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Am I eligible to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) with a new business and no revenue?

Digital Nomad Visa DTV Thailand Visa Rules Startups Soft Power Visa Visa Eligibility Online Business Expat Advice

Oct 4, 2025

7 months ago

Goodman ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi All,

I'm new to this group. Last month I visited Thailand for a week and loved to stay for longer. I'm planning to apply for DTV.

I started my company in my country 3 months ago but the operations are yet to start. It is an online business and currently products are under development. 

Am I eligible to apply for DTV? Do they ask for monthly revenues?

or Is it better to apply under soft power category for now?

Kindly advise.

Thanks

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A new expat in Thailand is seeking advice on applying for the Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) for their online business, which is still under development. They are uncertain if they'll be eligible for DTV given they have not generated any revenue yet. Comments suggest that while new businesses can be approved, applying under the Soft Power (SP) category might be simpler, especially without income. There are also concerns about changing rules in the SP category and the importance of careful application at different embassies.

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Anonymous ******************

I am in a similar situation and asked a similar question about a week ago. New company in my name in another country but no taxes filed as no income has been generated yet.

The SP is an easier option but I worry that within the 5 years they will change the rules and expect the holder to be fully enrolled in classes.

At least with the business it will be a functional documentated company with payslips to me in the future.

Each embassy / consulate has different rules for everything and not getting things exactly right can be expensive.

Let me know where are are considering applying as I have researched a few locations but anywhere I see that VFS is involved I look elsewhere. They bust your bดlls for everything.

7 months ago

Goodman ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 638 My company will be operational in couple of weeks and generates revenue (marginal). I'm planning to apply in Jan/Feb 2026 at Toronto/Ottawa.

If it is not feasible, can I apply DTV under SP ? After 6-8 months my company will be fully operational.

7 months ago

Anonymous ******************

@Goodman *******

kinda similar situation. I will genuinely be doing online business in Thailand for a foreign owned company for the 5 year period but everyone is suggesting I apply for SP as its easier, however I worry that after the the course finishes there eill be a 4.5 year gap where officially i am doing nothing, this worries me in case the start changing the rules ( as they do ) and start requiring annual courses.

7 months ago

Goodman ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anonymous participant 638 Does it mean that if one applies for DTV under SP should remain under SP category throughout 5 years?

7 months ago

Andi ***********

@Goodman *******

If you extend via immigration then yes, doing border hops there is no current requirement to show continued activity, but you could be asked

7 months ago

Reply to

Andi ***********

New businesses have been approved but SP will be simpler. You would need to inform them the reason for no income applying via workcation. Where are you applying?

7 months ago

Goodman ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Andi **********

I have two companies each in Canada & USA. I'm applying for DTV in Toronto/Ottawa.

7 months ago

Andi ***********

@Goodman *******

Ok.. Ottawa is infamous for lengthy approvals that can take up to 6 weeks there.

7 months ago

Goodman ********

ORIGINAL POSTER