Thai embassies lack vital info on new digital nomad visa: report

Most Thai embassies do not appear to have enough information at hand to help foreigners seeking long-stay visas under the so-called Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), the Pattaya Mail has found.

The Pattaya Mail report said it had checked many Thai embassies and learned that though the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is promoting long-stay DTV, the missions did not have enough information at hand to help applicants.

The Destination Thailand Visa, also known as the “digital nomad visa”, is a long-stay visa specifically designed for remote workers, freelancers and digital nomads who wish to live and work in Thailand for an extended period.

The DTV visa offers several key benefits:

• Multiple entry: The visa is valid for five years and you can enter and exit Thailand as many times as you want
• Long-term stay: Each entry permits a stay of up to 180 days, extendable once for an additional 180 days
• Work remotely: You can legally work for foreign companies or clients while in Thailand
• Family inclusion: Eligible applicants can bring their spouse and children under the age of 20

In his article published in Pattaya Mail on Sunday, Barry Kenyon said the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur was the only mission that had the most comprehensive information on DTV. However, the checklist provided by this embassy includes additional requirements that go well beyond TAT’s guidelines.

For instance, it requires applicants to show proof of a Thai condominium rental or property lease for at least six months. Digital nomads are also required to provide a copy of their employment contract or business licence authenticated by the embassy of their employers’ country. They must also show bank statements with a balance of at least 500,000 baht (about US$14,000) or more, Kenyon said.

He added that some Thai embassies, like those in Laos and Sri Lanka, have listed registration fees, but have not provided detailed information.

Larger embassies, like those in Washington DC and London, have shared basic guidelines from TAT, but say that additional details may be required.

Worse still, he said, the Thai embassy in Cambodia is currently waiting for the online systems to be updated before it can process DTV applications.

Kenyon noted that the procedure of getting DTV to stay in Thailand for cultural activities like learning muay thai, cooking or the Thai language, is also changing. According to the TAT guidelines, the applicant must supply a letter of acceptance from the institution, which must be registered with the Thai Department of Education. Some embassies also require proof of income over the past six months.

The DTV was introduced in July this year as part of the government’s many measures to boost the economy. The base cost of a DTV is 10,000 baht, but most embassies add an additional surcharge. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable. Applicants with a history of overstaying in Thailand may be denied a long-stay visa.