Answered9 months ago

Can I apply for the DTV Visa without a steady income while planning to study and create an online business in Thailand?

DTV Visa Thailand Visa Visa Requirements Remote Work Visa Education Visa STEM Visa

Adam *************

asked Feb 2, 2026

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Hiya all. I'm working on moving to Chiang Mai at the end of this year/beginning of next year. Closing my 3 businesses and selling inventory and equipment. 

I'm looking at the DTV Visa 5 year. Being I'd be closing and selling my businesses I won't have any income. I will have investments and cash in the 3-400k USD range. So more than enough to live income free for a good while. A good chance to learn how to live without the constant need to grind. It will be interesting to see how this workaholic deals with being useless for a while. 🤣

My goal will be learning new skills to create an online remote business based in the US while living abroad. Will not having an income be an issue while applying for the DTV? I've seen the DTV requirements being contracts or letters of employment. I've looked at other Visa options but none seem to match what I'd be doing. Any advice would be appreciated I've done a bunch of research already but the DTV still seems like the way to go.

Answer summary

The user is planning to move to Chiang Mai and is considering the DTV Visa, which allows for a long stay in Thailand. Despite closing their businesses and not having a steady income, the user has significant investments to support living costs. Concerns arise regarding the income requirements for the DTV Visa application as most education or work options are debated among community responses. Insights suggest that applying under soft power activities like studying at a recognized institution may be feasible, though alternative options such as ED Plus or education visas are also discussed.

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Brook ********

The DTV is a tourist visa.

You can’t even open a bank account with it, plus you must leave the country every 6 months.

Get an education visa or an elite visa, but come here for 3-12 months first to make sure it’s a good fit.

9 months ago

Graeme ******

There in nothing stopping you applying for a DTV on the softpower option and later working remotely on the DTV, there are no rules that say you cannot do this. So if I were you I would aply for the DTV on a soft power option then if and when you want to work remotely then you can, you dont have to re apply for the visa again as the DTV is the same irrespective of how you got it

9 months ago

John **********

@Adam ************

you get it through the university. I think your confusing things with your statement regarding work. Currently you have no real plan to work so unless that changes I'd keep it simple.

9 months ago

Adam *************

@John *********

Thank you yes I agree. I am reading about the ED Plus Visa. The Bachelor of Arts in Thai for Communication for Foreigners. Is the course I'd be taking so the ED Plus would work.

9 months ago

John **********

There are 2 main routes to apply for a DTV.

If you want to work remotely from Thailand you apply based on Workation but have to show you are currently working in some way

If you won't work remotely from Thailand you can sign up for a supported activity such as Muay Thai or Cookery with a recognised provider and use that as the basis to apply.

If you are over 50 you could just get a retirement visa but can't work on that

9 months ago

Adam *************

@John *********

Hiya. Thanks! I'm not over 50. I have looked into the Soft activities. Could I use my current business to get the DTV? My primary goal is to learn the remote skills and try to create an online business which I find exciting because it's something I've never done. I will be going to Payap University to learn Thai language and culture. Being it's a 4 year course could I use that for the dtv? I've also looked into the Elite Education Visa but the school suggested the DTV.

I still have a year left. I'm trying to figure this out myself but may end up just having an agent deal with it lol.

9 months ago

John **********

@Adam ************

it's not a great idea to lie on a visa application. But if you are going to university for a 4 year course of study why not get an ED visa, even better the ED Plus option. Speak to the university about it

9 months ago

Brandon ************

@Adam ************

of course you cannot get it yourself

9 months ago

Adam *************

@John *********

The University suggested the DTV would be a better option for me. Is the ED Plus something I can get myself or would I have to go through the school? I'm going to have to start reading about the ED Plus Visa now.

9 months ago

Brandon ************

@Adam ************

There's no such thing as "elite education visa"

There is Elite visa, and there is education visa.

Most embassies will not accept language classes for DTV. Maybe if it's also called culture they will accept it, but that will be up to the embassy.

9 months ago

Adam *************

@Brandon ***********

Ahh I see. I am looking into ways to be able to use my current business to get the DTV. What if I kept my business bank account in the US and sent Income to myself each month? Which is kind of what I'd be doing anyway but instead of using a personal account I can keep the business account.

9 months ago