Thai Embassy Document Request · Identity & Location

Dated Selfie at a Tourist Attraction (DTV Request)

Received a DTV request for a dated selfie at a tourist attraction? Learn exactly how to provide a selfie with clear date and time to avoid rejection and secur

DTVDTVThaiVisa 13 min read

If you’ve just received a Request for Further Document asking for a dated selfie at a tourist attraction, you’re likely feeling anxious — but don’t worry. The embassy needs concrete proof that you’re physically present in the country right now, and we’ll show you exactly how to capture and submit a photo that meets their strict requirements, so you can respond with confidence and keep your DTV application on track.

A traveler taking a front-facing selfie in front of a recognizable ancient temple complex, with a visible date and time stamp overlaid in the corner of the photo.

What the embassy asked

The embassy’s request is straightforward but precise. They want a photograph that proves your current location and physical presence, not a standard portrait. Here is a real example of the wording you may have received:

“a selfie taken at a tourist attraction. All photos submitted must clearly show the most recent date and time.”

Why the embassy asks for this

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is applied for online via the central Thai e-Visa portal and then reviewed by your chosen embassy, and one required field is a “document indicating current location.” When standard proofs like a driver’s licence or entry stamp don’t convince the reviewing officer that you are physically present in the jurisdiction right now — especially common when applying from a country where you aren’t a resident — they issue this request for a dated selfie.

A photograph of you at a recognisable local tourist attraction, with the current date and time clearly visible, is exceptionally hard to fake. It instantly confirms your physical presence on the very day of review, eliminating any doubt about your whereabouts.

How to provide it correctly

Read the embassy’s email word-for-word. Note the exact phrasing: a selfie at a tourist attraction, photos that “clearly show the most recent date and time,” and — for offices that specify it — whether they will accept only a picture taken on a particular calendar day (e.g. 13 Mar 2026) plus a named purchase receipt.
If a specific day is named, take the photo on that exact calendar date; if no day is named, take it the same day you plan to upload so the visible date is the most recent possible.
Go to a clearly recognisable local attraction or landmark — a signed monument, famous temple, named city square — and take a selfie that definitely includes both your face and the landmark together in the same frame.
Make the current date and time visible in the shot itself. Use a camera app that overlays a timestamp or GPS stamp, or include a same-day dated item like a local newspaper front page or a digital clock on a phone lock screen. The date and time must be legible in the image, not hidden in metadata.
Do not strip or alter the photo. Keep the original file with its EXIF metadata (capture date, time, GPS) completely intact — reviewers can cross-check the visible date against the file’s embedded timestamp.
If the request also asked for a purchase receipt, obtain a receipt dated the same day that shows your name and the date of purchase. Keep it as a separate, clear scan or photo.
Upload exactly the file(s) the email named — the dated selfie (and the receipt if asked) — in the format requested. Reply only through the official channel the e-Visa portal or email specified.
Submit only what was asked and nothing extra. Do not pad your reply with unrequested bank statements, old photos, or explanations. Extra documents can slow review and, in our experience, since around May 2026, risk complicating a fresh attempt if they trigger a rejection.

Example of a correctly formatted selfie for a DTV request: a tourist holding a same-day newspaper with a visible date, standing in front of a clearly named attraction, with the photo file’s EXIF data unaltered.

Common mistakes that cause rejection

Treating this as a standard passport-style headshot instead of a proof-of-presence field photo at a landmark.
Relying only on hidden EXIF metadata for the date without making the date and time visibly legible on the image as the request demands.
Uploading via WhatsApp, email forwards, or social media apps that compress images and wipe metadata, leaving the file unverifiable.
Missing the exact named day — taking the selfie a day early or late when an office (such as Ho Chi Minh City) specified one calendar date only.
Forgetting the second item in a combined request — sending the selfie but omitting the purchase receipt with your name and date, or vice versa.
Over‑submitting by adding unrequested bank statements, lease papers, or long explanations instead of replying with only the dated selfie (and receipt) that was asked for.

Frequently asked questions

Why did the embassy ask for a selfie at a tourist attraction for my DTV?

Because the DTV application is reviewed online, and the office wasn’t persuaded that your “document indicating current location” proves you’re physically in the country right now. A dated selfie at a recognisable local landmark is a near‑impossible‑to‑fake proof of presence on the review day.

Does the date really have to be visible in the photo?

Yes, absolutely. The request states that all photos must “clearly show the most recent date and time.” This means the date and time must be legible on the image itself — using a camera timestamp app, a GPS stamp, or a same‑day dated item visible in the shot. Hidden EXIF metadata alone is not enough.

The email said to take it on a specific date — what if I miss that day?

Some offices, like the one in Ho Chi Minh City, accept the picture taken only on one named calendar date (e.g. 13 Mar 2026). A photo from any other day will be rejected. If you miss it, you must retake the selfie on the exact date and re‑upload. Do not attempt to back‑date an image.

Can I just use a normal indoor selfie?

No. The requirement is a selfie at a tourist attraction or recognisable landmark. A photo in a plain room, hotel lobby, or in front of an airport gate does not demonstrate your location. Your face and a clearly identifiable local attraction must both be in the frame.

They also asked for a purchase receipt — what must it show?

The receipt must bear your name and the date of purchase, ideally the very same day as the selfie. It can be in Thai or English, but the name and date must be legible. Submit it as a separate clear scan or photo alongside the selfie.

Should I send extra documents to be safe?

No. Reply with only the exact documents the email requested — the dated selfie and, if asked, the purchase receipt. Adding unrequested bank statements, explanations, or other paperwork can slow the review and, in our experience, since around May 2026, may jeopardise a fresh attempt if it triggers a rejection.

Get this document right the first time

Let our team prepare and check your response to the embassy — apply from $139, with a 100% refund if denied (with the optional Denial Protection add-on).

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General guidance only — not legal advice. Thai embassy requirements vary by office and change over time; always confirm the exact wording in your own request email, or let our team check it for you.