Thailand recently announced a new visa named destination Thailand visa, it’s not officially named digital nomad visa but technically it’s for digital nomads who work remotely.
Freelancers and those who work ass employee for company located outside of Thailand can apply for this visa. there some facts that ever digital nomad should consider to know about it and we will focus in it in this article.
Visa duration
The Thailand Destination visa is a 5-year multiple-entry visa that allows a stay of up to 6 months per visit. After staying in Thailand for 6 months, the visa holder must leave the country. It is unclear whether they can re-enter Thailand immediately or if they must wait for a specific period, as Thai authorities have not provided details on this matter.
To better understand the situation, we can compare it to Colombia’s digital nomad visa, which has a 2-year validity and allows for a stay of 6 months per year. It remains uncertain whether a digital nomad who stays in Thailand for 6 months can re-enter the country after a short period, such as a week, or if they must wait for 6 months.
Visa fee
To apply for the Destination Thailand visa, there is a $280 visa fee that must be paid by the applicant. This is a 5-year multiple-entry visa and does not have any additional fees.
However, if you want to extend your stay in Thailand beyond the initial 6 months, you will need to pay an extension fee. If you have already stayed in Thailand for 6 months and do not want to leave, extending your stay will cost an additional $280.
This extension is a one-time exception and cannot be used again, so be careful to use it only in very important and necessary situations.
Eligibility requirements
The Thai government has not yet published all the requirements for the Destination Thailand visa, but a few have been confirmed:
– Be at least 20 years old
– Have $14,000 in a bank account
– Work for a company located outside Thailand
– Provide proof of earnings and proof of bank balance
– Be a citizen of an eligible country
According to NBC, citizens of 93 countries are eligible for this visa, but the Thai government has not yet published the complete list of these countries.
How to apply
There is not information given by the government of Thailand for Applicants how to apply for this visa, we are still waiting for the updates.
Hopefully it will be available online which will make the applying simple and fats otherwise applying for visa through embassies and consulates usually take more time and the ratio of rejection is higher than eVisas.
Alternatives
Thailand is a beautiful country for digital nomads and tourists, offering a high-quality lifestyle and an affordable cost of living. However, Southeast Asia has more alternatives as many countries in the region now offer digital nomad visas to remote workers.
Currently, Japan has an active digital nomad visa that allows remote workers to stay for up to 6 months. Additionally, Malaysia and Indonesia also have active digital nomad visas and are accepting visa applications.
However, the income requirements for Indonesia’s and Japan’s digital nomad visas are quite high (above $5,000 USD). Malaysia is the best option with a monthly income requirement of around $2,000 USD, which can be met by most digital nomads.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Thailand’s new Destination Thailand visa offers a promising option for digital nomads with its 5-year multiple-entry allowance and 6-month stay per visit. While some details remain unclear, such as re-entry rules and the full list of eligible countries, this visa presents an attractive opportunity for remote workers.
As Southeast Asia expands its digital nomad visa offerings, Thailand joins countries like Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia in catering to the growing remote work community.
