upload → pay → wait).
If you applied for DTV because you want a long, flexible stay, entering on a different visa “just to get in” can create knock-on problems (shorter permission to stay, different extension rules, different reporting expectations, or future scrutiny). The safe approach is to align your entry status with your real plan.
Also note that Thailand introduced additional digital entry formalities in recent years; make sure you comply with any arrival documentation requirements that apply to your travel date, separate from the visa itself.
Template: What to say when contacting the embassy/consulate
Subject: Request for clarification – e-Visa issued as [TYPE] instead of DTV (Application ref: [####])
“Hello, I applied for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) through the Thai e-Visa portal. I received an approval/confirmation showing visa type: [TYPE] issued on [DATE]. My intention and supporting documents were for DTV. Could you please confirm whether this is expected based on my submission, and whether any correction is possible, or if I should submit a new DTV application? My full name is [NAME] and my application reference number is [REF]. Thank you.”
Conclusion:
Receiving a visa that differs from the Destination Thailand Visa you applied for can be confusing, but it does not automatically mean the situation cannot be corrected. In many cases, the issue relates to how the application was processed or how documentation was interpreted.
The safest approach is to confirm what was issued, avoid traveling on a status that does not align with your plans, and take timely, informed action. Addressing the issue early is far more effective than attempting to resolve it after arrival in Thailand.
As Thailand’s visa framework continues to evolve and practices may vary by embassy or consulate, staying informed and proceeding carefully puts applicants in the strongest position to move forward smoothly and compliantly.
How Petchnumnoi can assist with your DTV application
At PetchnumNoi, we focus on helping applicants prepare Destination Thailand Visa applications correctly from the outset, with documentation structured to align clearly with current consular expectations.
For individuals planning to train in Thailand particularly those pursuing Muay Thai as part of a long-term stay, the DTV offers flexibility and stability when handled properly. We assist clients both with initial applications and with next steps when an issued visa does not match the original intention.
If you would like guidance before submitting a new application, or clarity on how to proceed after receiving a different visa outcome, our team can support you through the process.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, immigration advice, or a guarantee of visa outcomes. Thailand’s visa policies, eligibility criteria, and consular practices are subject to change, and interpretation and application may vary between embassies, consulates, and individual officers. Petchnumnoi Muay Thai Gym is not a government authority and does not represent the Royal Thai Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or any Thai embassy or consulate. Assistance offered relates to application preparation and documentation support only; final decisions rest exclusively with the issuing authorities.