‘It’s not very hard to get’: Everything you need to know to get Thailand’s digital nomad visa

30-year-old Carmelito Bauer has only ever spent one day of his life working in an office.

Since becoming a digital nomad in 2020, he’s spent three years in Mexico and is now in Thailand, where he recently became one of the first recipients of the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).

Launched in July, the long-awaited visa programme gives remote workers the chance to live in the Asian nation for up to five years.

It has already sparked demand, with Google searches for “move to Thailand” soaring by 162 per cent in the UK following its announcement, according to holiday provider Travel Republic.

“Honestly, [the visa] is not very hard to get,” Carmelito tells Euronews Travel. Having initially looked into getting a visa linked to Muay Thai training, he believes Thailand’s process for education visas – a previously popular option for long stays – was “way more complicated”.

Here, he shares his story and top tips on how to get Thailand’s digital nomad visa.

Is it difficult to get Thailand’s digital nomad visa?

Carmelito’s experience of getting Thailand’s digital nomad visa was quick, easy and affordable.

He returned to Frankfurt in his home country, Germany, to apply.

“I would probably recommend that,” he says. “Apparently some of the nearby countries [to Thailand] are more complicated in terms of what they want to see, how long you have to wait, and all that.”

Wherever you apply, the required documents include a copy of your passport, a clear photograph taken within the last six months and a document indicating your current location.

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You must also provide evidence of at least 500,000 THB (€13,800) in funds via a bank statement or sponsorship letter. Finally, you have to show an employment contract in your country of residence or a professional portfolio showing your remote worker or freelancer status.

Additional documents specific to the embassy or consulate where you apply may be required.

What documents are required for Thailand’s DTV?

Applying from his home country, Germany, Carmelito used a copy of his government ID as the document proving his location. A utility bill or bank statement could also be used as proof of address.

You cannot apply for the DTV from within Thailand, but how about if you plan to do so from a neighbouring country?

“I heard people were actually showing their hotel booking,” says Carmelito.

The other document that may cause confusion is the “professional portfolio”.

As a business owner, Carmelito was required to provide a portfolio.

After leveraging his experiences as a “video game addicted” kid to land a remote job as a community manager for a German software company, he set up his own company building and managing online forums and communities.

His top tip is to use your CV as a starting point for your portfolio document.

“I just used my CV that I used before for job applications. I made sure that it’s very clear that it says it’s all remote work, and just changed the [title] ‘resume’ or ‘CV’ to ‘freelance portfolio’,” he explains, adding that it may have helped that he’s worked for some major clients.

How much does Thailand’s digital nomad visa cost and how long does it last?

Thailand’s multiple-entry digital nomad visa, or DTV, is valid for five years. The application fee varies depending on where you apply from but it starts at 10,000 THB  (€276) and is typically around €350 in European countries.

However, visa holders are required to either exit the country every 180 days or extend their stay in-country at immigration at a cost. The fee is currently unclear, with an initial announcement suggesting it will be 10,000 THB but some reports suggesting it will be the usual tourist visa extension fee of 1,900 THB (€52).

Visa holders are also subject to Thailand’s 90-day reporting of their residential address to immigration, which can be done either online or in person.

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By comparison, Thailand’s education visa application fee is 2,000 THB (€55) and must be renewed every 90 days for 1,900 THB. It also requires you to enrol in an educational course, such as in Thai language or Muay Thai, which typically costs upwards of 20,000 THB (€552) for six months. This visa does not permit you to work.

Carmelito received his DTV within 15 days of applying, but he says in some cases it takes as little as two-to-three days.

If your application is missing documentation or the documents provided are insufficient, you will usually be informed so you can supply the correct ones. This makes it quite rare to lose your application fee or be rejected for the DTV, so long as you are eligible, says Carmelito.

He adds that one of the most common reasons for rejection is the misspelling of names on applications or the omission of middle names.

What are the pros and cons of being a digital nomad in Thailand?

For Carmelito, a volunteering trip to his mother’s homeland, the Philippines, in 2015 ignited his interest in living abroad and immersing himself in local life. “I knew I wanted to just keep doing this,” he recalls.

He’s had a connection with Thailand since he first visited as a student backpacker seven years ago.

Having since lived in both China and Mexico, he’s well positioned to compare digital nomad experiences around the world.

“Everywhere you go has advantages and disadvantages,” he says. In Thailand, he says, nature can work against you – “from typhoons to this flooding right now” in the north of the country.

Thailand is comparably affordable for remote workers: Carmelito’s rent in Chiang Mai is around €360 per month – much cheaper than in Germany and around 25 to 30 per cent lower than in Mexico or China, he estimates.

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On the downside, though, digital nomads are still treated as visitors in Thailand. “The DTV is still a tourist visa, so you don’t have any special rights,” explains Carmelito.

This means you cannot set up a local bank account and there is no route to permanent residency. On the plus side, it also means digital nomads are not subject to local taxes in Thailand, so long as they do not stay longer than 180 days in a row.

It is also notoriously difficult for foreigners to set up a business in Thailand without a local partner or large investment, so the visa is not a suitable gateway for entrepreneurs looking to set up shop in the country.

For Carmelito, though, it’s been a positive experience so far thanks to the affordability and generous length of the visa, and Thailand’s extensive tourist and ‘expat’ infrastructure.

He’s enjoying immersing himself in Muay Thai, the “fun challenge” of learning Thai language, and taking the chance to travel to nearby countries to break up his stay.