From June 1, 2024, Thailand will introduce the new “Destination Thailand Visa” (DTV), which is specifically tailored to the needs of digital nomads and remote workers. This special Work & Travel visa allows you to stay in Thailand for up to 5 years and the opportunity to work for foreign employers.
With a visa fee of just 10,000 baht (approximately $280) and proof of 500,000 baht (approximately $14,500) in savings, digital nomads can start their work and travel adventure in Thailand. For the first time, the DTV creates a clear legal basis for working legally online from anywhere in Thailand. The DTV is valid for 5 years, but does not allow 5 years of continuous residence. Instead, holders are allowed to stay in Thailand for a maximum of 180 days per calendar year and can extend this period of stay once by a further 180 days.
Digital nomads can alternately work and travel in Thailand for 6 months and spend the remaining 6 months in Vietnam or Bali, for example, before returning to Thailand with the DTV next year. The DTV brings together various previous visa categories such as the educational or medical tourist visa. Language students, Muay Thai learners or cooking course participants now fall under this new category. The 180 day rule could be related to tax issues, as stays over 180 days per year in Thailand are usually taxable. DTV holders would be exempt. It is expected that while DTV holders will be allowed to work online for foreign clients, they will not be able to pursue local employment in Thailand, such as diving instructors or English teachers.
In summary, the DTV aims to enable digital nomads to stay legally in Thailand for a longer period of time and at the same time provide clarity about their legal status as remote workers.
In this video, we highlight as well all the details of the new Thailand Visa Rules. Find out how you can apply for the DTV, what advantages it offers, and what you need to consider for your stay as a digital nomad in Thailand. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of location-independent working under palm trees! We are also exploring that from June 1st, it is the case that you get 60 days on the first entry with visa-free entry. From June 1st, if you enter Thailand either by air or across the land borders, you should get a stay of 60 days stamped in your passport. What is not yet clear at the moment is whether these 60 days can then also be extended by a further 30 days at immigration in Thailand. Should this be the case, you would have a 90-day stay per entry, which would be pretty good, and then you would, of course, have to ask yourself whether the tourist visa is still necessary at all. A new visa will be created, and this will be valid from June 1, 2024.
