Thailand

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a five-year multiple-entry visa introduced in July 2024 to attract remote workers, digital nomads, freelancers, and participants in Thai cultural activities for extended stays in Thailand. The DTV accommodates three categories of applicants: workcation participants (digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers), Thai soft power activity participants (Muay Thai training, cooking classes, medical treatment, seminars), and family members of DTV holders. It offers a more accessible pathway than Thailand's Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa, which requires a minimum annual income of USD 80,000.

• Must be at least 20 years old
• Bank balance of at least 500,000 THB (approximately USD 14,400) in liquid funds
• Passport valid for at least 6 months with at least one blank visa page
• Must apply from outside Thailand
• No minimum income requirement and no formal education or professional qualifications needed
• Workcation applicants must demonstrate remote work status through employment contracts, professional portfolios, or business documentation
• Soft power activity applicants must provide a letter of acceptance from the organizing institution
• All nationalities are eligible

All categories:

• Passport biodata page (valid 6+ months, at least one blank visa page)
• Recent passport photograph (white background, taken within 6 months)
• Proof of current location or residence
• Bank statements showing ending balance of at least 500,000 THB or equivalent

Workcation (digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers):

• Employment contract or employment certificate from an employer outside Thailand, OR
• Professional portfolio demonstrating freelancer status (invoices, platform profiles, client contracts), OR
• For business owners: cover letter, certificate of incorporation, corporate tax return

Thai Soft Power Activities:

• Letter of acceptance from the institute or company organizing the activity, or appointment letter from hospital/medical center

Family Members:

• Personal details of the DTV visa holder (government-issued ID, passport biodata page, and DTV visa approval copy)
• Proof of relationship: marriage certificate (spouses), birth certificate (children), or adoption papers
• For minors traveling alone: notarized parental consent and copies of both parents' passports

The DTV is valid for 5 years with unlimited entries. Each entry permits a stay of up to 180 days, which can be extended once for an additional 180 days at a Thai Immigration Bureau office (extension fee: THB 1,900). After 360 consecutive days (180 days plus 180-day extension), the holder must exit Thailand before re-entering for a new 180-day period. There is no minimum absence requirement between entries. After the 5-year visa validity expires, a new DTV application must be submitted from outside Thailand.

Legally married spouses and unmarried children under 20 of primary DTV holders may each apply for their own DTV. Each family member must submit a separate application and pay the full visa fee. Required documents include proof of relationship (marriage certificate for spouses, birth certificate or adoption papers for children) and copies of the primary holder's passport and DTV visa approval. Dependant spouses may work remotely for overseas employers under the same conditions as the primary holder. The primary applicant's 500,000 THB bank balance covers the family application, though some embassies may require separate financial documentation.

DTV holders who remain in Thailand for more than 180 days in a calendar year become Thai tax residents. Foreign-sourced income remitted to Thailand is subject to progressive personal income tax at rates from 0% to 35%. Income that remains outside Thailand is not taxed. Double-tax treaties may apply depending on the holder's nationality. Tax residents must obtain a tax identification number from the Revenue Department and file personal income tax returns on income remitted to Thailand.

1. Apply online through the Thai e-Visa portal at thaievisa.go.th or in person at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate
2. Submit all required documents (foreign-language documents must include certified English translations)
3. Pay the application fee of THB 10,000 (approximately USD 275-400 depending on the embassy; fees are non-refundable)
4. Wait for processing, typically 2-3 weeks (5 working days at some embassies)
5. Upon arrival in Thailand, receive a 180-day entry stamp
6. The accommodation provider (hotel or landlord) must file a TM.30 notification within 24 hours of arrival

Application fees and requirements vary between embassies. Non-citizens applying from a third country may need additional documentation such as a permanent resident card or employer verification letter.

DTV holders staying more than 90 consecutive days in Thailand must file a 90-day address report (TM.47 form) with the Immigration Bureau. The report can be filed in person, by registered mail, or online, and can be submitted up to 15 days before or 7 days after the due date. Failure to file on time results in a fine of THB 2,000. Exiting Thailand resets the 90-day reporting cycle. The accommodation provider must also file a TM.30 notification within 24 hours of each new entry or change of address.

The DTV is legally classified as a special tourist visa. Holders may work remotely for overseas employers and clients but are prohibited from obtaining a Thai work permit, working for Thai employers, or performing freelance work for Thai clients. Despite being commonly described as a "workcation" visa, only remote work for entities outside Thailand is permitted.

Overstaying the permitted period incurs a fine of THB 500 per day, capped at THB 20,000. Re-entry bans apply based on overstay duration: voluntary surrender over 90 days results in a 1-year ban, over 1 year a 3-year ban, over 3 years a 5-year ban, and over 5 years a 10-year ban. If arrested, overstays under 1 year result in a 5-year ban and over 1 year a 10-year ban.

Links

• https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/thailandnewvisa-en
• https://www.thaievisa.go.th/
• https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/dtv-visa
• https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/dtv-visa

Other Digital Nomad Visas in Asia