Who needs a police certificate for the DTV now?

The rule is short. Most of the questions we get are about whether it reaches a particular person, so here is who is in and who is out.

Who needs one

Every applicant lodging a new DTV file from 31 August 2026, in every category: remote workers, soft power applicants and dependants. The Royal Thai Embassy in London lists the police clearance certificate among the required documents and says it must be issued within six months of the date of submission. Tdac.info, reporting the same change, says it can come from the authorities of your country of nationality or of the country where you submit the application.

Who does not

1. Applicants whose application was submitted and whose fee was paid before 31 August 2026. Tdac.info reports that these files are not affected by the new rules. A file started but not paid does not qualify.
2. People who already hold a valid DTV. Nothing in the notice changes a visa already issued, and there is no request for a certificate after the fact.
3. Dependants under 16. Erickson Immigration Group, reporting the London update, says they may submit the certificate of the main DTV holder. A child aged 16 to 19 needs their own.

When you will meet it again

An existing holder who applies for a new DTV later, for example when the five years run out, applies under whatever rules apply on that day. Treat the certificate as a standard part of every future application.

Order it first

The six month window runs from issue, and national authorities vary from a few days to several weeks. Our post on how long a DTV police certificate takes in six countries compares them, and the complete DTV guide keeps the full document list.